Apparently the most fascinating story is one of the main we’ll see emerge in the New Year. IMG has made it clear that grading clubs based on a variety of on- and off-field factors will be a big part of their vision for the future of rugby league. In the coming weeks and months, those first grades will be released, and if promotion and relegation remain in place in 2023, it will show a lot about how IMG views each club. There will be time to improve those grades before they actually take effect, but supporters and stakeholders alike will undoubtedly have a heated discussion about it.
Can the new CEO maintain control?
Even the person who will succeed Ralph Rimmer as chief executive of the Rugby Football League is unknown to us. Tony Sutton is currently in charge on an interim basis. The new leader, whoever they are, will, undoubtedly, have a lot on their plate. A developing meeting room dynamic will be fascinating to explore, however most would agree there’s some repetitional harm for the new CEO to chip away at after the residencies of the last two individuals to stand firm on the footing at the RFL.
In rugby league, a fascinating power shift is handed down to the new CEO. With the new RL Commercial arm and the board members tasked with moving the game forward, the RFL no longer holds as much power as they once did for the first time in a long time. Can the RFL, Super League, and RL Commercial coexist in a new boardroom environment?
We need to know who the actual head coach of the men’s team will be before we can learn more about the players England will field in 2023 as they attempt to recover from their World Cup disappointment. Shaun Wane wishes to continue. It stands to reason that the majority of supporters would want the same thing. However, the RFL has not yet made an official announcement. You could argue that there shouldn’t be an announcement because Wane is already signed. On the other hand, there must be clarity on that front as soon as possible.
In recent years, Leigh has been familiar with the cycle. After achieving promotion, the team is immediately relegated to the Championship.
Repeat the process. However, a team enters Super League for the first time in a long time with the expectation of doing more than just surviving. The recently renamed Leigh Panthers have selected incredibly, well. There are a lot of Super League veterans on their team, as well as players who still have a lot to offer the top division. By themselves, Ricky Leutele and Zak Hardaker stand out as significant acquisitions. Can Leigh, played by Adrian Lam, not only stay up but also have a real impact on the competition? If they do, the relegation dynamic at the bottom becomes fascinating.
In 2023, the Super League champions have big shoes to fill. Paul Wellens faces the significant challenge of following in Kristian Woolf’s footsteps and carrying on the St.
Helens era of dominance: and the Saints will be the focus of all attention to see how they adapt. The Saints will be one of the favorites once more with the possibility of Lewis Dodd returning to the team in full health. However, with all due respect to Toulouse, the Championship appears to be as open as it has been for a good few years, and how the reigning champions begin under Wellens will be a story well worth following.
Though last year it seemed like an instance of when, not if, Leigh got advancement and Toronto have blitzed through the second level lately as well.
, this time there are a decent couple of competitors to pick from. Since Toulouse won the Super League, they will undoubtedly be favorites. However, Featherstone under Sean Long will want another shot at promotion, and recent history has demonstrated that teams like Batley and Halifax can also surprise. This year, the Championship appears to be the one division that should be monitored more closely than any other, as it typically is. There is still a lack of understanding regarding the third level of rugby association. However, there is one certainty: More and more teams want to get into the Championship as soon as possible.
The perception that League 1’s very existence is in jeopardy will not have been significantly subdued by IMG’s arrival on the scene. The most prominent of those teams will be Workington and Dewsbury, both of which have been dropped, but Oldham, Rochdale, and Doncaster are also in the mix. However, only two are able to discern it. If the goalposts change at any time, no club wants to be in League 1. As a result, getting outside more often becomes more and more important