Rugby League clubs from all three tiers of the game have received their IMG gradings for 2025.
The scoring system has been changed this year and two of Cumbria’s teams have been ranked lower than in 2024.
Barrow had a score of 11.22 in the first round of gradings which put them in Category B and 17th of the 35 clubs.
This time round they are still Category B but with a score of 9.62 and one place lower in 18th.
Workington Town were 24th last year with a score of 7.26 and in Category C.
Under the new scoring system that is now 6.57, which keeps them in Category C but in 27th.
Whitehaven were late in producing their figures in a troubled 2024 season so were not scored or categorised.
They have been assessed this time and are 29th with 6.33 points and in Category C.
Nine clubs have been given Category A status with Hull KR, the new champions, top of the pile on 17.85.
Last year’s initial table had St Helens out in front on 17.02 but they have dropped to third (16.74).
Barrow Raiders said: “If we review the scoring, then we have dropped points due to the increasing of the digital thresholds, and we lost a profitable year of 2021 from the finance section which put our average performance into a slight loss.
“There was also a slight loss in utilisation as the crowds were greater in 2022 that have been replaced by 2025.
“It has been a very challenging period financially, and the club needs continual backing from the supporters if it is to remain sustainable.
“Although we believe that promotion and relegation should be decided by matters on the field, coupled with minimum standards, we do acknowledge that much of the grading system is designed to help us focus on raising standards of the club.
“The lack of a Super League standard stadium is obviously going to hold the club back no matter how many points are scored in other areas.
“The location of the stadium gives little scope for improvement, and the club is actively exploring the possibility of a new facility that would give the town and club something to be proud of.
“The massive investment and multiplying local workforce may mean that funding becomes available and we continue to canvass key stakeholders in the town.”
Workington Town said it would update fans with its feedback in due course and how it planned to continue the upward trajectory the club was on overall into 2026 and beyond.
It added: “We’ll take this opportunity to once again thank our IMG team who submitted on time and diligently worked on the submission.”
Whitehaven said: “In 2024 we didn’t even know if we would have a club so IMG submission took a back seat while we fought hard to rebuild our great club, build back the trust of our supporters, players and sponsors.
“The IMG information was submitted but was late and we ended up with no IMG score.
“This year we have relentlessly worked hard to put things in place to help us grow the club and secure its future.
“We have moved up six places from 2024 and we are really pleased with that.
“The score is based on the average of the last three years so probably doesn’t give a true reflection of where we are right now as a club.
“IMG gets a lot of bad press but when you sit down and read through it it’s basically everything a club should be doing anyway to help promote the game and make the club more sustainable.
“We have some fantastic plans in place for the 2026 season and we believe the club will just go from strength to strength.”
