LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
Bradford Bulls are set to return to the Super League in 2026 after securing 10th position in the new gradings system, resulting in the Salford Red Devils dropping out of the top league.
According to skysports.com, the Bulls dramatically improved their score from 12.15 last year, which placed them 16th, to 14.81 this year, allowing them to climb six spots to 10th. This advancement grants them an automatic place in the Super League.
This marks Bradford's return to the Super League for the first time since their liquidation and relegation in 2014.
While Bradford celebrates this achievement, Championship Grand Final winners Toulouse, the top team York, and the high-profile London Broncos have all been left out via the gradings system. They will be vying for two additional Super League spots, with an announcement expected from an independent panel on Friday.
Remarkably, Bradford holds a higher rating than established Super League teams such as Huddersfield Giants and Castleford Tigers. The latter, previously rated Grade A in 2024, has now fallen to Grade B with a score of 14.66.
Once considered a powerhouse in the early 2000s, Bradford clinched four Super League Grand Final titles in the years 1997, 2001, 2003, and 2005.