Matt Ellis celebrates ‘great achievement’ as Wakefield promotion is confirmed
Wakefield Trinity owner, Matt Ellis, has expressed his delight at the club’s promotion to the Betfred Super League, calling it a “great achievement”. The announcement came after IMG’s official gradings revealed that Wakefield were one of nine clubs granted an ‘A’ grade.
Despite facing tough competition, Wakefield secured their return to the top flight with an impressive 36-0 victory over Toulouse in the Championship Grand Final. The club’s progress and success under Ellis’ leadership have been evident, with significant off-field advancements, including the opening of a new 2,500 capacity stand.
With their ‘A’ grade status secured, Wakefield will enjoy immunity from relegation as long as they maintain their current standards. Ellis commended the club for their hard work, saying, “It’s a great achievement by everybody at the club. We’ve bounced back and the score we’ve received is the icing on the cake.”
Wakefield’s score of 15.09 pushed them over the threshold for promotion, with St Helens, Wigan, and Leeds leading the rankings. Other clubs like Hull KR, Warrington, Catalans Dragons, Leigh, and Castleford also secured ‘A’ grades, ensuring their spots in the top bracket.
The introduction of the gradings system, based on five ‘pillars’ including fandom, on-field performance, finance, stadium, and community, has reshaped the league structure, moving away from automatic promotion and relegation. This shift has sparked discussions about potential expansions of the top flight and re-evaluating the competition structure in the future.
Overall, the announcement of Wakefield’s promotion to the Super League has been met with positivity, with the club replacing London as the bottom club. The results have also sparked conversations within the rugby league community about the future of the competition and the possibility of further expansions.
In conclusion, Wakefield Trinity’s successful promotion to the Betfred Super League highlights their resilience and determination to excel in the sport. With a strong foundation and commitment to maintaining high standards, the club is poised for a promising future in the top flight of rugby league.