Internationals 2024 : Men's Northern Hemisphere

Below is a list of men's international for the north of the Equator. That's twenty four fixtures in all, not many. The thing is that most are between countries that would be classed as emerging. The two strongest northern nations (England and France) played just one match together (the highlights are below). At least there is the Samoa tour for England and France have World Cup qualifiers. 

The Netherlands did well to play three while Norway could have done better than one I would have thought. Rugby League and Union were under one administration but the Union side decided to remove the five League clubs. The Norwegian sports federation will not recognise League as there is already one Rugby code so no funding.   

There should be more matches but cost is a factor no doubt and friendlies - as most of these are - will be self funded. That said, a tour by the USA to South Africa was organised and presumably self funded so it can be done. 

While calling this the Northern Hemisphere international article, it is any internationals outside of the Australasia and the Pacific region. 

South America Championship : 2024

It is good to see this series being held, presumably locally funded. Three evenly matched countries met in Argentina to decide the 2024 champion nation. If you want to watch the matches in full, then you can simply click here and then select the match you want to watch.

First up, Chile and Brazil met and Chile took a 24-12 lead into the half time break. In the second half Chile went on with the job for a handy 44-22 victory.

Then Brazil took on the hosts and with  6-4 lead to Argentina at half time, it was tight. With one quarter of the match to be played, Argentina was up 26-4 but an amazing comeback had Brazil narrowly take the win 28-26.

The hosts Argentina then played Chile and had to win well to take the title with a favourable points differential. With Chile ahead 18-4 at the turnaround it was all but impossible for Argentina to take the championship. They fought back to win 32-28 but Chile won the tournament with one win each but with a superior points difference.

Well done to the organisers of this event. 

Internationals 2024 : Men's Wheelchair

It was led initially by France who were joined by England at the top of the tree. They are still the two leading nations although England may be slightly ahead at this point. It was good to see the USA come over for two tests against Wales and the Celtic Cup should assist those three nation's development. 

New Zealand played its first ever Wheelchair RL game against an experienced Australia. The two matches were one sided but the hopefully it will lead to more competitive games in the future.

While it was a success at the last World Cup, it does become a bit of a sleeper version of the game in the four years between. I assume the cost is a factor. Still, there are domestic competitions that are very competitive.  

Updated 25.11.24.

International Test Match Comparison : France RU vs France RL

Rugby league only arrived in France in 1934 but within a few years, it was considered a top nation internationally. It was shamefully banned by the pro-Nazi Vichy government with all assets confiscated. No recompense was paid but RL in France was again prospering in the 1950's anyway. 

Rugby Union arrived in France around the 1870's. It was supposed to be amateur but in due course, the French RU flouted that which led to there being standoffs between them and other nations, international competition suffering. In the 1950's tensions gradually eased and more matches for the Tricolores eventuated.

In the 1960's both codes were playing a similar number of internationals but the French RL was now suffering through internal strife. That meant that the XIII code was losing ground to RU. As RU pursued more internationals, mainly through a consistent Five Nations Championship, RL largely neglected the international scene apart from World Cups.

Five years into the 2020's the contrast in the number of internationals played has become stark. Northern Hemisphere RL needs to get its international act together. Now that France struggles to compete against England yet other NH nations are some way below France, public interest is low for one sided teat matches. That means there is no business case for international matches for a sport already cash strapped.  

Union is blue, League is red. The 2020's cover five years only.

Win percentages are somewhat closer than the number of matches played. The RU side of things is fairly consistent apart from a good start to the 2020's. 

As for Rugby XIII, the decline of the game as a whole in France (from the 1960's) is mirrored in the decline in success. The arrival of the Catalan Dragons as a club in 2000 and its entry into the Super League in 2006 seem to have helped the success rate. More now needs to be done to lift the game in France further.

Others in the series are as follows. Simply click on the country name to go there: Australia, England, New Zealand.

International Test Match Comparison : All Blacks vs Kiwis

How many international test matches were played by the two oval ball codes in NZ? Rugby Union puts much greater emphasis on internationals so obviously the AB's will have played more. Looking at the data going back to the 1960's in decade blocks is how I did it below. The 2020's are for five years so that number is lower as it is half of the other periods.

