Just hope York don`t miss out on SL now after losing the Championship Final. Toulouse and London will get in, as they will bend all the IMG scoring rules for “expansions sake” (London are way down the IMG scoring table - 24th in September last year). The Chairman of SL, who is also the Bradford Chairman, will make sure Bradford get in. That leaves York missing out, despite having a better ground than Bradford, a better infrastucture than Bradford, a better team than Bradford, a much bigger catchment area than Bradford and a higher IMG score than Bradford. York are better than Bradford in whatever criteria they use, but still not certain that York will get the final place over Bradford. Why have IMG then ignore it when it suits them, as they are now stating that the three places in SL will be decided by a panel Either stick to IMG scoring or go back to Promotion and Relegation. York will be a shoe in using either of those systems.

That’s the problem with super league deciding to add 2 teams with other criteria then the IMG system that was so costly to set up. It will benefit the teams they want in. Bradford are undeserving in so many ways but big Nigel came back to the rfl for a reason. York, a couple of good years and they want super league. They haven’t earned it under any metric yet. I like the idea but it hasn’t worked over there for so many years. Toulouse don’t have the interest unless it’s against Catalans. London, apart from the latest influx of money, which they wouldn’t be doing without a promise, have under achieved. There is no obvious real top league teams out there at the moment. So which ⅔ teams will get in? Tbh. I hope for a regular home and away league and no loops. A regular 4 points each year from these matches. A chance of a trip away (London and Toulouse fit the bill. Not Bradford)

I live in York, so very biased, but York deserve a place much more than Bradford using any criteria you choose. Better ground, better IMG scoring, better performances, much bigger catchment area, financially sound, better infrastructure. They will also get far bigger crowds than Bradford would.

That’s the problem for me,none of the sides have outstanding claims,all come with negatives and rather than choosing a best option the RFL seem to be choosing the least worst. Bradford in the top flight after having more bailouts than than the Greek government, the latest reincarnation of London which will more than likely flop when the latest backers realising they’re flogging a dead horse and disappear as the others did. Then we have York,still unproven so being generous you could say they at least have a clean slate and Tolouse straight from the French union heartland. All are talking a good game but none have convinced me yet. None will be able to spend the full cap without accruing debt and we all know how that ends.There’s still the thorny subject of promotion and relegation which seems to be missing from any article I’ve read which needs to be answered. Even Huddersfield’s Super League spot is coming under questioning…who knows then. Maybe we should be happy with just having a place at the top table and four more winnable fixtures…..or even six 🤣

stuey I agree in the Bradford front but they’ll say when they were there last time they got 15k a week. That’s why they’ll get in

i know you wouldn’t have guessed it but ive lived in york for over 55 years & i have seen york in good times when Tommy Harris was a director & Gary Cooper was the coach & the crowds were very good when they played at clarence street. now york have a good ground & a good backer & i see no reason why they wont get into super league, but i am a CAS supporter & have been for as long as i can remember.

RaoulDuke Can’t live in the past. Will today’s generation flock to odsal. I doubt it very much.

Maturecasfan Today’s generation don’t flock anywhere,they want more bang for their buck. I can’t see any of the teams coming up being able to conjure up gates upwards of 5,000,success fills grounds and as Bradford found out you can try buying it but bankruptcy beckons. Where Cas score is our hardcore support has tended to stick with us through thick and thin some of our gates this season have been amazing given our performance. Could Bradford replicate that,or York once the novelty has worn off,doubtful.

Maturecasfan I agree. They need to prove that they are with a spot. I haven’t seen that from them since they went pop.

Rumours surfacing from journalists that not only will Bradford secure a Super League place but have actually overtaken Salford,Castleford and Huddersfield in the IMG gradings. If that’s the case all credibility has been stretched to breaking point!

https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/bradford-bulls-secure-super-league-return-in-2026-as-first-hint-on-img-gradings-revealed

SL places 2026

stuey

Right decision in the end.

Top 3 in the Championship and the 3 highest IMG gradings In reality it could not really have been anything else.

Still galling though that Bradford seem to have manipulated the figures.

Matt

Looking past the Bradford situation I’m looking forward to next season. While Toulouse have been in SL recently having three new teams in the league will freshen things up.

43sflyer

I hope that they relay a new pitch, the current one is like a ploughed field.

RaoulDuke

If you went to the Bradford cup match at the start of the season, you can see they have manipulated the score for the ground. They probably should set that part as crowd not percentage of crowd of the stadium available. Surely we should set our ground as 7500
And show a sell out each week. That would do it.

Odsal is a hole, we got a beer in a portacabin and had to stand on the side facing the ingoal to 20m mark. There wasn’t much more of an option and it was open, no roof. I said I’d never go back before in the 2010s, it is still the same.

It still catches my throat about odsals sake and subsequent reboot years later costing the game millions. No checks and balances, just Bradford getting the lift up that no other club has been given.

Maturecasfan

Stinks to high heaven.

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