Some numbers are more equal than others in rugby league’s new regime

Under IMG, Super League promotion and relegation will be decided by social media and population size as much as results

By Gavin Willacy for No Helmets Required

By the time all 36 clubs vote on 19 April about whether to accept the new IMG regime that will see clubs promoted or relegated based on five “pillars” of performance – fandom, performance, finances, stadium and catchment – rather than just onfield results, the Super League single round attendance record may have been broken.

With the Easter derbies strung out across the long rivals round weekend, the current record of 79,173 could be beaten. Crowds are up 8% on this time last year to an average of 9,047, and are the highest at this stage since 2012. Championship attendances are also buoyant, up 10% to 2,179. With attendance accounting for half of the five points available under the fandom pillar in the new system, there can be little doubt that IMG’s manoeuvres have put pressure on clubs to up their game.