In the 1960's there was virtually no difference. From there, the RU side grew quickly while the RL side of things was very even. By the 2010's, it was favouring the AB's by nearly 3 to 1. The data surprised me in the early stages as I didn't think it would be that close. The later years were more of what I expected throughout. I didn't realise how much RU had escalated its test programme. The 2020's Kiwi test matches played figure will surely improve.  

As an aside, I decided to also consider success rates. The AB's have a huge reputation here. They play many tests against the Australian Wallabies and the Kiwis also play the Australian Kangaroos often. NZ's strength is RU and Australia's RL so the black columns below were always going to be ahead of the red ones. The exception is the 2020's but it's too early in the decade to draw too much from that. 

Summary: The All Blacks have increased their international calendar with the Kiwis have maintained an even flow. Not surprising with so much emphasis on club RL, which doesn't easily allow for an expanded international programme in RL. That and indifference toward tests on the part of Australian RL officials. 

Others in the series are as follows. Simply click on the country name to go there: Australia, England, France.

International Test Match Comparison : England RU vs England/GB RL

How many international test matches were played by the two oval ball codes in England? Rugby Union puts much greater emphasis on internationals so obviously the RU team will have played more. Looking at the data going back to the 1960's in decade blocks is how I did it. The 2020's are for five years so that number is lower being half of the others. 

One issue is that there have also been GB sides as well. England still played matches each year despite there being GB Lions tours. In addition, the other nations contributing players have done so in large numbers. So the GB RU team is not very English and therefore not counted below.  

In RL, it is different. GB played instead of England and the GB side was overwhelmingly made up of players from England. More recently, GB has been phased out and England is playing as a nation. For those reasons, GB results are counted with England ones below. 

All games against another nation are counted, even if a few may not have been given test match status. Maybe they all were. The noticeable trend as will all RU / RL international match comparisons is how RU has pushed them as time has passed, RL hasn't. Greater emphasis on club competitions in RL is the reason. GB/England played more international games in the 1960's and 70's but by the 2020's it is massively favouring RU and the gap is still widening.

Union is red, league blue.

When looking at win rates, overall there isn't much in it. RU had a very poor two decades to start with but then little difference between them until the latest period. The RL percentage is based on how often they play Australia and to a lesser extent the Kiwis. That has lifted England's success rate in recent times but with the Kangaroos touring in 2025, we can expect the '20' figure to drop.  

Others in the series are as follows. Simply click on the country name to go there: Australia, France, New Zealand.

Is International RL Quality Improving?

When RL held its first World Cup, GB, France, NZ and Australia were the attendees. Perhaps other countries could have been included back then but either due to cost or lack of a competitive standard that didn't happen. So for many years, international RL was about four countries. 

In 1995 the WC went to ten countries and since then some effort went into trying to expand the international game. The problem was the top three countries were lifting their standard and while France fell behind, other aspiring countries were not breaking into the elite circle. To be competitive, players have to participate in one of the three professional leagues, Australia, England and France. So how were the two hemispheres evolving internationally? 

Northern: GB became England and with English players of some ancestry in other UK nations choosing to play for them, there was a reasonable pool of competitive countries. England was above the others but France, Ireland, Scotland and Wales had a decent standard.   

Efforts were made to assist countries. Italy and Lebanon would draw on Australians who qualified when a World Cup came around. North America has tried too. However, apart from England and France, the other nations have not developed strong domestic competitions and in many cases have slipped backwards in recent times. France has also struggled domestically in recent times leaving England the sole strong Northern nation. 

Southern: The game Down Under was dominated by Australia with NZ occasionally causing an upset. PNG is mad about the game but struggled to translate that into becoming top tier nation with a domestic competition not of a high enough standard.  

Pacific Islanders moving to NZ and more recently Australia have taken to the game. However, the best of these players were picked by the top two countries and the Pacific nations couldn't compete. 

Something changed a few years back when players of Pacific heritage started to play for the island nation their parents emigrated from. This slightly weakened Australia and NZ but massively improved the Pacific countries. Now there are several Pacific nations that are competitive.

