The independent panel charged with selecting new Super League clubs is now under immense pressure, as doubts swirl around the entire expansion process. A rebellion by existing clubs over the “rushed” timeline has raised serious questions about whether the panel, chaired by Lord Jonathan Caine, has been given enough time to do its job properly.
The panel is tasked with assessing the applications for a place in the 2026 Super League, with a decision due on October 16th. However, the entire framework for this process is now being challenged. Clubs are arguing that the timeline, with applications closing just last week, is far too compressed for a thorough and rigorous scrutiny of each bid.
This has put the panel in a difficult position. It is expected to make a decision of huge significance for the sport, but the very clubs it serves are questioning the validity of the process it is following. The panel’s credibility is now on the line, as it must demonstrate that it can conduct a proper due diligence exercise within the controversial time constraints.
The concerns are not just procedural; they are existential. The fear is that a rushed process could lead to the selection of clubs that are not financially sustainable or structurally ready for the demands of the top flight. This would not only affect the new clubs but would have a destabilising effect on the entire league.
As the October 16th deadline approaches, the pressure on Lord Caine’s panel will only intensify. They are now at the centre of a major row, and their final decision will be judged not only on which clubs are chosen, but on whether they can restore faith in a process that has been so heavily criticised by the league’s own members.