Bradford Bulls make shock Super League return via gradings system as Salford Red Devils drop out
Key Takeaways
- Bradford Bulls have secured automatic promotion to Super League starting in 2026 based on their improved grading score (10th place).
- Salford Red Devils have dropped out of the Super League following a decline in their grading score to 15th place.
- The new grading system determines the initial 12 Super League clubs for 2026, with Bradford returning for the first time since 2016.
- Championship winners Toulouse, York, and London Broncos missed automatic qualification and are competing for two remaining spots decided by an independent panel.
- Hull KR finished atop the gradings, while current Super League clubs Huddersfield Giants and Castleford Tigers were rated below Bradford.
The Bradford Bulls are set to return to Super League in 2026 after achieving a 10th-place finish in the new IMG grading system, a significant jump from their 16th-place finish last year. This improvement, raising their score to 14.81, places them automatically in the top flight for the first time since their 2016 liquidation. In contrast, Salford Red Devils have been relegated from Super League after their grading score dropped to 12.65, exacerbated by a deduction for breaching operational rules. The grading system, introduced in 2024, now determines the top 12 clubs, but two extra spots for the expanded 14-team league will be decided by an independent panel on Friday. Championship heavyweights Toulouse Olympique and York Knights, along with the star-studded London Broncos, are vying for these final two positions. Meanwhile, Hull KR topped the inaugural gradings, displacing St Helens, and the list reveals nine Grade A clubs automatically secured, with Bradford being the highest-ranked Grade B club to secure a spot.
