London Broncos Owner Pleads for Scrapping of ‘Bizarre’ IMG Grading System, Remains Hopeful for 2025 Super League Spot
London Broncos owner David Hughes has delivered a passionate plea for the ‘bizarre’ grading system implemented by IMG to be scrapped, insisting the capital club haven’t given up hope of regaining their place in the Super League by 2025.
The Broncos pulled off a remarkable feat last season, securing promotion to the top flight through the Championship play-offs, defeating both Featherstone Rovers and Toulouse Olympique away from home. However, their return to Super League has been far from straightforward, as they currently sit with just one win from their first 19 games.
“We’ve not really (given up hope of being a Super League club in 2025),” Hughes said during a half-time appearance on Sky Sports. “I just hope that we can retract and get away from the IMG ruling, which is bizarre. I don’t want to comment too much on it, but it was all based off our last three years where we’ve been down in the Championship. We’ve been in Super League for 20 out of the 27 years, and I don’t know how that was assessed.”
Despite their on-field struggles, Hughes, a lifelong rugby league enthusiast from Swinton who made his fortune as an oil trader, remains steadfast in his belief that the new grading system is fundamentally flawed. The system, set to come into effect from 2025, considers various factors beyond just on-field performance for promotion and relegation decisions, and has seen the Broncos ranked a lowly 24th among clubs across the top three tiers.
The Broncos’ recruitment strategy for the 2024 season has been to rely heavily on local talent, with a sprinkling of stars from elsewhere, in an effort to combat the challenges posed by the top flight. However, as expected, the squad consisting of part-time players has struggled to adapt, winning just one of their first 19 games.
As the Broncos prepare to take on Catalans Dragons in Round 20 on Sunday afternoon (August 4), Hughes remains hopeful that the ‘bizarre’ IMG ruling can be reconsidered, allowing the club to maintain their place in the Super League beyond the 2024 campaign.
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