“Buyer’s Remorse”: Did Super League Clubs Approve an Expansion They Didn’t Understand?

A severe case of “buyer’s remorse” appears to have set in among Super League clubs, prompting a rebellion against an expansion plan that many now seem to feel they approved without fully understanding the consequences. The “overwhelming” vote in July is now being re-evaluated as clubs grapple with the stark financial realities of the decision.
The root of this remorse seems to be the lack of information provided at the time of the sale. Clubs allege that the Rugby Football League (RFL) pitched them the glorious vision of a 14-team league but failed to provide the fine print—namely, a detailed business plan and a financial risk assessment. In the excitement of the moment, a majority bought into the vision.
Now, in the cold light of day, they are looking at their purchase and seeing the flaws. The most glaring issue is the opposition from the league’s main broadcaster, Sky Sports, a critical detail that has made the entire proposition look unworkable. The realisation that expansion means less money per club, not more, has also caused significant regret.
This buyer’s remorse is now manifesting as a desperate attempt to return the product. The call to “press the pause button” is effectively a demand to nullify the July agreement and re-open negotiations. The clubs feel they were sold a lemon, and they want their vote back.
This situation has left the RFL in the position of a high-pressure salesman who is now facing an angry group of customers. It must now either convince them that the product is better than it looks or agree to a refund in the form of a delay or a revote. Whatever happens, the trust in the salesman has been irrevocably damaged.