Top six Rugby League moments of 2023

This past year has been yet another brilliant chapter in Rugby League history.

The season kicked off in brilliant fashion as St Helens lifted the World Club Challenge down in Australia; however their reign of domestic dominance came to an end as bitter rivals Wigan Warriors lifted the Super League League Leaders Shield and won the Grand Final. It was a good year for the old Lancashire sides too, with newly promoted Leigh Leopards winning the Challenge Cup Final at Wembley.

In the Women’s Super League. York Valkyrie got revenge for their 2022 Grand Final defeat as they beat Leeds Rhinos. This was also a brilliant year for the Women’s Challenge Cup, with the final being played at Wembley Stadium for the first time, with St Helens lifting the converted trophy.

It wasn’t just a big year in the top flight. Halifax Panthers were also victorious at Wembley with their 1895 Cup triumph and London Broncos completed the fairy-tale return to Super League as they won the Championship Grand Final.

Here are our top six Rugby League moments from 2023:

Kev Sinfield and Rob Burrow given honours for their efforts in the battle against MND

‘Sir Kev’ and Rob Burrow again showed us what true friendship is about this year. The Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon back in May not only brought the city together in the name of MND, but it gave us the iconic image of Kevin Sinfield carrying Rob over the finish line. The legendary Leeds Rhinos captain was then at it again just before Christmas, as he completed the 7 in 7 in 7 Challenge, which saw over £1 million raised for MND causes, and to cap the year off the pair have been awarded CBE’s in the New Year Honours list.

St Helens beat Penrith Panthers in their own back yard to win World Club Challenge

The old saying ‘never write off the Saints’ could not have been a more perfect phrase for their historic victory in Australia. Many of the Australian media had in fact written off the Saints, including Phil Gould who famously claimed “Penrith should be able to declare at half time”, but Lewis Dodd would leave them eating humble pie as he slotted a drop goal in golden point to win the World Club Challenge. This win not only completed the jigsaw of trophies for the club after their era of Super League dominance, but it also marked a historic moment for British Rugby League in general with it being just the second time a British side had won the trophy in Australia.

Wigan Warriors win Super League Grand Final 

The Cherry and Whites last tasted Super League glory in 2018, the last team to do so prior to St Helens era of total Super League dominance. This made it only fitting it would be them who brought it to a close. Matty Peet’s side were outstanding in the back end of the year, and were fully deserving of the title.

Women’s Challenge Cup Final at Wembley

In a watershed moment for Rugby League, the Women’s Challenge Cup Final was played at Wembley Stadium for the first time. This was another remarkable moment for the women’s game in the UK, and showed how far the game has come in recent years. The final itself was also a great game of Rugby League, and featured a remarkable solo try from Caitlin Beavers, however it would be St Helens who lifted the trophy.

Leigh Leopards lift Challenge Cup after 52 year wait

‘Little Leigh’ were another team who defied the odds this season as they lifted the famous Challenge Cup trophy at Wembley. This win felt special for two reasons; the first is the club ended their 52 year wait to win the trophy, but also it gave something tangible to show their meteoric rise in their first season back in Super League. In the space of a year, the Leigh club had gone from winning the 1895 Cup to the Challenge Cup, and this perfectly encapsulated their rapid growth to the top of the British game.

London Broncos defy odds to win the Championship Grand Final

London Broncos started the 2023 season slowly, however they made a fairy tale run to promotion as they beat Sheffield Eagles, Featherstone Rovers and Toulouse away from home to return to the top flight. What made this even more impressive was they had to overcome a bout of COVID within the squad, which only meant they trained once ahead of their semi-final against Featherstone.