Every year, rugby league promises to take a step forward. And every year, it somehow manages to stumble back into old habits. The latest IMG club gradings are a perfect example.
Hull KR topping the 2025 rankings is a genuine success story. They’ve built well, engaged their community, improved their facilities, and turned themselves into a properly modern club. They deserve their place at the top.
But the headline that stands out for me is the return of Bradford Bulls. They’ve come in 10th with a score of 14.81, putting them on course for a Super League return. And honestly, I find it really disappointing.
The Nostalgia Trap
Let’s be honest. Bradford are being rewarded for what they were, not what they are. Nobody denies their importance in rugby league history. The crowds, the trophies, the star players of the early 2000s – that era was incredible!
But that was a long time ago. In recent years, they’ve achieved little more than mediocrity. They’ve been a solid Championship side at best, not a standout. Yet here they are, climbing into the top tier because of what their name used to mean.
The grading system was supposed to be about building the future of the sport. It’s ended up feeling like a reward for nostalgia.
Odsal: A Symbol of Stagnation
The most frustrating thing is the stadium. Odsal has history, sure, but it’s not fit for a modern Super League club. It’s a huge, half-empty bowl that looks bleak on TV, with the grass destroyed by the speedway and an icy wind that blows through the grey terraces no matter when you visit.
We keep hearing about “growing the sport” and making it more attractive to new audiences. Then we turn around and televise matches from one of the shabbiest grounds in the country. How does that help rugby league look like a professional, forward-thinking sport?
Odsal #superleague pic.twitter.com/pZuw7b4sqQ
— Mark Staniforth (@markstani1) October 16, 2025
If Bradford were packing Odsal out every week, maybe it would be different. But they’re not. They barely bring 4,000 fans to home games. That’s not a figure that screams “Super League ready”. I have no issue with the club being in the top flight if they perform well and bring big crowds. But right now, they’re doing neither.
Meanwhile, clubs like London, York, and Toulouse are the ones who’ll likely miss out. And those are the teams actually trying to grow the sport in new areas.
The Flawed Promise of IMG’s System
When IMG first got involved, I thought the idea made sense. Rugby league needed a proper plan for sustainability and growth. But this grading system has shown its flaws. It rewards heritage and market size more than ambition or innovation.
There are even reports that some clubs are being investigated for allegedly buying social media followers to boost their engagement scores. If that’s true, it completely undermines the process. It makes the grading look less like a genuine measure of progress and more like a numbers game.
When a club can climb the rankings thanks to a famous badge, a faded fanbase and some inflated online stats, it’s hard to believe the sport is moving forward.
A Missed Opportunity
Tomorrow’s announcement confirming the two additional clubs for the 14-team Super League will say a lot about where the sport is heading. But looking at these gradings, it seems likely that one of London, York, or Toulouse will miss out. And if Toulouse or York miss out in favour of London – despite their on-field achievements – it is a huge smack in the face for either club. (Plus, who doesn’t love an away trip to Toulouse? Best weekend ever, win or lose!)
Each of those clubs offers growth potential and an opportunity to connect with new audiences. Bradford, for all their history, doesn’t.
If the Bulls modernise, perform well, and rebuild their fanbase, then fair play to them. But right now, their comeback feels like a step backwards. It’s another sign that rugby league still struggles to let go of the past and still doesn’t fully know how to develop into its future.
Final Thoughts
Rugby league continues to talk about expansion, professionalism, and progress. But until decisions like this begin to reflect those values, the sport will remain exactly where it has been for years – caught between what it used to be and what it could become. What do you think? Will the Bulls Super League charge allow them to return back to glory days and show a new side to the sport?
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