Wakefield Trinity share disappointment over 'inappropriate and unfair' grading aspect despite positive score

Trinity were relegated from Super League this year but have been given the biggest indication yet that their stay in the Championship will be a short one after earning a place in the provisional top 12.

Wakefield rank 11th on 12.52 points and will benefit from a higher stadium score next year due to the redevelopment of their Belle Vue home, while new owner Matt Ellis has already got to work on improving other areas of the club.

Trinity are well placed for an immediate return to Super League when the new system comes into effect from the end of 2024 but believe they are being hampered by the methodology behind the catchment pillar, which leaves Wakefield sharing points with Castleford Tigers and Featherstone Rovers.

"We continue to be supportive of the new method of assessing clubs’ readiness for participation in Super League which go live for the 2025 season," read a statement.

"In the light of the difficult times the club have been through, particularly on the field in 2023, we are pleased with our outcome of 12.52 points and a ranking of 11th in the games’ overall pyramid.

"This reflects a significant improvement from the provisional score of 11.14 indicated to us in August with the improvement being largely due to the strong financial figures contained in our recently filed accounts and progress in our social media reach.

"Our results are particularly pleasing because they do not yet reflect the impact of our new East Stand which will be completed next month. We expect the facilities within the new stand to significantly lift our score when it is recalculated in October 2024.

"Matt Ellis and his new team also have several areas they are working on which are expected to yield even more progress.

"The one area we remain disappointed in is that of catchment. We feel the current methodology is inappropriate and unfair on a major heartland of rugby league such as the city of Wakefield and we look forward to continuing discussions as to how the measurement of this category might be improved in the coming year."