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The article reports that all 14 Super League rugby league teams will remain in the competition for next season, based on yearly gradings released by the Rugby Football League (RFL). Despite winning multiple championships, London Broncos failed to qualify again due to their low grading score of 9.77, placing them below the required threshold. The article highlights Wakefield Trinity's rise to top position with a record grading score of 17.85, emphasizing improvements in fan experience, finance, stadium quality, community engagement, and on-field performance.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-08,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Wakefield Trinity topped the Super League club gradings in 2026, scoring 17.85 out of a possible higher score, just ahead of Leeds Rhinos with 17.03 and Warrington Wolves at 16.72. Despite winning three titles in their lower division, the London Broncos were graded last among all clubs at 9.77 and thus failed to secure a place in Super League for the upcoming season. The gradings consider factors such as fan experience, financial stability, stadium quality, community impact, and on-field performance, with IMG formulating the criteria. Although Grant Wechsel, Darren Lockyer, and other high-profile supporters hoped otherwise, London Broncos' poor financial standing kept them in the second-tier Championship division for another year along with Barrow Raiders at 9.85.
Written for “Super League Lineup Announcements” on 2026-10-08,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
- Published
All 14 Super League clubs will remain in the competition next season after the release of the yearly gradings - as second-tier treble winners London Broncos again miss out.
asserted
Broncos → publish → gradings
Broncos won the Championship Grand Final, the 1895 Cup and were runaway champions in the regular-season standings.
asserted
Broncos → win → standings
But, despite the backing of Australian businessman Grant Wechsel, former Brisbane Broncos star Darren Lockyer and a squad full of internationals, they only finished 16th in the gradings, below fellow Championship side Barrow Raiders.
Following their Super League Grand Final success, Wakefield Trinity have come top of the ratings, based on criteria formulated by media giant IMG, for the first time.
asserted
Trinity → finish → time
Five factors are taken into account when working out the scores - fan experience, finance, stadium, community and on-field performance.
asserted
factors → take → field
Wakefield have matched 2025 champions Hull KR's record grading score of 17.85 from 12 months ago, to continue their rise on and off the field under Matt Ellis' ownership.
asserted
Wakefield → match → ownership
"Wakefield Trinity's rise to the top of the 2026 club grading rankings is a fascinating story for rugby league, and a strong example of how sustained progress on and off the field can be recognised through the grading framework," said RFL chief executive Ian Nolan.
asserted
Nolan → recognise → framework
"Their achievement sits alongside encouraging movement across the sport, from growing attendances and digital audiences to continued improvements in facilities and community delivery.
asserted
achievement → sit → facilities
"
Leeds Rhinos remain second, although their score of 17.03 is slightly lower than they achieved in the 2025 rankings.
asserted
they → remain → rankings
Warrington Wolves have jumped from sixth to third on the back of a much stronger season which culminated in reaching the Grand Final at Old Trafford, only to lose to Wakefield.
asserted
which → jump → Wakefield
It is fourth place again for Wigan, who won both the Challenge Cup and the League Leaders' shield, just above Hull KR and Leigh Leopards.
asserted
who → win → KR
St Helens drop from third to seventh after a season in which they missed out on the play-offs for the first time in the Super League era.
asserted
they → drop → era
Castleford Tigers complete the Category A clubs as they have risen from 11th in 2025 to eighth and move into the top-tier section despite finishing 13th in Super League.
asserted
they → complete → League
Catalans Dragons and Hull FC are ninth and 10th, but both have fallen from an A to a B grade.
asserted
both → fall → grade
Then come Bradford Bulls and Huddersfield Giants, with the two newcomers to the league in 2026, Toulouse Olympique and York Knights, occupying 13th and 14th, albeit with higher scores than last year.
asserted
newcomers → come → year
However, only six of the 14 Super League clubs have scored higher than they did 12 months ago.
asserted
they → score → ?
York's score of 13.24 was comfortably higher than the next best, Barrow with 9.85, while London only achieved 9.77, which was down on their mark of 11.65 from last year.
asserted
which → achieve → year
Overall, 26 clubs were graded on this system,, external split into three categories, A, B and C.
The ratings of the top 16 clubs
Category A:
1 Wakefield Trinity - 17.85
2 Leeds Rhinos - 17.03
3 Warrington Wolves -16.72
4 Wigan Warriors - 16.46
5 Hull KR - 16.45
6 Leigh Leopards - 16.31
7 St Helens - 15.59
8 Castleford - 15.03
Category B:
9 Catalans Dragons - 14.83
10 Hull FC - 14.72
11 Bradford Bulls - 13.93
12 Huddersfield Giants - 13.50
13 Toulouse Olympique - 13.44
14 York Knights - 13.24
15 Barrow Raiders - 9.85
16 London Broncos - 9.77
asserted
clubs → grade → KR
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