European SL 2026 Finals

The 2026 season has concluded. How have the top six clubs fared? Here's my assessment.

6:Leigh Leopards. Sixth in the league and out at the first hurdle in the finals, the quarters. They wanted more as they made the semi finals in 2025 but not good enough.

5: Hull KR. Grand final winners to a quarter final exit, but poor discipline and perhaps over confidence unhelpful to the cause. Fifth in the league too.

4: Leeds Rhinos. Second in the league gave them a bye but narrowly lost their semi final match. There was some murmuring about the penalty that sunk them but I thought it fair. A good season but not quite there.

3: Wigan Warriors. Already had won the league and cup, they were so good on their day but their semi final was a poor effort. Comprehensively beaten and not a reflection of their season.

2: Warrington Wolves. Always the bridesmaid but never the bride, this was their chance to make it their year. Third in the league and a grand finalist. They recently have often played in the finals series and have made grand finals, but their last grand final victory was 1986! They need to catch the bouquet.  

1: Wakefield Trinity. The Trinity comes from when they were formed in 1873 as a team associated with a church. Their last grand final victory was 1968! Since then they have struggled to emulate their better times. They were in the second division in 2024.

Fast forward two years. They came fourth in the league and then won three games to take the grand final. They led 19-0 at the break and despite losing the second half on the scoreboard, were just too good. Well done Trin. A highlights video will follow soon. 

If you missed my coverage of the league season, simply click here.

Queensland State Club Rankings: 2022-26

The Queensland competition is a vibrant one, covering a large distance and even reaching up into PNG. The last five years are covered here, points allocated according to how I've done it. There could be other ways to do it.

Gold Coast club the Burleigh Bears are the most successful, just ahead of the Redcliffe Dolphins. The latter act as a feeder club to the Dolphins in the NLR, giving them a slight advantage, provided it is managed well. No other club has such a direct link to to a top tier club. 

Some clubs are consistent on a good or not so good way. Others can be surprisingly variable, such as Bribane side Norths and the PNG Hunters in 2026. Any decent player in this league not getting a crack in the NRL should look at Super League in the UK. Some are going and doing well. 

UK Women's RL Rankings: 2023-26

Currently, the UK game for women revolves around four clubs. These are listed below at rankings 1-4. They have contested all the finals between them. Wigan have been the most successful over the past two years, but it's St Helens that have been the most successful, according to the way I've scored it anyway. 

There are three competitions, the League, Finals and cup listed below. As Cardiff and London haven't played at the top level in England, the cup is their only opportunity to score points, and commendably, they both have. 

Saints had a relatively poor 2026, the fourth best club. Is that a hiccup or a sign of things to come? Captain Jodie Cunningham and vice captain Emily Rudge are departing, leaving a potential leadership problem. We will see.  

As for depth, the top four sides offer some financial reward to the players to varying degrees. I don't think below that any teams offer anything other than the pleasure to play. Barrow does well, in the top tier of the women's game while not to have a men's team in the top division.  Featherstone is doing even better, with no men's team at present.