Rochdale Hornets confident of competing in stronger League One

[Total Rugby League]

ROCHDALE HORNETS chairman Andy Mazey believes that the standard in League One will be higher than ever in 2025, but that head coach Gary Thornton...

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[glemiln]

Emphasising the above:

Clubs that finished the Regular Season in 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th in the Championship will compete in the Middle 8s along with the top four Clubs from League 1.
 

All Clubs in the Middle 8s will play four matches against opponents from the other respective division, two home and two away.

At the conclusion of the Middle 8s, Clubs finishing in 1st and 2nd in the Middle 8s league table remain in the Championship for the 2026 Season.

The Clubs finishing in 3rd and 4th in the Middle 8s league table play off at the home venue of the 3rd placed Club for the final place in the 2026 Championship with the loser competing in League One in the 2026 Season along with the Clubs positioned 5th to 8th in the Middle 8s league table.

[HornyHornyHorneeet]

43 minutes ago, glemiln said:

Emphasising the above:

Clubs that finished the Regular Season in 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th in the Championship will compete in the Middle 8s along with the top four Clubs from League 1.
 

All Clubs in the Middle 8s will play four matches against opponents from the other respective division, two home and two away.

At the conclusion of the Middle 8s, Clubs finishing in 1st and 2nd in the Middle 8s league table remain in the Championship for the 2026 Season.

The Clubs finishing in 3rd and 4th in the Middle 8s league table play off at the home venue of the 3rd placed Club for the final place in the 2026 Championship with the loser competing in League One in the 2026 Season along with the Clubs positioned 5th to 8th in the Middle 8s league table.

A real big ask for any of the L1 teams that isn't it, but an exciting concept and should bring some quality play off games at the back end of the year. 

Just making the L1 top four will be much harder this year with three down from Championship and sides like Midlands and North Wales upping their recruitment and budgets I believe.

I listened to Widnes coach post match interview yesterday he expects North Wales to win L1 or at least be in and around the top having added to last years side with 3 from Widnes and 5 from a Swinton's Championship team of last year.

Going to be a heck of a competition and exciting for us as fans and we look in decant shape to challenge for a place amongst the action.

Edited February 10 by HornyHornyHorneeet

[Blind side johnny]

5 hours ago, HornyHornyHorneeet said:

A real big ask for any of the L1 teams that isn't it, but an exciting concept and should bring some quality play off games at the back end of the year. 

Just making the L1 top four will be much harder this year with three down from Championship and sides like Midlands and North Wales upping their recruitment and budgets I believe.

I listened to Widnes coach post match interview yesterday he expects North Wales to win L1 or at least be in and around the top having added to last years side with 3 from Widnes and 5 from a Swinton's Championship team of last year.

Going to be a heck of a competition and exciting for us as fans and we look in decant shape to challenge for a place amongst the action.

More than a big ask. It must be significantly odds against any L1 club being promoted under this system.

In addition it has already been announced that the same play-off format will be in place in 2026, with the simple change being that the top 3 in the eights will go/stay up and a final tie between 4 and 5 deciding the other (until they change their mind, again!).

[Joe 90]

PADDY POWER ODDS TODAY TO WIN LEAGUE ONE !

North Wales Crusaders

 

4/1

 

Goole Vikings

 

5/1

 

Midlands Hurricanes

 

6/1

 

Dewsbury Rams

 

15/2

 

Rochdale Hornets

 

17/2

 

Workington Town

 

11/1

 

Swinton Lions

 

12/1

 

whitehaven RLFC

 

14/1

 

Cornwall Rlfc

 

125/1

 

Newcastle Thunder

[wayner]

So the team that wins League 1 division isn't automatically promoted - again I guess its just me but why would League 1 clubs agree to the middle 8s competition which everyone agrees will be really hard for League 1 clubs to make it to the Championship................:(

[Athleticgrounds]

On 10/02/2025 at 10:20, glemiln said:

Emphasising the above:

Clubs that finished the Regular Season in 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th in the Championship will compete in the Middle 8s along with the top four Clubs from League 1.
 

All Clubs in the Middle 8s will play four matches against opponents from the other respective division, two home and two away.

At the conclusion of the Middle 8s, Clubs finishing in 1st and 2nd in the Middle 8s league table remain in the Championship for the 2026 Season.

The Clubs finishing in 3rd and 4th in the Middle 8s league table play off at the home venue of the 3rd placed Club for the final place in the 2026 Championship with the loser competing in League One in the 2026 Season along with the Clubs positioned 5th to 8th in the Middle 8s league table.

I studied Russian, that was easier to fathom out. 

[Big Doug]

And they call Super League a pretectionist bunch. Even the very best league one team will have no chance. We might as well wave the white flag now.