October 31, 2023

Matt Ellis Discusses IMG Grading Criteria, Starting with Performance

Good Evening everyone, Happy Halloween to you all, as mentioned in my statement on Sunday, I would like to go into more depth on my ambitions for the club.

With IMG being the hot topic in Rugby League at the minute I would like to release a series of statements regarding the 5 main grading criteria against which IMG are scoring all Rugby League  clubs. I would like to start with performance as the first grading criteria.

IMG Grading


Whilst ultimately it is the IMG score that will determine whether we compete in Super League in 2025 our goal for next season is to finish top of the Championship table and win the Grand Final. It would be an absolutely fantastic evening if we could host the Grand Final at Belle Vue in-front of a packed stadium. 

We want to achieve our promotion on merit by proving we are the strongest team in the Championship. We are building a squad and coaching setup capable of achieving this and with each player that we have signed or re-signed for the 2024 season knows what we are aiming to achieve. 

All the lads I have spoken to have expressed the same ambitions and are eagerly anticipating the challenge ahead. We cannot be complacent, tough games lie ahead but we need to give 100% every week to achieve our goals. Further player signings will be made and announced when completed. 

Moving forward into the 2025 season and beyond we are looking to build a team that can compete for honours. Ultimately we want to be competing in Grand Finals and  Challenge Cup  Finals and getting major trophies back to Belle Vue to emulate the great teams of the 50’s and 60’s. The appointment of Daryl Powell and Micheal Shenton alongside Steve Mills form the start of a new backroom team that we feel can make the club competitive again at the top level. 

We are currently talking to new backroom staff and appointments will be announced in the coming days. I want to create a settled backroom team 100% focused on delivering to our supporters and the City of Wakefield a team to be proud of.

Have a great Halloween all.

Matt Ellis, Owner