So you found it funny Wilf? Likewise, so did I with yours.

Interesting you say “2nd paragraph has nowt to do with Degsey.”

Well he has plenty to say on the situation and how Pearson has decided to run our club this season. Perhaps you should direct that comment to him?

Because at the end of the day we all knew the situation re: IMG at the start of this season and nothing was said then?

I wonder why he now suddenly decides to have a rant about it?


The season hasn’t finished yet!

Do we think there will be any changes from the provisional listings when they announce the official list in October?

Just for reference, this was the provisional list:

1. Leeds Rhinos – A – 17.49
2. Wigan Warriors – A – 16.87
3. St Helens – A – 16.78
4. Catalans Dragons – A
5. Warrington Wolves – A – 15.75
6. Hull KR – A – 15.52
7. Hull FC – A – 15.05
8. Salford Red Devils – B – 13.80
9. Huddersfield Giants – B – 13.49
10. Toulouse Olympique – B – 12.97
11. Wakefield Trinity – B – 12.52
12. Leigh Leopards – B – 12.45
13. Castleford Tigers – B – 12.16
14. Bradford Bulls – B – 12.02
15. Featherstone Rovers – B – 10.65
16. Widnes Vikings – B – 10.17
17. York RLFC – B – 10.05
18. Newcastle Thunder – B – 9.30
19. Barrow Raiders – B – 9.18
20. Halifax Panthers – B – 9.06
21. Batley Bulldogs – B – 8.62
22. Sheffield Eagles – B – 8.36
23. Doncaster RLFC – B – 8.11
24. London Broncos – B – 8.07
25. Oldham RLFC – C – 7.39
26. Swinton Lions – C – 7.21
27. Dewsbury Rams – C – 7.10
28. Rochdale Hornets – C – 7.03
29. Hunslet RLFC – C – 6.94
30. Keighley Cougars – Grade C – 6.58
31. Workington Town – C – 6.54
32. Whitehaven RLFC – C – 6.27
33. Midlands Hurricanes – C – 5.92
34. Cornwall RLFC – C – 5.75
35. North Wales Crusaders – C – 5.07

I do wonder if the reason Derek B is being so vocal at the moment isn't so much about us but about the fact that his team were listed as the 12th team and therefore potentially the most under threat from Castleford or Bradford?

What's the thinking here... Toulouse up London down or Cas up London down or Cas up Toulouse up and Bradford up to make the 14?

It won’t be 14 until there are a lot more A grades.

London will go down and it looks like Toulouse are well placed to come up. Wakefield, Leigh, Cas and Bradford look to be in contention for 2 spots. Bradford feel like an outside shot to me, fwiw. So two from three, if that is the case and assuming no big surprises in anybody’s circumstances.

Definitely Wakefield for London, the last spot is between Cas and Toulouse I think, Cas seem to be making as many improvements as they can to their ground to try meet the IMG criteria like installing seating down the side, but I wonder if it'll be enough...I think when Toulouse Cas and maybe Bradford announce their signings for 2025 onwards, you'll get a good idea of whether they think they'll be in SL or not. Personally I'd like Toulouse in, the away day there was great in n2022, not sure how much further Cas can grow as a club either...but understand lots of people want them in SL...tough one.

Mild Rover is right in saying that it's not going to be a 14 team league as they have confirmed they are sticking with 12 for now. Looks like they want 12 Grade A teams before considering expanding.

[urlhttps://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/img-grading-dates-revealed-as-super-league-expansion-addressed-for-2025[/url

Don't forget SL own Bradfords lease, so may be in their interest for them to be in SL

Someone who is quite well connected in the SL scene told me around the time the initial IMG ratings were released that they will do everything possible to get Toulouse into SL. For the improvements they have made I would be nervous if I were a Cas fan.

still baffles me how IMG came to the conclusion clubs get nothing regards bringing players through their system, yet get a few dodgy burger vans and you get points!

After what happened with licensing last time, I definitely can’t dismiss the premise underlying that reminder!

It should though be much more difficult to ‘interpret’ or ‘adjust’ the results under this system. In theory.

Tbf, it killed the old system last time… the shocking thing was that they didn’t seem to realise it inevitably would. And some things have changed since then in the wider sporting consciousness since then, but that’s a tangent.

Was cool to watch them go out in the semi's but a part of me would have enjoyed watching them get dicked again at Wembley tomorrow.