Following the announcement of the 2025 IMG gradings, here is our breakdown of the key winners and losers from across the leagues.
Winners
Bradford Bulls
Undoubtedly, the big winners from today’s gradings are Bradford Bulls after their return to Super League was confirmed. It’s been a long old wait for the Bradford faithful to see their side back in the top flight, some would say too long for a team with their history in the Super League era, but they are back in the big time moving forward.
Yes, questions remain about Odsall, and will likely remain until drastic changes are made, but Bradford have clearly adapted their plans to suit the new IMG model and benefited from it with a return to Super League.
Will it be the same Bradford that won four Grand Finals? No, absolutely not, but it’s a chance for them to prove they are worthy of being at rugby league’s top table.
Hull KR
Just days after their Grand Final triumph, Hull KR have finished top of the IMG pile too. Their rise to the top might have come in one fell swoop, capped with their treble-winning season this year, but it’s been anything but an overnight success. The Robins are the advert for what teams can do in this new era for rugby league, and how to grow a club organically.
Be it through Craven Street or dramatic on-field growth, everything Hull KR have done has worked in tandem to grow the overall outlook of the club and help turn them into a serious force within the game.
Hull FC
Over on the other side of the city, Hull FC also come out of this IMG grading list in a better place, with the Airlie Birds now sitting on an A Grade under the framework. This again has come amid serious growth over the past year after the takeover of Andrew Thirkill and Dave Hood, notably in their on-field improvements this year, but it’s good to see another team grow their score and achieve an A Grade.
Last year’s mark would have come as a shock, too, given the size of the club, so this is certainly a welcome boost.
Leigh Leopards
Yet another club who have shown genuine organic growth, Leigh Leopards again emerge from the IMG gradings in a strong position. The work that Leigh have done, both on and off the field, since their return to Super League is again a proper advert for how things can be done to really turn a club’s fortunes around and climb up to the dizzy heights of the top table.
Finishing just 0.04 points behind local rivals Wigan Warriors, alongside their overall growth and retention of an A Grade, will also come as a huge positive for the club and further shows just how far they have come in a short space of time.