Summary. There are currently about eleven countries that are of a reasonable international standard, with heritage players supporting most of these. The imbalance is the Northern Hemisphere provides just four of them and two only for World Cups. England looks south for competition as the gap widens with France.

So on the one hand the international game is in better shape than it has ever been but it's basically a Pacific region success story. It seems the game cannot expand on that situation so internationally this is as good as it gets. 

Pacific Championship 2024 (Men's)

The Pacific Cup and Bowl tournaments have six sides competing (with Samoa away in England). We will look at each separately.

Cup: Australia were favourites although the NZ side was expected to give them a run for their money and Tonga competitive and not to be ruled out. As things transpired, the Kangaroos won both the pool matches but had to work hard in the process. 

It came down to the other two as to who would join them in the final. The highlights are above if you want to watch them before knowing the score.

Tonga came out and led 24-0 just before half time. The Kiwis then took over and came back to draw level but in the end Tonga showed more composure in slotting home the winning field goal while the Kiwis kept missing their attempts. 

The final placings has Australia and Tonga going into the final while NZ takes on the winner of the Bowl group. 

Bowl: PNG were the team tipped to win this division and that's what happened. Fiji was a stern test though. Then Fiji overwhelmed the Cook Is team, the latter started well against PNG but couldn't sustain their effort.

The final placings are shown below. PNG earned a crack at the Kiwis which is a challenge against a side smarting from not making the Cup final as was expected. 

The match between NZ and PNG decided who would be in the Cup competition next time. It put the third ranked Cup side (NZ) up against the winners of the Bowl competition (PNG). 

A tight first half where PNG struggled to turn effort into points was punished by the Kiwis who went ahead at the break 22-6 with two late tries. NZ turned it up in the second half and ran away with it.

In the grand final, Australia lived up to their favourites tag by leading 14-4 at the turn around but had to defend well to take the trophy. Tonga showed they deserved to be in the final but breaking down a resolute defence was a tough ask. 

Pacific Championship 2024 (Women's)

There are seven nations involved, three in the Cup and four in the Bowl. Let's look at how they went.

Cup: Two sides have players in a semi pro league and are head and shoulders above the rest. Australia were hot favourites and won both their matches although the Kiwi Ferns gave them a real test without being able to score. Then the NZ side easily overcame the PNG Orchids but lacked the finishing of the Jillaroos so that kept the scoreline more respectable for PNG. 

The final placings as below so the top two go into the final while PNG will take on the winner of the Bowl competition.

Bowl: This was played in a knock out format. Samoa overcame Tonga and Fiji the Cook Is. This pitted the two winners in the final and the match highlights are shown above in the video. Samoa scoring a last gasp try to win the Bowl tournament and meet PNG in the final.

This is the table below, the top two played twice and the bottom two just one match each.

The final matches are listed below. The winners of the Bowl took on the lowest finishing Cup team. Samoa was too polished for PNG and has won promotion to the Cup. PNG drops down to the Bowl despite the efforts of Elsie Albert who scored both of their tries. 

In the grand final, Australia won as expected. Their defence was exceptional, conceding just four points throughout and came at the very end of the final. The Kiwi Ferns tried but lacked the class to really trouble the Jillaroos. 

Toulouse Olympique

The Toulouse Olympique RL Club have been trying to enter Super League (division one). They entered League One (division three) in 2016 and gained immediate promotion to the Championship (division two). After four years, they reached SL but only won five of their 27 matches played and were immediately relegated. 

They have since remained in the Championship and 2025 will be their third attempt to win promotion. Now there is a difference. Off field performance is now a major factor in succeeding so the club is pinning its hopes on an IMG grading score to achieve what it hasn't been able to do and that is get into SL and stay there by on field success.

What has been the problem? Spending money on travel, both for themselves and visiting teams is unreasonable and may be at the crux of the matter. Money needed to improve the squad is being taken by travel costs. The playing group therefore simply isn't of Super League quality. 

The Catalan Dragons club is now going to pay travel costs both ways as Toulouse Olympique is already doing. They are a finacially well off club that will be able to carry that burden but TO isn't at the same level monetarily. 

