UK Elite Teams By Season : 1946-50

For the summary of the seasons from 1945/46 to 1949/50, points have been allocated according to success. The league, finals, Challenge Cup, League Cup, Yorkshire Cup and Lancashire Cup are listed in that order. Back then the table consisted of up tot thirty teams, playing regionally to save on travel. I've counted the top sixteen only in any year as a maximum.

First: Wigan just ran away with this one. Four league titles, three grand finals, a Challenge Cup and four Lancashire Cups.

Second: Bradford secured two Challenge Cup victories (one above; British Pathé) and three Yorkshire Cups. Sounds underwhelming after Wigan's haul.

Third: Hudderfiled won a grand final. That's it. Obviously pretty consistent otherwise. 

UK Elite Teams By Season : 1951-55

For the summary of the seasons from 1950/51 to 1954/55, points have been allocated according to success. The league, finals, Challenge Cup, League Cup, Yorkshire Cup and Lancashire Cup are listed in that order. 

First: Warrington was the beat around this time, the 1953-54 season in particular was their year. For the five years, two league titles, two grand finals, and Challenge Cup. Not a bad spell for the club from Cheshire. The 1954 Challenge Cup reply at Odsal, Bradford between Warrington and Halifax attracted at least 102,000 spectators (pic above). Final score 8-4 to Warrington (first match 4-4).

Second: Wigan were next and started the five year period at the top but by the end of it, their form had dropped enough to leave them in second place. A grand final. Challenge Cup and two Lancashire Cups was the tally in the end.

Third: Huddersfield won a Challenge Cup and two Yorkshire Cups to just push Halifax into fourth. The latter had some strong years but one disastrous year cost them.

UK Elite Teams By Season : 1956-60

For the summary of the seasons from 1955/56 to 1959/60, points have been allocated according to success. The league, finals, Challenge Cup, League Cup, Yorkshire Cup and Lancashire Cup are listed in that order. 

Challenge Cup Final 1960. Pic Hull FC

First: Hull FC won three consecutive grand finals and although no other titles came their way, enough to be the best for this period. Never the best in any year but very consistent. The cup final introduction pictured above led to a Wakefield win 38-5.

Second: St Helens was oh so close with two league titles, a grand final victory and a Challenge Cup win.

Third: Wigan secured a grand final and two Challenge Cups for the five year stanza.

UK Elite Teams By Season : 1961-65

For the summary of the seasons from 1960/61 to 1964/65, points have been allocated according to success. The league, finals, Challenge Cup, League Cup, Yorkshire Cup and Lancashire Cup are listed in that order. Only three finals series were held.

First: Wakefield had a strong side in the early 1960's. They didn't win the league but two Challenge Cups (one above; British Pathé) and three Yorkshire Cups were enough to be placed top. 

Second: St Helens took out one league title, a Challenge Cup and no fewer than four Lancashire Cups. 

Third: Wigan won a league title and Challenge Cup but that was not enough to get them anywhere near the top two. 

UK Elite Teams By Season : 1966-70

Pic: St. Helens RLFC

For the summary of the seasons from 1965/66 to 1969/70, points have been allocated according to success. The league, finals, Challenge Cup, League Cup, Yorkshire Cup, Lancashire Cup and the BBC Floodlit Trophy are listed in that order. 

First: St Helens is top courtesy of two grand final wins, a league title, Challenge Cup and Lancashire Cup. They did all three main trophies in the 65-66 season. 

Second: Leeds won the league on four consecutive occasions, a grand final, Challenge Cup and Yorkshire Cup but otherwise wasn't strong enough elsewhere to find its way to the top.

Third: Castleford made the BBC Floodlit Trophy it's own but otherwise was just a consistent performer.

UK Elite Teams By Season : 1971-75

For the summary of the seasons from 1970/1 to 1974/75, points have been allocated according to success. The league, finals, Challenge Cup, League Cup, Yorkshire Cup, Lancashire Cup and the BBC Floodlit Trophy are listed in that order. 

Leeds celebrate. Pic: Leeds Rhinos.

