SKY SPORTS pundit Jon Wilkin has slammed Super League clubs “that don’t contribute anything” following the news that London Broncos owner David Hughes will step down from his position as chairman.
It brings to an end over 20 years of ownership from Hughes which, in that time, he has ploughed in millions to the London project in a bid to spread rugby league in the capital.
The Broncos created quite the stir in 2024, winning three Super League games and almost pipping Hull FC to the post in terms of finishing off the bottom of the table.
However, 2024 proved to be the only season for London in the top flight following IMG’s plans to ‘reimagine’ rugby league, which saw the capital club ranked 24th out of 36 professional sides.
Now Wilkin has tore into some of the Super League clubs that occupy the top flight.
Wilkin said on Sky Sports’ The Verdict: “There’s a lot of clubs in the league that don’t contribute anything. They just take the TV deal and survive. For a team like London, there’s loads of reasons they scored lowly in the IMG ratings but David Hughes selling the club, it’s alarm bells for rugby league in London. At this point in history, the game has decided they’re not in.”
Wilkin also paid tribute to Hughes and the amount that he has invested into the Broncos over the years.
“He’s put tens of millions of pounds into supporting London and pushing it so it’s a desperately sad day. It may be the last time we see David Hughes attached to the club in London.
“It doesn’t look great because there is a guy there who has put £25 million of his own money into the game. He has invested that much into the game and through the rules we are saying ‘your money is no longer good.’ I think it’s crazy.
“The IMG system was voted in – all the clubs voted it in – but the unintended consequence of that is you lose a man who has devoted a large amount of his wealth to growing rugby league.”
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