St.Helens’ Chairman Eamonn McManus explains the background to and reasons for the decision.
The competition structure and size has been subject to perennial and exhaustive review, analysis, and debate by, and between, all Super League clubs over a number of years.
It has been uniformly recognised that the loop fixtures inherent in a 12-team competition results in material revenue reductions due to understandable unpopularity with fans and the consequent effects on gate receipts, sponsorship, hospitality, and broadcast appeal. It also undermines competition parity, and integrity. It destroys value in many ways and at many levels.
The in principle majority decision to expand to 14 teams was made by Super League club owners one year ago, but after discussions with the RFL, it was decided to defer implementation from the 2025 season to 2026 in order to conduct further preparatory measures.
Detailed analysis carried out by individual clubs was then supplemented by an independent study conducted by the recently formed Strategic Review Committee of the RFL. It discussed this and other matters over a period with individual clubs. It then presented comprehensively to Super League clubs before the shareholders’ meeting last week. It recommended in favour.
No clubs voted against increasing to 14 teams, although two preferred a further deferral to 2027.
Importantly, any final decision is conditional upon detailed review and due diligence to be conducted by a highly qualified and experienced panel to be chaired by Lord Jonathan Caine. A person of the highest integrity and probity, he oversaw the same process as previously employed to select Leigh Leopards to join Super League four years ago. Undoubtedly it worked then and is now tried and tested: Leigh Leopards have gone from strength to strength and have since contributed significant additional value to Super League.
It is critical that such a process is employed over and above the IMG grading system for existing clubs as grading alone does not guarantee solvency and growth, as has unfortunately been amply illustrated by the continuing Salford debacle.
If the stringent standards to be applied by the review panel are not so met by two additional clubs, then the competition will remain at 12 in 2026. No unnecessary or unjustifiable risks will be assumed by the competition.
Throughout each of the 28 years of Super League our principal broadcast partners have taken the consistent view that it is the decision of the Super League clubs alone to determine the size and composition of their own competition. Recent private discussions with them have reconfirmed this longstanding and wholly understandable stance.
There are some very exciting potential club additions to our competition for next season. The latest success story of Wakefield Trinity amply illustrates the ability of well funded, ambitious and visionary Championship clubs to add new excitement and value to Super League, even in their first year of participation. There is real potential and opportunity to add two more, and the rigorous selection process to be adopted and applied will only in turn strengthen and focus new applicants’ business plans and strategies in time for 2026.
Certainly our own view was that 2027 would have presented any Super League newcomers with an even more challenging recruitment environment in view of the then additional demand for players from Perth Bears, and even from the potential new global rugby union franchise which will undoubtedly target the existing rugby league player pool.
This competition growth decision represents the first component of a more wide ranging overview of the game by the recently appointed Strategic Review Committee of the RFL. It is the only component which constitutionally required shareholders’ approval and therefore it needed earlier and separate action.
Recent years have witnessed very significant levels of investment in a number of Super League clubs with new or additional owners. This has undoubtedly added to the competitive strength and prospects of the competition. To underpin and expand this trend through a robust and exhaustive independent selection process can only add to the growing investment momentum which individual clubs are experiencing – probably now at its highest level in the history of the game.
This decision now has to be supported and complemented by a stronger investment case being developed for the game itself. Carefully and correctly selected competition growth can only enhance this essential objective.
Eamonn McManus was also on the latest episode of the League Express Podcast, discussing further the points made in statement – you can watch or listen to that podcast by clicking play on the video below.