UK Teams Rated : 2019 Also Rans

Of the twelve clubs in the comp (I know 14 would be much better), seven didn't make the playoffs. They also ran, but not fast enough. So how did they go?

12th. 20 points London Broncos (South England).

Boxed above their weight and were in the hunt until the last round. A fantastic effort, but deservedly the team that should be relegated in terms of performance and quality. If heart was the determining factor...

11th. 20 points Hull KR (Yorkshire).

The team was better than this but they struggled and lost games they should have won toward the end of the season. The very loyal fans deserved better.

10th. 22 points Huddersfield Giants (Yorkshire).

Not a bad side but perhaps short of a bit of quality in key positions. Unless they address that, this season will be repeated in 2020.

9th. 22 points. Wakefield Trinity Wild Cats (Yorkshire).

Some good players but a side that struggled for consistency. Their goal difference shows they were some way better than the three below them, but the points tally didn't reflect that.

8th. 24 points. Leeds Rhinos (Yorkshire).

How the mighty have fallen. A poor coach and a dismal start to the season had people talking of their relegation. A new coach and some better results got them out of trouble. The only side here with a positive points differential.

7th. 26 points. Catalan Dragons (France).

They started the season well and looked to be heading to the playoffs. Then a crash in form and out of contention. The fans are understandably disillusioned with the loss of form in a season that promised much.

6th. 30 points. Hull FC. (Yorkshire).

During the season I was constantly surprised where this team was on the ladder. I had the impression they were scrapping at the lower end of the table but much of the time they were in a playoff spot. The fact that the points difference was less than the 9th placed side says it all for me. A poor effort that didn't deserve a place in the finals.

	Rk	Team	Pts	W	L	Diff
	6	Hull FC	30	15	14	-123
	7	Catalan Dragons	26	13	16	-192
	8	Leeds Rhinos	24	12	17	6
	9	Wakefield Trinity	22	11	18	-115
	10	Huddersfield Giants	22	11	18	-205
	11	Hull KR	20	10	29	-220
	12	London Broncos	20	10	19	-282

UK Super League Attendances : 2017-2019

The 2019 season recorded a 2.4% drop on last year, but less games were played. A more accurate picture is painted by looking at the average instead and that was up 1%. Not a bad effort after some poor weather at the season's beginning. In fact, after ten rounds, the average was down 7.1%.

Leeds retained the top spot, up 3% despite a poor season on the pitch by their standards. St Helens came in next and +4.4%, up two places. Their fine run of form no doubt a factor. Wigan retained third spot with a 1.5% rise, but Hull FC dropped two places with a forgettable year. Some fans are wanting a change of coach.

Warrington (+12.4%) was 5th and the Catalan side from France increased 26.2%. The latter benefited with a game at the Camp Nou, Barcelona. Others were Hull KR (+4%). Castleford (-6.5%), Wakefield (+7.9%), Huddersfield (-4.5%) and Salford (+33.3%).

Those savvy with numbers will wonder why only a 1% increase with so many doing better than that. It was due to Widnes being relegated and London promoted. That caused a drop of 56.3%! So while it was great having London in the top flight, it did hurt attendances.

SUPER LEAGUE
	2019		2018		2017
1	Leeds	12,757	Leeds	12,359	Leeds	14,711
2	St Helens	12,251	Hull FC	11,804	Wigan	13,669
3	Wigan	12,060	Wigan	11,528	Hull FC	11,375
4	Hull FC	11,821	St Helens	11,231	St Helens	10,946
5	Warrington	11,079	Warrington	9,795	Warrington	10,164
6	Catalans	10,722	Catalans	8,125	Catalans	8,612
7	Hull KR	8,273	Castleford	7,751	Castleford	8,779
8	Castleford	7,488	Hull KR	7,873	Leigh	6,301
9	Wakefield	5,346	Huddersfield	5,471	Huddersfield	5,873
10	Huddersfield	5,132	Wakefield	5,011	Widnes	5,587
11	Salford	3,677	Widnes	4,624	Wakefield	5,269
12	London	1,974	Salford	2,826	Salford	3,904
	Magic W/E	56,869	Magic W/E	64,319	Magic W/E	65,407
	Matches	174	Matches	180	Matches	181
	Total	1,466,924	Total	1,502,397	Total	1,601,905
	Avg	8,431	Avg	8,347	Avg	8,850

NRL Teams Rated : 2019 Also Rans

The teams that had an early end to the season. A time to reflect on what might have been and plan for a more successful 2020.

16th: 10 points, Gold Coast (Queensland).

A total disaster any way you look at it, dropping from 14th to wooden spoon winners in 2019. The coach was sacked during the season but with the squad he had I wonder how he was supposed to be successful. Historically teams on the Coast have struggled and that continues.

15th: 18 points, St George (NSW).

After making the finals last year, the team fell away badly as the season progressed and so did the crowds. The coach seems to have survived what is the club's worst result in its history. Surely it can be only up from here.

14th: 20 points, North Qld Cowboys (Queensland). After seven consecutive years of being in the finals, they came 13th in 2018. Unfortunately, the club went one worse in 2019, although one better than a disastrous 2010. Without play maker Thurston, it was always going to be a transitional period but this is below what most expected.

13th: 21 points, NZ Warriors (New Zealand).

After a promising start, they got hit with a series of poor refereeing calls and then a drop in form. They have only made the finals once in eight years and their long suffering fans yearn for much better.

12th: 22 points, Canterbury Bulldogs (Sydney).

In the first half of the season, they were rubbish and by the end of it a top performing side. That should indicate a much better 2020 season. In the end, the same finishing position as last season.

11th: 22 points, Newcastle Knights (NSW). A reverse season to the Bulldogs, they end of year form was so poor, the coach and the club parted ways. On paper, they had a good side but games are won on grass. As with the Bulldogs, the same finishing position as last season.

10th: 24 points, Penrith Panthers (Sydney). After enjoying finals footie last year, this was a disappointment. Inconsistency was the key to their downfall.

9th: 24 points, Wests Tigers (Sydney). A rocks and diamonds team, they were classy on their day but ordinary at other times. But for the Broncos luckily getting a draw, they would have just made the playoffs.

	Rk	Team	Pts	W	L	Diff
	9	Wests Tigers	24	11	13	-11
	10	Penrith Panthers	24	11	13	-61
	11	Newcastle Knights	22	10	14	-37
	12	Canterbury Bulldogs	22	10	14	-151
	13	New Zealand Warriors	21	9	14	-141
	14	Queensland Cowboys	20	9	15	-122
	15	St George-Illawarra Dragons	18	8	16	-148
	16	Gold Coast Titans	10	4	20	-281