With IMG ending traditional promotion and relegation in Super League, you might think that finishing bottom no longer matters.
However, it certainly does to the players and coaches involved who will not want to finish with the dreaded wooden spoon.
Furthermore, despite IMG’s changes, finishing bottom could also spell the end for a Grade B Super League club. Yes the likes of Leeds Rhinos, Wigan Warriors and St Helens wouldn’t be relegated, but finishing bottom could leave a Grade B side in danger of dropping to the Championship.
So, it is still vitally important for clubs to avoid that dreaded 12th spot but which clubs going into the 2024 season are at the most risk of finishing with the wooden spoon?
London Broncos
The obvious choice is of course the London Broncos. Since, 2008 seven out of the nine newly promoted clubs finished bottom or were relegated with Leigh Leopards (then the Centurions) relegated in the Million Pound Game in 2017 despite not finishing bottom.
So, London are the natural favourites to go down and the fact they were last to recruitment because of their promotion as well as their injuries means they are the most likely club to finish bottom of the pile in 2024.
Salford Red Devils
Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com – 13/04/2023 – Rugby League – Betfred Super League – Salford Red Devils v Castleford Tigers – AJ Bell Stadium, Salford, England – A General View (GV).
Salford Red Devils have had a really tough off-season. Their future was up in the air due to doubts about their stadium and making matters worse they lost four star players all of whom helped the club reach the semi-finals in 2022.
Ken Sio was released on compassionate grounds, Joe Burgess left to Hull KR after he was released due to disciplinary reasons and Brodie Croft and Andy Ackers were snapped up for a combined fee of £300,000 by Leeds Rhinos.
Salford have a lot of new players to embed and are still looking for new signings. Their squad is only 24 players deep at present.
Castleford Tigers
The Tigers were not far from relegation in 2023 and were saved by Leigh who defeated Wakefield Trinity in the penultimate fixture which sent Castleford’s West Yorkshire rivals down.
The Tigers have a much younger squad in 2024 which is cause for optimism but also trepidation as it means a lack of experience as well.
They were also unable to defeat London Broncos in a pre-season friendly which raises questions about whether they will be embroiled in a relegation scrap in 2024.
