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‘Must be answered’ – Wigan Warriors CEO asks huge question over Super League rivals

‘Must be answered’ – Wigan Warriors CEO asks huge question over Super League rivals

Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com – 24/02/2024 – Rugby League – Betfred World Club Challenge – Wigan Warriors v Penrith Panthers – DW Stadium, Wigan, England – Jake Wardle congratulated by Kris Radlinski.

Wigan Warriors chief executive Kris Radlinski has questioned why there hasn’t been more planning to ensure London Broncos’ success in Super League, something he believes could and should happen at the top levels colleagues from Catalans Dragons.

The Catalans Dragons have been one of Super League’s big ‘success stories’ in terms of expansion, according to both Eddie Hemmings and Kris Radlinski, something the pair discussed on Hemmings’ podcast this week. The Eddie and Stevo Podcast.

The French outfit have won a Challenge Cup and reached the grand final twice, beaten by St Helens in 2021 and Radlinski’s Wigan Warriors in 2023. They have established themselves as one of the elite teams in Super League and that is due in part the support offered by the club when entering the competition.

It’s almost 20 years since the club entered Super League, but one team that has been around for just as long but hasn’t quite managed to succeed in the same way is the London Broncos. The club has had various names, but in its current form as the London Broncos, they have failed to maintain a place in the Super League for back-to-back years in the 2013 and 2014 seasons.

Radlinski has now discussed the lack of planning to support the Broncos The Eddie and Stevo Podcast.

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Should London Broncos be protected in Super League?

London Broncos Super League

Credit: Imago Images

One of the major reasons for the Catalans’ eventual success was that the French side were protected for the first three years by the Super League, meaning they could not be relegated and have the project canceled before it even started. Eddie Hemmings referenced this on his podcast, prompting Radlinski to question why London was not granted similar status.

Hemmings said: “If you remember Catalans Dragons when they came in, they had a three-year moratorium. They finished bottom of the table, weren’t going anywhere and were allowed to build and look where they are now. One of Super League’s great success stories.”

On that note, Radlinski responded: “Absolutely. He invested so much money, Bernard, and he still packs the stadium and the teams here still bring a lot of fans there. So it was a real success story.

“But it doesn’t seem to have been thought through from a London point of view, which is surprising when you look at it as a key priority. France was another, the women’s game was another, London, they were the three. Why there hasn’t been more emphasis on what we’re doing with London is that it needs to be answered, to be honest.”

With the IMG grading determining the Super League line-up in 2025, it looks almost certain that London Broncos will be relegated with the club ranked 24th in the preliminary grades when they were announced last year.

Radlinski has previously argued that London Rugby League needs to be protected and pointed to the club’s impending relegation for off-field reasons as a bad message for the game.

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