Wigan and the Hull clubs voted against expanding.


I’ve no issue with expanding to 14 teams - it’ll even out the fixture list, provide more variety as a fan, more opportunities for clubs to make money, and give the RFL more leverage/potential UK subscribers when they come to negotiate a new TV deal next year.



However, the method (first 12 teams by IMG and another two by an ‘independent’ panel) is a joke. If more people cared it’d be considered corruption.  Wood worms his way back in and I bet you anything Bradford are back in Super League next year despite being ranked 15th or 16th most commercially viable by a genuinely independent body in IMG, because a bloke he’s done a solid for says so. 



Expect it to look something like this next year:


St Helens
Wigan
Leeds
Warrington 
Hull KR
Catalans
Hull FC
Wakefield
Leigh
Castleford
Toulouse
Huddersfield
Bradford
London or York

If it has to be Bradford, then it also has to be York.

Agreed.  They're a good side and have a nice stadium.  

It’ll be Toulouse via IMG (check their data from last year and this year), then Bradford and London via the ‘independent panel’. I can explain why but I don’t think anyone cares.

Having a nice stadium or a good team isn't the point of IMG.
It is trying to establish financially stable with growth potential.


The stadium, finances and social media type checks establish that.


So I'm not sure what else an independent group is going to use to decide.

Looks like the lower leagues are being merged too. Big fan of that, and hope they go with a Championship East / Championship West format. There'd be a few mismatches (particularly in the short term for Newcastle and Keighley), but better crowds, less money spent on travel, more consistent end to each season, and a proper season for League One clubs. I assume it'd look something like this:


Championship East


Batley
Bradford or York
Dewsbury
Doncaster
Featherstone
Goole
Halifax
Hunslet
Keighley
Newcastle
Sheffield


Championship West


Barrow
Midlands Hurricanes
North Wales
Oldham
Rochdale
Salford
Swinton
Whitehaven
Widnes
Workington


Each team plays home and away. Then top 6 of each division come together for a play off series.