Hull KR top the 2025 Club Grading rankings with record score

Bradford Bulls climb from 16th to 10th to secure promotion to the Betfred Super League...

Hull KR’s historic on-field success in the 2025 season has lifted them to the top of the Club Grading rankings produced by the RFL and IMG to measure and drive the development of the sport. 

The Robins, who won their first Betfred Super League title at Old Trafford on Saturday night to follow their Wembley triumph in the Challenge Cup Final in June, become the third different club to lead the way in as many years since indicative gradings were first published in 2023 - with Leeds Rhinos and St Helens, who were top in 2023 and 2024 respectively, now second and third. 

Hull KR’s total score of 17.85 out of a maximum 20 across the five grading pillars – Fandom, Finance, Stadium, Community and On-Field Performance (*see below for full details) – is the highest achieved by any club over the last three years, boosted by 0.75 points for their Grand Final triumph, and 0.25 for their Challenge Cup win. 

They were sixth in the original indicative rankings in 2023 with a score of 15.52, climbing to fifth last year with 15.97. 

Nine of the 12 Betfred Super League clubs have passed the threshold of 15 points required for an A Grade – the same number as in 2024. 

Wigan Warriors, who finished second in the Super League table and reached their third consecutive Grand Final, are fourth in the rankings, with Leigh Leopards climbing two places to fifth. 

Warrington Wolves, Catalans Dragons and Wakefield Trinity all retain their A grading in sixth, seventh and eighth respectively, and Hull FC regain Grade A status and climb from 10th to ninth after lifting their overall grading score from 14.51 to 15.06. 

Bradford Bulls are the highest-ranked of 15 clubs who earn a B Grade, climbing from 16th in the 2024 table to 10th by lifting their score from 12.15 to 14.81 – and making them comfortably the highest-ranked club from outside the current Betfred Super League. 

They are followed by Castleford Tigers (14.66) and Huddersfield Giants (14.65) – with those three B-graded clubs joining the nine Grade As in the 12 who secure automatic places in the 2026 Super League. 

Following a decision by the existing Super League clubs to prioritise expansion of the competition, a Panel has been considering the possibility of admitting two additional clubs for 2026 – with their decision to be announced on Friday morning. 

Those clubs who do not secure Super League places will play in an expanded Betfred Championship in 2026, following a recent decision to merge the Championship with Betfred League One. 

Batley Bulldogs and Whitehaven, the two clubs who were not graded in 2024 because of delays in their submissions, come into the table in 21st and 29th respectively – Batley graded B with a score of 8.16, and Whitehaven one of nine clubs who receive a Grade C with a score of 6.23. 

Goole Vikings' score of 5.46 reflected a single year of competition following their entry to Betfred League One in 2025.

Keighley Cougars and Newcastle Thunder have not been given a score having failed to meet the deadline for submitting the necessary information, although as in the cases of Batley and Whitehaven last year, the RFL will work with those clubs to assess what their score and ranking would have been should it be relevant in terms of their share of central distributions. 

Salford Red Devils have slipped from 12th with a score of 13.97 to 15th with a score of 12.65, with their Finance score reflecting information submitted for the 2022-24 seasons – and not including the 2025 season. 

They have had 0.25 points deducted from their score as a result of the deduction of two competition points for breaching operational rules in their team selection for the Round One fixture at St Helens in February. 

Salford are one of three clubs, with Featherstone Rovers and Halifax Panthers of the Betfred Championship, who are the subject of HMRC petitions, which could affect their Finance score for 2026 should the petitions be confirmed.

Full details of the five pillars are published in the 2025 Club Grading Handbook here.