First: Leeds was very consistent over the five years, being the top performer in the Challenge Cup and Yorkshire Cup. In all, they won a league title, two grand finals, three Yorkshire Cups and one BBC Floodlit Trophy. 

Second: St Helens had three category wins, league, grand final and BBC Trophy. By season, they won one league two grand finals, a Challenge Cup and a BBC trophy. 

Third: Wakefield took the league Cup category out. In fact, a solitary win in that competition was all they had but while the trophy cabinet was largely undisturbed, they were at least consistent.

UK Elite Teams By Season : 1976-80

For the summary of the seasons from 1975/6 to 1979/80, points have been allocated according to success. The league, finals, Challenge Cup, League Cup, Yorkshire Cup, Lancashire Cup and the BBC Floodlit Trophy are listed in that order. 

First: In this period, Widnes was by far the most successful with the best score in four of the six competitions it could be involved with (one shared). They won four Lancashire Cups, a league competition, grand final,  Challenge Cup and BBC Trophy! 

Second: St Helens grabbed the other two 'best in class' that Widnes missed out on plus shared one with the above club. They won two grand finals, a league title and a BBC trophy. 

Third: Leeds was the most successful with the Yorkshire Cup. Leeds actually won three of them along with two challenge Cups and a grand final. 

State of Origin Series : 2021

Pitting the best of New South Wales and Queensland has always had an edge to it. This is especially so for Queenslanders due to a belief they have been treated like the little brother over the years. Perhaps the feeling has lessened over time but it is still there. 

One would have expected that over the years the larger NSW state would dominate, having as it does a larger player pool to pick from. What Queensland has lacked in that department, they have made up for with passion. Due to that, they have overachieved. This keeps the three-match series as popular as it is. Let's face it, no one wants to watch a lopsided series. 

Game One: It was to be played at neutral Melbourne but the coronavirus flareup down there meant it had to be relocated. Queensland got an advantage when it was moved to the north Queensland city of Townsville. It gave the state two home games out of three. Few NSW blue jerseys could be seen among the sea of maroon ones (Queensland). 27,500 fans turned up for the event at a stadium with a stated capacity of 25,000. It must have been full.

The game itself was tryless for the first 17 minutes (just one penalty goal) but then in a brief bust, NSW racked up three converted tries. Queensland got one back but it was 20-6 at the break. Then after settling down in the second half another burst of scoring had NSW rattling up thirty unanswered points. The last ten minutes were scoreless but it was well and truly over by then. Final score 50-6.

After the match, the NSW coach talked down the result as just a 1-0 lead and nothing was decided yet. Each series NSW has had a great game in them, but going to Brisbane for the second is a challenge considering the poor results the team has had there of late. The Queensland coach said they just hadn't prepared well enough and didn't execute. 

Picture source and more on the game, go to the NRL website.

Game Two: This was held in Brisbane, Queensland so two games in a row at home was a great advantage to the team from the Sunshine State. Could they turn the tide with this opportunity? It didn't go well before kick off with a late replacement player ruled ineligible to play for the Maroons. 

As for the game, in a fiercely fought first half, the Blues got in early (12th minute) to lead 6-0. Then a length of the field effort from an intercept try and by half time it was unsurprisingly 18-0 to NSW. It wasn't done and dusted but just about. The Blues had to dig deep defensively at times but they did just that and came out 26-0 victors. It was the first time a Queensland side has been nilled in fortress-like Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane. 

Game Three: Now the only question to answer was would NSW make it a clean sweep? The last time that happened was 2010, in Queensland's favour. The last time NSW did it was the year 2000! Brisbane improved greatly from game one and with a bit more luck game two would have been a close contest. 3-0 was not a given.

The series came back to what it is known for, a close contest. It was moved to Queensland due to Covid issues in NSW so all three matches in one state. A tight first half went 2-0, 2-6, 8-6 to the locals. The second half went 8-12, 14-12, 20-12, 20-18. NSW missed a penalty kick at the end that would have tied the match but that was unsuccessful. 

