14 Team SL and Merged Championship?

[Taking The Two]

Thats why you make it a mainland Europe League

Allows other mainland clubs to join outside of France

And it’s still pie in the sky nonsense and won’t happen.

Catalans and Toulouse either die completely, or go part-time and regress massively from where they are, if they rejoined Elite XIII. Without a never ending pit of money, there is no hope of a professional league in France/Europe. The money required to finance 8-10-12-however many professional teams would be ridiculous and, if we’re honest, a waste of money.

 

[Gobsmacked]

Wigan
Leeds
St Helens
Catalans
Tolouse
Warrington
London
Hull
York
Manchester

Start there.

 

[Taking The Two]

Manchester doesn’t have a team, you’re killing off half of Hull and losing viable sides in Leigh and Wakefield. Mega idea, that.

 

[Perth Red]

Manchester doesn’t have a team, you’re killing off half of Hull and losing viable sides in Leigh and Wakefield. Mega idea, that.

No one ever said his ideas were good ones lol

 

[Gobsmacked]

Manchester doesn’t have a team, you’re killing off half of Hull and losing viable sides in Leigh and Wakefield. Mega idea, that.

Manchester Reds, All of Hull can follow 1 Hull and people in Leigh and Wakefield can pick a side and jump on a train or watch from home and boost TV ratings.
Condense all the best talent evenly into ten teams that represent big population that can build fan bases year after year.

There's talent now wasted in villages that won't inspire anyone outside those villages to watch the sport, by constraining the comp to places that can't grow the game, it's srunk.. year after year.

Go big or go home.

 

[Taking The Two]

You have literally no understanding of the sporting culture and culture in general in the UK. Plus, Leigh doesn’t have a train station.

There is no way after 150ish years of the two Hull sides that they’re going to support one club. I genuinely think they would rather start off again in the bottom division of amateur rugby league than merge with each other.

 

[Gobsmacked]

You have literally no understanding of the sporting culture and culture in general in the UK. Plus, Leigh doesn’t have a train station.

There is no way after 150ish years of the two Hull sides that they’re going to support one club. I genuinely think they would rather start off again in the bottom division of amateur rugby league than merge with each other.

Ok, scrap that. Can we at least agree that before you're considered big enough to be in the league, first, you should at least have a train station?? Lol

 

[Taking The Two]

Ok, scrap that. Can we at least agree that before you're considered big enough to be in the league, first, you should at least have a train station?? Lol

I think Leigh have a ceiling as a club and we’re somewhere close to it. I’m not sure how much more than can offer, however, it’s whether what they offer now is enough.

 

[Perth Red]

I think Leigh have a ceiling as a club and we’re somewhere close to it. I’m not sure how much more than can offer, however, it’s whether what they offer now is enough.

Leigh have:
one of few clubs to make a profit
a decent stadium
decent crowds
great atmosphere
competitive team.

only a moron would suggest they shouldn’t be in SL because the population within 5km if the stadium isn’t very big. But this is gobby lol

 

[Gobsmacked]

Leigh have:
one of few clubs to make a profit
a decent stadium
decent crowds
great atmosphere
competitive team.

only a moron would suggest they shouldn’t be in SL because the population within 5km if the stadium isn’t very big. But this is gobby lol

The NRL are fast approaching 20k crowds being standard . In a perfect world, all be it some time away.. SL could and should be aiming in that direction. Actually pushing for higher television audience is probably more important.

If you're including sides like Leigh, who literally present NO growth opportunities whatsoever.
How do you actually think you're going to grow the League?

Your failure to grasp this simple concept only typifies the current state of the game in the UK..
without any prospects to grow.. you're destined to shrink.. and shrink you are!

Ironically, every single point you used to argue for Perth inclusion. Leigh has not got a single one - not one.

 

[Perth Red]

The NRL are fast approaching 20k crowds being standard . In a perfect world, all be it some time away.. SL could and should be aiming in that direction. Actually pushing for higher television audience is probably more important.

If you're including sides like Leigh, who literally present NO growth opportunities whatsoever.
How do you actually think you're going to grow the League?

Your failure to grasp this simple concept only typifies the current state of the game in the UK..
without any prospects to grow.. you're destined to shrink.. and shrink you are!

