Rugby league revolution as IMG prepares to rip it up and start again | Rugby league

If it looks like rugby league has been right here earlier than, then that’s as a result of it has. In 1996, it was the pivot to summer season rugby which might revolutionise the sport eternally. Fast ahead to 2015 and there have been gimmicky hashtags as far as the attention might see – #RLNewEra, #EveryMinuteMatters … and a league construction which was doomed to fail from the start.

And for 2023? IMG is tasked with delivering the mainstream publicity everybody related to the game craves. It has a helpful platform to construct from within the form of final yr’s Rugby League World Cup, albeit one which didn’t fairly have the fairytale ending it would have hoped for, with England’s defeat within the semi-finals towards Samoa. But in impact, the worldwide media firm has been given the keys to rugby league’s citadel and afforded the prospect to rip up the playbook on and off the sphere.

That signifies that if IMG does comply with via on its preliminary proposals, this might be the final yr of Super League as we all know it, with the massive kick-off on Thursday night when Warrington host Leeds. “We’re going through a year of transformation and we need to show we’re going to make some changes – and make some changes for good,” the pinnacle of Rugby League Commercial, Frank Slevin, insisted final week.

Off the sphere, Rugby League Commercial has been fashioned after a merger of the RFL and Super League to work alongside IMG and try to drive income, sponsorship and broadcast revenue. England profitable the World Cup on dwelling soil would have helped that undoubtedly, as would information of worldwide video games to construct on any urge for food whetted by the World Cup. But, as the brand new home season begins, there may be nonetheless no information on who England will play this autumn. That has to be a precedence for IMG.

But the most important and most noticeable modifications are approaching the sphere. Promotion and relegation can be in place this yr and subsequent however in March, IMG will reveal its preliminary gradings for each membership within the skilled recreation, a licencing-style system which, from 2025, will exchange promotion and relegation and decide which groups play in Super League, and which don’t. St Helens, Wigan and Leeds are sure to obtain an A grading however from subsequent month, the scramble will start for everybody else to show to IMG they are often a part of a extra affluent future for rugby league when the gradings come into impact subsequent yr.

This may be the final yr we see Magic Weekend, Super League’s annual journey to Newcastle the place all 12 groups play at St James’ Park throughout two days. IMG has made no secret of its want to introduce a brand new premiere occasion – doubtlessly a sevens competitors – as a substitute of Magic. There is discuss of a revamp of the Challenge Cup too, with a Champions League-style group stage being introduced in. All of those modifications could also be rubber-stamped within the weeks forward, which means that 2023 might show a defining level in rugby league’s historical past.

There is an precise season of rugby to be performed, too. The different 11 sides are chasing the all-conquering St Helens, who’re bidding for a fifth straight league title. It is a run of dominance not seen for the reason that nice Wigan facet of the Eighties and 90s, and they’re the favourites to raise the title at Old Trafford again in October. The one spanner within the works for the Saints might be the after-effects of this Saturday’s World Club Challenge towards Penrith in Australia doubtlessly producing a sluggish start to the defence of their home title.

There are loads of challengers. Wigan will again be robust underneath Matt Peet, Catalans and Huddersfield too, whereas perpetual underacheivers Warrington and Hull will hope for higher than in 2022, after they completed eleventh and ninth respectively. At the underside, newly promoted Leigh have the very best probability of survival any crew coming up from the Championship have had in years: anticipate a shootout between the Leopards and Wakefield Trinity within the backside two. But above all, anticipate to be entertained as a result of whereas off-field politics usually seize the headlines on this recreation, the gamers not often fail to ship on it.

So usually, we now have seen change mooted and talked about in rugby league however the energy has usually resided with the golf equipment, who’re eager to stay in a state of inertia and resist revolution. This time, it is IMG who maintain all of the playing cards and if it doesn’t rip issues up and strive to change it, you watched no one ever will. On the sphere it can be as thrilling and entertaining as ever: off it might be simply as fascinating, too.