Wakefield Trinity's triumphant 2026 season has propelled them to the summit of Super League's Club Grading rankings, capping a remarkable turnaround for the West Yorkshire outfit.
The grading process underwent a significant change from 2026 onwards, with participation becoming voluntary rather than compulsory. This means the final standings reflect only those clubs who elected to participate in the assessment, rather than providing a comprehensive ranking of every Super League and Championship side.
Trinity's Grand Final victory on Saturday, which ended their 58-year wait for a top-flight title, earned them a score of 17.85 out of a possible 20 across the grading model. This matched the joint-highest score ever recorded, equalling Hull KR's achievement from 2025, and represented the best performance of any club in 2026.
The improvement from their eighth-place finish in the previous year's grading was striking. Trinity recorded the largest year-on-year gain of any club, climbing by 2.38 points, with 0.75 bonus points awarded specifically for their Grand Final triumph under the Performance pillar.
The grading framework assesses clubs across five distinct pillars: Fandom, Finance, Stadium, Community and On-Field Performance. The on-field ranking uses the last two seasons, weighted 65% for the latest season and 35% for the previous one, meaning recent success carries greater weight in the calculation.
Trinity secured Grade A status (15 points or above), joining seven other clubs at that elite tier. Their 2026 performance score was calculated using the two most recent seasons, with each club's average position in the pyramid converted into points, reflecting their journey from Championship to Super League success.
Wakefield's ascent has been remarkable in scope. The club faced relegation from Super League in 2023 after receiving an indicative grading score of 12.52, which placed them 11th at that time. They bounced back by winning the Championship Grand Final in 2024, securing Grade A status upon their return to the top flight. Last year they reached the Super League Play-Offs, and this season they have combined Grand Final glory with top-ranking status.
The club's playoff journey this year saw them finish fourth in the regular season, before reaching their first Super League semi-final with a 26-16 victory over Leigh Leopards in the Eliminators.
Trinity become the fourth different club in as many years to occupy the top spot since the grading process began. Leeds Rhinos topped the rankings in 2023, St Helens in 2024 and Hull KR in 2025, with Wakefield now taking their turn at the summit.
The Grade A tier is completed by Leeds Rhinos in second place with 17.03 points, Warrington Wolves—the beaten Grand Finalists—in third with 16.72, and Wigan Warriors in fourth with 16.46. Last year's Treble-winning Hull KR occupy fifth position with 16.45 points, followed by Leigh Leopards (16.31), St Helens (15.59) and Castleford Tigers (15.03).
Castleford's return to Grade A status represents a significant recovery, having dropped to 11th place in 2025. Meanwhile, Catalans Dragons and Hull FC have both slipped from Grade A to Grade B, falling from seventh and ninth positions respectively to ninth and 10th in the current standings.
The remaining Grade B clubs in the top 14 are Bradford Bulls (13.93), Huddersfield Giants (13.50), Toulouse Olympique (13.44) and York Knights (13.24). All 14 clubs who featured in the top tier last year have retained their places and are now automatically guaranteed Super League spots in 2027.
A dozen Championship clubs participated in the grading process, with some doing so purely for internal benchmarking purposes. Five Grade B clubs emerged from the Championship cohort. Barrow Raiders achieved the highest ranking among second-tier clubs in 15th place, while Grand Final winners London Broncos climbed to 16th.
Doncaster RLFC recorded the second-largest year-on-year improvement across all participating clubs, gaining 1.36 points and rising from 23rd to 17th after contesting Sunday's Championship Grand Final against London. Widnes Vikings also secured Grade B status.
RFL Response
Ian Nolan, RFL Chief Executive, praised Wakefield's achievement and the broader health of the sport.
Wakefield Trinity's rise to the top of the 2026 Club Grading rankings is a fascinating story for Rugby League, and a strong example of how sustained progress on and off the field can be recognised through the grading framework.
Nolan highlighted encouraging trends across the professional game.
Their achievement sits alongside encouraging movement across the sport, from growing attendances and digital audiences to continued improvements in facilities and community delivery. The RFL will keep working with clubs to support responsible growth, long-term resilience, and the strongest possible future for the professional game.
The RFL introduced club grading in 2023 as part of its long-term strategic partnership with IMG, establishing a framework designed to encourage sustainable development across the professional game.
