The IMG gradings have been released ahead of the 2027 Super League season, with London Broncos 16th.
Twelve months ago, Super League's expansion to 14 teams combined with the relegation of Salford Red Devils meant that York Knights, Toulouse Olympique and Bradford Bulls were all promoted to the top flight.
This season however, there were no guarantees of Championship clubs receiving promotion, with no formal expansion announced. But with the NRL's expected investment in Super League, it's believed the organisation sees London as a vital part of Super League, and with no teams being relegated, the top flight will likely expand once again to 15 teams, with London given the nod.
There would be a degree of controversy in the promotion, of course. The Broncos were by far and away the best team in the Championship last season following a huge cash injection by Australians Grant Wechsel and Darren Lockyer, winning 23 of their 24 league games as well as the Grand Final, and their place in the top flight would come on merit. But according to the IMG gradings, the Broncos actually sit 16th, below Championship rivals Barrow Raiders.
The IMG criteria has changed for the 2026 season, with more points allocated for performance, which naturally benefits Super League clubs playing at a higher level, and with the last two seasons counting rather than the last three, it further benefits clubs like Wakefield, Toulouse, York and Bradford whose Championship campaigns either count less than before or not at all.
Wakefield are the big climbers, top of the IMG gradings for the 2026 efforts in winning the Super League Grand Final.
There were nine Grade A clubs last season -- Grade A clubs are automatically guaranteed a Super League spot -- though Hull FC and Catalans Dragons are now marked as Grade B, with Castleford Tigers being bumped up to Grade A.
2027 rank | Club | 2026 points | 2027 points | Change |
Grade A | ||||
1 (+7) | Wakefield Trinity | 15.47 | 17.85 | 2.38 |
2 | Leeds Rhinos | 17.28 | 17.03 | -0.25 |
3 (+2) | Leigh Leopards | 16.33 | 16.72 | 0.39 |
4 (+2) | Warrington Wolves | 16.26 | 16.72 | 0.46 |
5 (-1) | Wigan Warriors | 16.37 | 16.46 | 0.09 |
6 (-5) | Hull Kingston Rovers | 17.85 | 16.45 | -1.4 |
7 (-4) | St Helens | 16.74 | 15.59 | -1.15 |
8 (+3) | Castleford Tigers | 14.66 | 15.03 | 0.37 |
Grade B | ||||
9 (-2) | Catalans Dragons | 16.11 | 14.83 | -1.28 |
10 (-1) | Hull F.C. | 15.06 | 14.72 | -0.34 |
11 (-1) | Bradford Bulls | 14.81 | 13.93 | -0.88 |
12 | Huddersfield Giants | 14.65 | 13.5 | -1.15 |
13 | Toulouse Olympique | 13.25 | 13.44 | 0.19 |
14 | York Knights | 13.04 | 13.24 | 0.2 |
15 (+3) | Barrow Raiders | 9.62 | 9.85 | 0.23 |
16 | London Broncos | 11.65 | 9.77 | -1.88 |
17 (+5) | Doncaster | 7.85 | 9.21 | 1.36 |
18 (+1) | Widnes Vikings | 9.39 | 9.11 | -0.28 |
19 (+1) | Sheffield Eagles | 8.47 | 7.85 | -0.62 |
Grade C | ||||
21 | Salford RLFC | - | 5.71 | 5.71 |
22 | Oldham RLFC | 7.51 | 7.22 | -0.29 |
23 | Batley Bulldogs | - | 7.03 | 7.03 |
24 | Hunslet RLFC | 6.87 | 6.64 | -0.23 |
25 (+3) | Rochdale Hornets | 5.52 | 5.12 | -0.4 |
26 (+4) | Midlands Hurricanes | 4.89 | 4.28 | -0.61 |
27 (+6) | Newcastle Thunder | Incomplete | 4.18 | - |