In 2024, they averaged 2,700 spectators in a city with a metropolitan population of just over a million. The team (Wakefield) that got promoted at their expense in 2024 had over double the attendance figure. Even if they get back into SL via IMG grading, they won't be attracting many fans if they are losing regularly. The squad has to be better but it seems only if IMG points keep them in SL while they build that up.

Sport is expensive and running a sports club is usually a loss making exercise. Some balance the books but few do. Quality players do not come cheap and success on the field is craved by the fans. It's a balancing act to get the best team assembled you can within an acceptable cost. I wish TO the best in their quest for success in SL. 

Picture source: loverugbyleague.com

Internationals 2024 : Women's Northern Hemisphere

Sixteen matches were played, including five in Africa. There are fewer countries where female Rugby League is played than the men so the number isn't surprising. The thing is that most of the matches were World Cup qualifiers so presumably without them there would have been hardly any. 

I'm surprised that the Canada Ravens didn't seem to play any matches and only one in North America. I'm guessing cost is a factor. It's good to see the Netherlands now doing well in the women's game as are Wales and Ireland. England will complete two whole matches this year! The England v France highlights are below.

Sheffield Eagles League Placings : 2003-24

The club was founded in 1984 and in due course made its way into the top flight. However, when a merger with Huddersfield didn't work out, the club was demoted to a lower division. By 2003, the leagues were reorganised and the Eagles were placed in the third division (lower chart). 

It came top in that year but in the grand final of the playoffs it was Keighley that was promoted. Sheffield did win promotion in 2006 with success in the playoff grand final with the Swinton Lions to the tune of 35-10. 

Now in the second division (top chart), they made a home for themselves. Solid performances have been the order of the day without breaking into the top flight. With the just released 2024 IMG gradings placing the Eagles at 21st would suggest any thought of promotion in the future will require some improvements. (See the list by clicking here).

Another issue hitting the club was the coach* being suspended and then banned for eighteen months due to a serious breach of protocol. It seemed to affect the club's performance during the latter part of 2024 and it missed out on the playoffs. Hopefully the club will get through this with minimal disruption. 

*He cofounded the club and has been the coach almost constantly since 1999.

London Skolars League Placings 2003-2024

The club was founded in 1995 and after playing in regional leagues they were accepted into what was then the National League 2 or third national division of Rugby League in the UK for the 2003 season. It became known as the Championship 1 in 2009 and League One in 2016.

A feature of this league has been the changes in the number of participants. It's been as high as sixteen and as low as nine. In 2025 it will be eleven and then twelve in 2026. That's where the powers that be want it to settle but a lot can happen between now and then. 

The London Skolars have been the longest continuously present club in this competition. Their presence hasn't been seismic in its success rate but nevertheless consistent. 2013 was the best year when the club finished fourth and made the preliminary final in the playoffs. That's a one game only semi final or coming third, just missing out on the grand final.

After that nothing of note until the Skolars club relegated itself after the 2023 season. They joined a regional league but didn't fulfill all their fixtures. Hopefully 2025 will bring an improved situation. 

IMG Gradings 2024

 Below are the gradings that have been released at the conclusion of the 2024 playing season for all the clubs involved.

With twelve clubs in the Super League competition, a grading will now be used that covers a vast criteria of standards that are scored. 

When promotion to or relegation from SL comes up for consideration at the end of a season, the IMG grading will determine what if anything happens.

Some consider it could create a closed shop situation. Others feel that more than just on field performance should be considered so that clubs don't just spend their money on their squad but other important areas are neglected.

Two clubs are yet to have their grading finalised due to complete data issues. 

Overall I think it's a good idea and I sense that after this transition year the fans will be increasingly won over by the fairly comprehensive grading system.

Sport is about winning but also providing a community with a club they are proud of, well run commercially and a pleasure to be part of. Sustainable too. 

Bradford Bulls League Placings : 2000-24

What can you say about the Bradford Bulls without turning it into a saga? It's a tragedy of epic proportions. They were one of the elite clubs, winning trophies. So what happened? We'll get there. Be patient.

