LONDON BRONCOS’ league status next season remains uncertain after the capital club failed to even rank as the highest Championship outfit in the new club gradings.

The existing Super League sides have taken the top 14 spots in the grading table, meaning they all maintain their places in the top division next year.

London are now relying on the outcome of negotiations between the NRL and Super League, with the former said to want the Australian-owned Broncos promoted as a condition of investment into the European competition.

While London have just completed the second-tier treble of 1895 Cup, League Leaders’ Shield and Championship Grand Final, their sudden elevation would prove even more controversial after placing 16th in the gradings.

That’s below Barrow Raiders, who scored 9.85 points out of 20 available across the five pillars of fandom, finance, stadium, community and on-field performance.

London earned 9.77 points, a sharp drop from 11.65 twelve months earlier, when they also came in 16th place but below the old Salford Red Devils club.

In fact it’s the second successive fall in their grading score, having placed 14th with 12.65 points at the end of 2024, which resulted in their relegation from what was then a twelve-team Super League.

There is a huge gap between those two clubs and York Knights, who came 14th with 13.24 points.

That’s despite significant investment into the Broncos by an ownership group headed by mining magnate Grant Wechsel and Australian rugby league legend Darren Lockyer, and their subsequent on-field success.

The NRL’s demand for an extra spot in Super League has met reported resistance from some clubs, and would come with a range of complications from scheduling to central distribution funds.

Meanwhile, two other clubs with long-term ambitions to reach Super League came in 17th and 18th place in the gradings.

Doncaster (9.21 points) and Widnes Vikings (9.11) earned Grade B status alongside Sheffield Eagles (19th, 7.85 points).

Oldham, another who hold top-flight dreams, only achieved a Grade C score, coming 20th with 7.22 points.

For the first time, completion of the grading process was not mandatory, and as a result only twelve of the 20 Championship clubs did so.

Batley Bulldogs, Hunslet, Salford (graded as a new entity), Rochdale Hornets, Midlands Hurricanes (who are being rebranded as Birmingham) and Newcastle Thunder submitted all the required data and were given Grade C scores.

Keighley Cougars, vocal opponents of the system, declined to do so, as did Dewsbury Rams, Keighley Cougars, Swinton Lions, Whitehaven and Workington Town.

Halifax Panthers and North Wales Crusaders, who have both had changes of ownership this year, also didn’t receive scores.

The Welsh outfit, who plan to rebrand as Wales Crusaders, are still awaiting confirmation from the Rugby Football League of whether they will be granted a licence to participate in the Championship next season.

Club gradings:
1 Wakefield Trinity 17.85 (A)
2 Leeds Rhinos 17.03 (A)
3 Warrington Wolves 16.72 (A)
4 Wigan Warriors 16.46 (A)
5 Hull KR 16.45 (A)
6 Leigh Leopards 16.31 (A)
7 St Helens 15.59 (A)
8 Castleford Tigers 15.03 (A)
9 Catalans Dragons 14.83 (B)
10 Hull FC 14.72 (B)
11 Bradford Bulls 13.93 (B)
12 Huddersfield Giants 13.50 (B)
13 Toulouse Olympique 13.44 (B)
14 York Knights 13.24 (B)
15 Barrow Raiders 9.85 (B)
16 London Broncos 9.77 (B)
17 Doncaster 9.21 (B)
18 Widnes Vikings 9.11 (B)
19 Sheffield Eagles 7.85 (B)
20 Oldham 7.22 (C)
21 Batley Bulldogs 7.03 (C)
22 Hunslet 6.64 (C)
23 Salford 5.71 (C)
24 Rochdale Hornets 5.12 (C)
25 Midlands Hurricanes 4.28 (C)
26 Newcastle Thunder 4.18 (C)