Rugby League 2023

[ironsonthebrain]

After the World Cups in the Autumn it's time for the domestic season again - Championship fixtures start this weekend, if any of you are at a loose end on Sunday afternoon London Broncos start their campaign against Batley Bulldogs ( kick off 3pm) , Broncos in their second season paying at AFC Wimbledon's excellent new ground. If you saw and enjoyed any of the World Cup games on TV why not give the Broncos a go?

https://londonbroncosrl.com/fixtures-results/

Piece in The S*n , London homegrown halfback Rian Horsman on his hopes for Rugby League in London

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/21207245 ... world-cup/

Don't think Superleague kicks off for another fortnight , St Helens looking to defend their title.

Could be interesting times for the sport with IMG looking to create a new plan

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/rugby-le ... e-28110203

[York Ham(mer)]

I’ll be keeping an eye on York Knights. Might wander along to a game or two. I’ve got my ticket for York Knights V Widnes Vikings.

[wolf359]

World Cup challenge this morning in very 'English' conditions. St Helens will do well to keep this close with the English record in Aus.


edit Fantastic start from St Helens 10-0 up early on.. Lightning in the area as well (commentators hoping the players are taken off)

10-0 HT, second half delayed due to storm.. amazing defence from St Helens at times.

[wolf359]

12-12 Bloody Aussies score with a minute to go (Saints blew to drop goal chances) .. Golden point incoming.

[wolf359]

13-12 Saints amazing win down under. They made bloody hard work of it though.

[ironsonthebrain]

Getting towards the business end of the season now.
Catalans were sitting pretty on top of Superleague and then got stuffed at home by Wigan.

Wigan and St Helens snapping at their heels now, must fancy their chances, all depends how Catalan respond this weekend. Leigh should still be good for a playoff place, although they're suffering a bit of a post Challenge Cup winning hangover. All but the bottom two still in with a playoff shout.
Cas or Wakey to finish bottom - Cas brought in former player and ex London coach Danny Ward, team responded with the win in the four pointer at Wakefield.

Championship winners likely to be Featherstone unless they have a late season meltdown, Toulouse likely second - everyone from 3rd to 9th still in with a top 6 shout.
London hitting form just at the right time, 7 wins from 8 and up to 5th place - big game away at 4th placed Sheffield this weekend.

Lots still to play for in both divisions.

And once the domestic season is done a 3 game series England v Tonga in the Autumn

[ironsonthebrain]

So all 6 play off teams in Super League and Championship confirmed.

Latest odds to win Grand Final
Wigan 7/4
St Helens 2/1
Catalans 5/2
Hull KR 12/1
Leigh 16/1
Warrington 20/1

Elimination games this weekend Hull KR v Leigh, St Helens v Warrington

In the Championship London go to Sheffield, Bradford home to York in the eliminators.

Every game it's own Cup final!

[Junco Partner]

Thanks for the summary ironsonthebrain, I see Leigh are getting their arses handed to them by Hull KR.

I've a sneaky feeling for Catalan Dragons for the big one, from the snippets and reports I've caught they seem a notch above the rest.

[ironsonthebrain]

Thanks for the summary ironsonthebrain, I see Leigh are getting their arses handed to them by Hull KR.

I've a sneaky feeling for Catalan Dragons for the big one, from the snippets and reports I've caught they seem a notch above the rest.

Leigh's season seems to have fallen apart a bit after winning the Challenge Cup, but in hindsight I reckon a Cup win and a place in the playoffs would be beyond any newly promoted side's wildest dreams surely?

[wolf359]

Leigh's season seems to have fallen apart a bit after winning the Challenge Cup, but in hindsight I reckon a Cup win and a place in the playoffs would be beyond any newly promoted side's wildest dreams surely?

Without a doubt, final for the first time since the early 70s, they'd have taken it with both hands (I live 5 minutes away and know the area.) They 'blew' the playoffs and the end of the season I get the impression they don't give a toss.

[Junco Partner]

Catalans beat St Helens....they're in the big one

[ironsonthebrain]

So big dramatic finish in Perpignan on Friday night, Sam Tomkins rolling back the years to score in the dying moments for Catalans against St Helens .
Wigan with Hull KR fairly comfortably so a Wigan v Catalans Superleague Grand Final at Old Trafford.

In the Championship it's going to be Toulouse v London in the final.
Toulouse overcame Bradford in Saturday's semi final , the Bulls having beaten York in the eliminators the previous week.
London travelled to Yorkshire yesterday and overcame League winners and massive favourites Featherstone Rovers , having seen off Sheffield 42-0 last week in the eliminators , also away from home.
If London are going to do it they'll have to the hard way ,three games to win away from home!

[Junco Partner]

25 mins in and the first points are on the board. 2-0 Wigan.

This is intense, the tackling is off the charts.

[wolf359]

Catalan putting a massive amount of effort in, they’ll struggle to keep this up for 80. Got to keep everyone on the field.

[Junco Partner]

Down to 12 men now, with their second bin of the day. Still hanging on though, 2-2 with Wigan blowing a try there with a forward pass.

This is tough, tough rugby.

[Junco Partner]

That was coming, the pressure was building and building.

Wigan 8 -2 Catalan.

[wolf359]

That was coming, the pressure was building and building.

Wigan 8 -2 Catalan.

Can’t see the French coming back into this. It’s one way traffic. They need a mistake or some magic.

[Junco Partner]

Dragons not getting the breaks at all. Looking like a bridge too far at the minute.

[Junco Partner]

Wigan are worthy winners, shame the romance of a Catalan win with a Sam Tomkins farewell was one for the neutral to get behind. A new name on the cup is definitely needed.

With only 4 ever winners it's in danger of heading into Scottish Football territory

[wolf359]

I was hoping they would. As a sort of st Helen’s fan (from a previous marriage) I’ve been to many grand finals. They are great events. Anyone but wigan really, shame Leigh couldn’t continue the dream.