So another 2-1 result, a sweet series win for NSW but some disappointment about the third game. Has the side from the north learn from this series and take the next edition? Will all three ties be played outside of Queensland to make up for this year? To the first question, who knows? As for the second one surely not. 

RL Govenance

As I understand it, in the UK there is the SL pro comp and the RFL which is the governing body. SL seems to have more influence than is desirable and the RFL has over time has had its wings clipped to facilitate this shift in power.

In Australia, there is the NRL, which is the pro comp and the ARL Commission which is the governing body. The NRL is now a brand that exists to identify a competition, not a body operating independently like SL does in the UK.

For the international scene, there is the umbrella IRL with the RLEF and Asia-Pacific RLC which look after the two hemispheres. These bodies have to appease those with the whip hand to get anything done, which is generally not very much.

With FIFA, they run their game, no misunderstanding. If they say there's going to be a round of friendly internationals, there is a break in fixtures and the pro clubs have to accept that. There's no doubt the World Rugby Board runs their game and clubs release players for internationals. They understand the need for the international game to flourish.

In RL, the clubs come out with comments that players won't be released for international games or they are unhappy with pre-season training disruption, etc. Of course, to expect pro-clubs to relish the extra games is unrealistic, but I see a conflict between those who believe the code needs a stronger international calendar and clubs worrying about how it affects them. You'd never ask a turkey to set the menu for a Christmas dinner so pro-clubs will always consider what's in their interests.

Part of the problem is the game is tough in bodies yet TV deals involve long seasons, too long already. Yet to maximise TV revenue, they agree. Squeezing in internationals then becomes problematic. Shorter pro seasons would be ideal and allow the international game to get a fair go. However, long season TV deals are set by clubs so those responsible for promoting the international scene have little to no leeway. 

It leaves me wondering who really governs this game? The role of a national sporting organisation is first and foremost to promote their domestic game. That is their priority, their responsibility. However, their having the role of leading the game, then self interest will override doing what’s best for the whole. The most powerful body in any successful sport will have no vested interest in a particular country. I can't see the IRL being handed the funds and authority to make decisions for everyone.  

RL doesn't have an independent leading body and in reality, never will. The current situation leads to parochial decision making which is poor governance. Poor governance leads to poor results, no matter how good the product is. With the governance issue as it is, RL will do well to maintain the status quo, nothing more, possibly less. To expect otherwise is unrealistic. It's the situation and acceptance of that is what is required.

Villefranche XIII League Placings : 2000-21

Villefranche XIII Aveyron is located in Villefranche-de-Rouergue, Aveyron in southern region of France. It was founded in 1950 after the town's rugby union club switched codes. Around 1999, the club also changed its name to Villefranche XIII Aveyron to include the local area of Aveyron, plus a new moniker was devised which was Les Loups or in English The Wolves. 

It arrived in this century as a member of the elite league and remained until 2006. Financial problems got the club into trouble so in 2004 they joined forces with Cahors XIII to form Union Villefranche-Cahors XIII. It ended its stay at the top after the 2005-06 season and in 2008 Villefranche removed itself from the union and reclaimed its previous name.   

RC Carpentras XIIII League Placings : 2000-21

Racing Club de Carpentras XIII arrived on the scene in 1938, competing as an amateur club. Just two seasons later war broke out and the Vichy government banned rugby league. The club was forced to change its name and play rugby union.  

It returned to the sport of its choice and enjoyed success on the field. Fast forward to the 21st century and the club was in the top flight for the 2000, 2002 and for the 2003 seasons. For 2006 it was back but came last. The next five seasons it fared better but by 2012, it was no longer part of the elite competition. 

Lyon Villeurbanne XIII League Placings : 2000-21

The club is from the city of Lyon, Rhône-Alpes in France. It was formed in 1934, making it one of the foundation clubs in France. Unfortunately, it's no longer in the elite or first division of Rugby league. Like other French clubs, it was banned from playing RL by the pro-Nazi Vichy government and forced to play Rugby Union.

After the war, the club had its most successful period. That didn't last and its fortunes since the turn of the century are shown below. It collected four wooden spoons within a six year period and last graced the top division in France in the 2009-10 season.