Player of the season
Wigan’s Bevan French was a worthy winner of the Steve Prescott Man of Steel award. But there is one other player who always seems capable of creating something from nothing whenever you watch him play: St Helens’ Jack Welsby. Still only 22 and already England’s youngest-ever captain, Welsby is one of the most complete players English rugby league has produced for years. He is box office.
Breakout star of the season
Two years ago, Abbas Miski was playing in the Championship. This season the Lebanese winger finished as the joint-top scorer in Super League with 27 tries. His form inadvertently led to a tactical switch that proved pivotal in Wigan’s run to Grand Final glory too, with the aforementioned French moving from the wing to half-back. Handy.
Best game of the year
It was all the way back in February, but St Helens’ World Club Challenge victory over Penrith in Australia sent ripples through the sport. The short-term legacy? The Saints being crowned the world’s best side. But in the long-term the first victory by a British club side in Australia since 1994 probably revived the concept, proven by the Panthers’ intent to come to England to face Wigan in 2024.
Obligatory international rugby league complaint
Thought England’s Test series victory over Tonga and New Zealand’s impressive demolition of the world champions, Australia, ushered in a new, prosperous era for the international game? Think again. Soon after Tonga landed back home Samoa announced they weren’t bothering with touring England next year after all, leaving Shaun Wane’s side without a competitive fixture in 2024 as things stand.
Best ‘only in rugby league’ moment
Always a category overflowing with choices. Super League was forced to pull its promotional video for the new season hours before the big kick-off in February after filming in an area of Yorkshire land not used for public access, prompting the local water company to file a complaint. The League 1 game between Oldham and Workington being postponed when a lorry overturned on the M6, causing a milk spillage, was another highlight. But who can forget the moment in May when a bull owned by the Catalans chairman, Bernard Guasch, invaded the pitch and caused pandemonium during the warm-ups at the Dragons’ game against St Helens. Iconic.
Biggest administrative gaffe
Again, a category with more nominations than the Oscars. The Rugby Football League will have to shoulder some responsibility surrounding the shambolic circumstances that have led to England’s men having no games pencilled in for 2024. But the governing body and Castleford Tigers submitting incorrect information to IMG that led to the Tigers being erroneously ranked 13th – outside the Super League places for 2025 – is the winner. Best make sure those numbers are correct next year when the rankings count for real.
Best alternative transport
Unable to fit an open-top bus down the tiny streets of Palau-del-Vidre after winning the Coupe de France, Palau called on the services of a local farmer to arrange for a tractor and accompanying trailer to do the job instead.
Standout lower-league story
A worthy mention to League 1 Cornwall who, in only their second year of existence, defeated a traditional heartlands team from the north for the first time when they triumphed over Rochdale. But who else could it be other than London Broncos? In the lower reaches of the Championship midway through the year, Mike Eccles’s side beat the promotion favourites Toulouse and Featherstone away from home in the playoffs to return to Super League in 2024. They did it without a single northern player in their squad too. Maybe there is something in this expansion business after all.
Animal-themed surprise of the year
Leigh: everything about them. Their winter rebrand from the Centurions to the Leopards, with a leopard-print kit for good measure, was met with ridicule – until, of course, they broke club merchandising records. No matter, the newly promoted Leigh would be a laughing stock on the pitch, surely? Erm, not quite. They booked big bands to play pre-match, regularly sold their stadium out: oh, and they won the Challenge Cup for the first time since 1971. Their owner, Derek Beaumont, had a leopard-print suit made for the occasion, and the players celebrated in leopard-print bucket hats. Needless to say, the town once derided as a bus stop in Wigan had the last laugh.
Team of the year
Jack Welsby (St Helens); Tom Johnstone (Catalans), Adam Keighran (Catalans), Jake Wardle (Wigan), Abbas Miski (Wigan), Bevan French (Wigan), Lachlan Lam (Leigh), Robbie Mulhern (Leigh), Edwin Ipape (Leigh), Tom Amone (Leigh), Liam Farrell (Wigan), James Bell (St Helens), John Asiata (Leigh).
Biggest curveball moment
IMG last December, when asked about rugby league’s future in London: “We’re all sitting there thinking there’s a sleeping giant here.” Then, days after London Broncos were promoted back to Super League for 2024, IMG ranked them 24th out of the 35 professional clubs – meaning at the end of next year, they’ll be booted back out to the Championship under the newly introduced gradings system. Oops.
Far-too-early 2024 prediction
Hull Kingston Rovers to win a trophy. The Robins have made huge strides in recent years and while they lost in this year’s Challenge Cup final and the semi-finals of the Super League playoffs, they look well placed to go again in 2024. Beyond that: a long-term international calendar and a settled, consistent league structure we can all get behind? OK, perhaps that is too far-fetched for this rollercoaster of a sport.
