Apparently the clubs are voting on their ideas on Wednesday

Yes true, but they can vote all they like. If McManus dosnt think it will benefit Saints it will not happen.

At the end of the day, I just hope IMG make the decisions for the good of our game and not certain individual clubs, For too long, certain clubs have dictated policies, rules, etc, and brought the game to where we are now. Just about bankrupt. As I understand it, IMG have been given free rein to run the sport for the next 12 years, let’s hope they are big enough to do right by the game and not individual clubs.

Considering Ken Daveys massive conflict of interest we can safely say he also has a veto.

I really hope they go down expanding the top tier to 14 over the next season or two and disbanding the loop features.

Im not sure it's quite that cut and dried. However people need to realise that for all the hype IMG are glorified consultants and can't push through anything anymore than SKY could 25 years ago. All teams will vote based on self interest and always will.

I wonder what we’ll be talking about this time tomorrow, I hope we can all have a sensible debate, but more likely some will find fault with everything.
Below is a tweet from Mick Gledhill

It's remodelling/restructuring eve for the sport of
RugbyLeague because the governance and business model of the sport in England will be transformed forever by IMG tomorrow in Manchester. Very little has been given away but exciting and sweeping reform is expected.

the only thing that would turn me away from supporting any proposals would be further reducing the numbers in Super league... there are already too few teams at elite (relative for the UK) level.

any further reduction would be unpalatable (for me anyway)

Mick Gledhill is the least well informed pundit out there. Hence a load of cliches used to cover that.

I think we all learned our lesson when Glover held a meeting at the Cedar Court under the banner of the most important thing ever. Anyone remember what it was?



I have the belief that it will be a 14 team deal with a three year licence. The two promoted teams or Toulouse and the promoted team will receive reduced funding or none but may receive support by other means.

I've come to my conclusions based on the behaviour of two clubs, ourselves and Cas.

Cas know that they will never have WR sorted by 2026, not a chance. So the only way in for them after 3 years is to be a top 8 side for the next 3 years and use that as a bargaining tool. Hence the huge player spending in their part, I don't blame them.

Trinity will have a stadium fit for purpose by 2026. So we have the option of building a team. So year one sees Applegarth and his young team find their feet, anything but wooden spoon will do. Year two sees some more recognised players arriving and good youngsters getting longer deals partly to the savings made in 2023 and the ground producing more revenue improving. Year 3 sees the big push with maybe even a marquee signing. If we are top 8 in 2026 we are a walk in.

Our plan if I'm correct is IMHO better.

That’s pure speculation by the way I have absolutely no idea really.

I was genuinely excited when I attended that meeting.
The loud groans when it was announced as a flipping lottery not to mention eye rolling and a fair bit of swearing.
Never felt as deflated when we drove home.

Indeed.

Apparently IMG are only sharing their suggestions with clubs today.
The vote isn't until much later in the year.

Do you know if we will get to see their suggestions? Surely they must decided before everyone can plan for next season

Remember it well, so many fans turned up it required 2 sittings, one lot waiting outside the meeting room, while the first sitting had to listen to lottery sales talk, those poor Trinity players coming round the tables trying to sign people to the lottery looked really embarrassed. As people left the first meeting and telling those waiting to go in what happened, most of the second sitting just left, as you say, a very disappointing night.

I think I read yesterday they were showing the clubs their proposals before going public with them

I missed the first sitting by getting a beer in.
It certainly was a long night. Mind you, the 1873 lottery is still going !

As for IMG, I read somewhere that their final suggestions will be implemented and not open to a vote ?
It will be interesting to see what they finally come up with.

You could be right, my understanding is, all clubs received the IMG proposal last Wednesday and today was to be the announcement to the public. Sadly as ever, the biggest shake up to our sport since the introduction of full time Super League, and our RFL/SL administrators keeping the fans, sponsors, players etc in the dark. No information from them regarding the release of information as to when the news is released.

Just seen this tweet from Mick Gledhill, I’ve no reason to doubt him on this

For those asking, here is how the IMG/RFL announcement will unfold today:

The clubs and community members are meeting with IMG/RFL to see the restructuring presentation at 10:30 am.

Members of the media like myself are being shown the same IMG/RFL presentation at 2:00 pm.

Players and Fans (hopefully not) screwed over and nailed to the floor at 3pm....

Seriously hope not

Well, if its restructuring, there are only really two choices: ten teams or fourteen teams.

Two leagues of ten isn't two super leagues but what we have now but smaller. The only way to avoid it would be to have more money for the lower league and a higher salary cap, so the team that comes up can do so competitively.

Fourteen teams means less money for everyone unless they make it UK-based only, so not sure how that will fly with those balancing the books.

I completed the IMG survey and one of the questions (or maybe more) was about the presence of French teams. The RFL may take the view that Catalans is an expensive luxury. Costs money to send teams over and costs thousands in ticket sales when they make the finals, as they don't bring many with them (understandably).

We all know it's going to be ten, it's being knocking around for so long. It's whether it includes french sides and how much for the lower leagues.

Interesting point.
If they decide to get rid of the French teams - in the fact that Toulouse have been relegated anyway and they still bring up Batley/Leigh that would make it at an 11 team comp....
So they'd have to get rid of a team - which should mean that Warrington get relegated....
Can't see that happening tbh.........

It will likely be for the year after next, so Leigh (we know it'll be Leigh) won't be affected. If they go for ten teams but keep the French teams, it's just shrinkage, but will mean more loop fixtures.

Personally, I'd like to see fourteen teams, but they should increase the overseas quota and consider raising the cap. There are plenty of good not-quite-NRL players who could shine over here. Remember, Nico Hynes couldn't get an NRL berth two years ago and now he's just won the Dally M Medal. Bevan French was playing in the Queensland Cup.

Our problem is depth of talent. Fourteen teams of good players would make for a good comp and just make it home and away,

Everyone RFL Sky etc are saying they want the game to be sustainable, yet sky sayings it great to fly to France for a game of RL. With energy being in crisis, it would seem the correct thing to let Catalans to play in their own French league

https://www.superleague.co.uk/article/3 ... mendations

https://www.superleague.co.uk/article/3 ... mendations