A worrying sense of déjà vu is creeping into the Super League, as critics warn that the league may be repeating the mistakes of the past with its hasty and ill-conceived expansion plan. The current row is stirring memories of previous ill-fated initiatives, prompting a rebellion from clubs desperate to avoid another cycle of boom and bust.
The sport of rugby league has a history of ambitious restructuring and licensing plans that have not always delivered on their promises, often leading to financial instability and club failures. The current expansion drive, with its lack of a detailed public business plan and its rushed timeline, bears an uncomfortable resemblance to some of these past missteps.
The primary echo of the past is the apparent disconnect between ambition and financial reality. The desire to grow the sport is laudable, but as in the past, it seems to be proceeding without a guaranteed funding stream to support it. The decision to press ahead despite the opposition of the league’s main broadcaster, Sky Sports, is seen by some as a classic example of repeating a mistake and expecting a different result.
The lack of transparency is another familiar theme. Past failures have often been attributed to top-down decision-making where stakeholders were not properly consulted or informed. The current complaints from clubs about not receiving financial models or even meeting minutes suggest that lessons from history have not been learned.
The clubs now calling for a “pause” are effectively acting as the league’s historians, reminding the RFL of what has gone wrong before. They are arguing for a break from this cycle of rushed, top-down decision-making. They want to see a more measured, transparent, and financially sound approach to avoid a painful sense of déjà vu in the years to come.