In Defence of Leigh Centurions

Today was the day that the final club to comprise Super League in 2021 was announced. I had hoped, naively, that the outcome would not have caused outrage or controversy. With hindsight, that was misguided and an unrealistic expectation.

Since the confirmation that Leigh Centurions would receive the opportunity, the broad reaction seems to have fluctuated between bemusement and anger. Some of this anger is aimed at the Leigh club itself. This is misplaced anger.

The argument I have seen that, as another M62 club and a second club in the Wigan borough, it is unwise to cram another club from a similar geographic area into an already crowded market. 

That argument is not without merit. However, it is wrong to exclude a club purely based upon its location. Equally, it is wrong to include a club for the same reason. Location is important, but should not be determinative. 

If you are critical of the decision to add Leigh to Super League for 2021 for this reason, I would ask the following question. Why are they any less worthy of a place than Wakefield, Hull KR, Huddersfield, Castleford or Salford? I include these clubs as they either have worse facilities or lower attendances than Leigh (when they were last in Super League). Some clubs fit both criteria.

Is it the case that the current incumbents get a free pass just because they are sitting in the chair when the music stops? How can that be right? 

If we say that Leigh add nothing to Super League, it is a view preached from atop a tower without solid foundation. Firstly, what do we mean by value? And how can we exclude Leigh when at least half of the current teams, when objective criteria are applied, would fail the same tests we applied to Leigh?

Where there is rightful anger, is at the process. Darcy Lussick surmised it well:

They got an independent committee to decide on 12th team but 11 other teams decided on Toronto’s fate fml I know I’m bitter but seriously

— Darcy Lussick (@D_LUSSICK) December 14, 2020

It is a point where I cannot see a valid counterargument. Both Toronto's exclusion from Super League and Leigh's inclusion were the same decisions to make. Why was the procedure different? In fact, why did we have two different procedures? Surely the logical approach was, following Toronto's resignation, to invite Toronto and other prospective applicants?

In a damning repudiation of the Toronto project, Super League concluded that Toronto added no material value to the competition. This illogical conclusion was always going to be a slant directed at the replacement club, as few if any of the applicants could provide such a level of commercial value that an entirely new market on a continent unfamiliar with rugby could.

What Leigh do provide to Super League is stability. A stadium which looks good to TV audiences, a passionate and knowledgeable fanbase, an intense local derby to name but three things. But more importantly that all of that, a strong squad with a financial backer who can provide real competition at relatively short notice.

As a fan of the sport who would love to see the sport expand, it was of course disappointing not to see Toulouse or London admitted. But taking a long term view, it may not be a disaster. 

The promoted club has very little time to prepare. They will suffer from reduced central funding. Surviving your first year in Super League is tough. Then Toulouse may have suffered from travel restrictions. All clubs may have to contend with reduced capacity stadiums. Large amounts of the squads will not have played for 12 months. The applicants income streams have dried.

In 2021, survival will be an even tougher job than normal.

For London, an extra year in the Championship will give their academy products more time to integrate into the squad. It will allow a potential move to AFC Wimbledon's stunning New Plough Lane (we hope). It will allow them to benefit from full central funding. It will give London the best chance of re-establishing a long-term Super League presence.

For Toulouse, their squad strengthening process was already underway. They have drummed up much local support. Another year in the Championship is not a death knell. Used correctly, it is an opportunity to give yourself a running jump to attack Super League, rather than arguably being used as a sacrificial lamb to maintain the integrity of the competition.

I sensed that for York, this was too soon. But their ambition is marvellous. Their new stadium looks incredible. The club are building something special and Championship status for a further year is not going to slow them down.

Similarly, Featherstone have the opportunity to prove they can deliver on the field and prove they cannot be denied based on a parochial view of the club. Bradford, whilst again Super League may be too soon, time should be seen as an opportunity and not a hinderance, primarily, to get back into their home city.

This process, which far from perfect, has given me encouragement after a bad year. We had six Championship applicants for the final Super League place, all of whom make a valid claim. The league also has Halifax and Widnes, who whilst they could not or did not formally apply, unquestionably harbour Super League ambitions.

The stronger and more ambitious the Championship is (and Newcastle's promotion furthers that), the stronger the Super League and whole game will be.

The day will be disappointing for the unsuccessful applicants, but there should be reason for hope and optimism for all. It is Leigh who were given the shot. This will be a disappointment to many, but their challenge is now proving that they deserve their chance to challenge themselves against the best.

And I wish them all the luck in the world.