Ironically, every single point you used to argue for Perth inclusion. Leigh has not got a single one - not one.

lol, it’s almost like your totally ignorant of the English sporting landscape.

wishing something. To be so wont make it so. If we can get every club over 8k avg that is a more realistic goal. Then we aim for over 10k but that’s a lot of work and stadium developments ahead.

 

[axe&smash&crush]

Great win by Leigh, now a decent chance of Wigan versus Leigh Week 2 semi final, that would be massive.

 

[Perth Red]

Great win by Leigh, now a decent chance of Wigan versus Leigh Week 2 semi final, that would be massive

Wigan v leigh
HKR v Leeds is my prediction

both would be sell out games.

 

[axe&smash&crush]

Wigan v leigh
HKR v Leeds is my prediction

both would be sell out games.

Leigh v Wigan, winner gets in, that would be an awesome result

 

[Perth Red]

York submit their application. Two trophies in the bag this year already they’d have to be a fave.

Championship club submit formal Super League application with proud statement - Serious About Rugby League

Championship table toppers York Knights have confirmed they have officially submitted their application to enter next year’s Super League. The Knights were one of the clubs to register their interest last month and they have met the September 12 deadline to complete their formal application to...

www.seriousaboutrl.com

 

[Taking The Two]

Nine applicants confirmed

Hull FC
Huddersfield Giants
Toulouse Olympique
London Broncos
York Knights
Bradford Bulls
Doncaster
Widnes Vikings
Oldham

As expected, really. Doncaster and Widnes somewhat surprising, as both seem some way off the standard required. Hull and Huddersfield trying to preserve their status in the league, which shouldn’t be a problem for either based on IMG points. Nothing from Salford, I don’t know if that is blind optimism that they think they’re safe or they’re willing to accept their fate and a relegation with it.

 

[Perth Red]

Nine clubs have submitted full formal applications for consideration for inclusion in an expanded 14-team Betfred Super League in 2026.

The deadline for submissions was Friday (September 12) at close of business.

The applications will now be considered by the seven-strong Panel that was appointed last month, with a decision to announced on the composition of next season’s Super League on Thursday October 16.

The first 12 positions will be determined by the Club Grading process, as for the 2025 season, with the Panel to decide whether there are sufficiently strong applications to add another two clubs to form a 14-team competition in 2026.

The nine applications include two from existing Super League clubs – Huddersfield Giants and Hull FC.

The other seven are from clubs in the Championship, as follows: Bradford Bulls, Doncaster, London Broncos, Oldham, Toulouse Olympique, Widnes Vikings, York Knights.

Lord Caine will chair the Panel, joined by two fellow non-executive RFL directors – Abi Ekoku and Dermot Power – plus Tony Sutton and the RFL’s interim Head of Legal Graeme Sarjeant; Rugby League Commercial’s Managing Director Rhodri Jones; and Peter Hutton, the senior independent non-executive director of RL Commercial who is also a Super League (Europe) Board member.

In addition to the five pillars under which clubs are judged in the Club Grading System (Fandom, Performance, Finances, Stadium and Community), the panel will judge applications against a further set of stringent criteria relating to Finance and Sustainability and playing strength.

These include their financial performance in 2025; detailed financial performance and sustainability forecasts for the 2026, 2027 and 2028 seasons; and their ability to field a competitive team in 2026 and beyond.

from SL Facebook

 

[Taking The Two]

Matthew Shaw, the games biggest journalist in the UK, has said that more is coming on the make up of the divisions for 2026 but promotion and relegation will be a part of it.

Rugby League, always finding new ways to be ridiculous. It’s a mash up of various shit structures we’ve had, we’re asking prospective teams for financials for three seasons but will relegate them after one season anyway. Ah, well, roll on 2028 when we change structure again.

 

[shadowformz]

Super League faces 11th-hour challenge to ‘press pause button’ on expansion

Clubs fearful Super League’s proposed expansion to 14 teams could jeopardise the future of the professional sport want to delay the move until 2027

www.theguardian.com

 

[taste2taste]

Has the SL given up on the IMG process already ?

Sounds like it.