Going back to 2000, Matthew Elliott completed his fourth year as coach, over 132 games in all. He moved back to Australia and was replaced by Brian Noble in 2001. The success continued, winning the league leaders shield in 2001 and 2003. Nobel moved on during the 2006 season and in came a youthful Steve McNamara. 

Things were going downhill and after a mutual separation, Lee St Hilaire became interim coach. Then Mick Potter was installed as head honcho in 2011. In early 2012 the club announced it was in serious financial difficulty. Efforts to save the club failed and it was placed in receivership. Mick stayed on as an unpaid coach for the remainder of the season.

Francis Cummins came in for the 2013 season and in 2014 the club was deducted six points for entering administration early in the season. Two teams went that year with the reintroduction of promotion-relegation and Bradford left the top flight for the first time in four decades. Cummins was shown the door and in came new coach James Lowes. 

In 2015, Bradford played in the Championship (division two) and then progressed to the qualifiers tournament. It ended up in a so-called Million Pound game to regain Super League status. It narrowly lost 16-24 and remained in the Championship. They failed to make the qualifiers in 2016 and by the end of the year, entered their third administration since 2012. Liquidation followed in January 2017. 

A new club was formed still using the name and team colours but has not been able to regain Super League status. It even relocated and played out of town for a couple of years as the ground it was at was proving too expensive. It's back home now at its famous Odsal ground but is now only a shadow of its former self on the playing field. Sad. 

Eamon O'Carroll was the coach in 2024 and the recent changes in that role continued with his sudden departure at the end of the 2024 season. 

Below the first chart is the Bull's time in SL followed by it's current location the Championship (division two). It also spent 2018 in the next level down (League One). Its latest IMG rating is 16th out of all the clubs in the UK and France. That puts it five places outside possible entry into Super League.

Featherstone Rovers League Placings : 2003-24

The club was formed at the beginning of the 20th century. Located in West Yorkshire, the population today is circa 15,000. It last played in the top flight in the 1994-95 season, crowds then averaging over 4,000. For the size of the town, that was amazing support and even more amazing they were even in Division 1.

The Championship (division two) is where they have almost exclusively been since and this division in its present form started in 2003, hence why we pick up the story from here. Featherstone was in the Championship from its inception but not doing that well and was soon relegated to League One in 2005. 

A couple of successful years below and it was back in the Championship where the club has stayed since then. The first two years post promotion were rebuilding and then from 2010 to 2023 Rovers consistently performed at a high level. 2024 was down in terms of where the club finished.

In 2009, licencing was introduced which meant performance alone didn't qualify promotion to Super League. This was at a time when Featherstone Rovers won the Championship four consecutive seasons but weren't granted a licence to gain entry to Super League in that period. In 2015, a new system of playoffs was introduced to determine promotion.

Rovers have consistently boxed above its weight but is it a club deemed the sort to be in the top flight? The new IMG grading system would say no, putting an end to the club attaining that status, if indeed it would want this anyway. The loyal fans have a side that competes well in the Championship. Hopefully the new system doesn't alienate supporters as they do have a club they can rightfully be proud of.   

Halifax Panthers League Placings : 2004-24

Situated in West Yorkshire, the Halifax RLFC had enjoyed continuous division one competition going back to the 1991-92 season. When the club was relegated from Super League in 2003, I assume they had ambitions of returning as soon as possible. They had done that before when relegated.

If so and I'm sure it was the case, it's not what transpired. The club has remained in the Championship (division two) since, with generally good results but without being able to go all the way in winning promotion back to the big league. 

The last couple of years haven't been to the usual standard. They have remained a solid presence in the division but hopes of promotion may now be more difficult with the IMG grading system that covers all aspects of a club's status, not just on field performance.

I should add that the club is currently having a financial crisis so hopefully it can be sorted and the club - which was founded in 1873 - will be able to continue.

Batley Bulldogs League Placings : 2003-24

The second division Championship formed in 2003 and the Batley Bulldogs have been there every season. The number of teams has varied, some have been promoted to Super League, others relegated to League One but one club stands out for staying put season after season.

Whether one views that as a positive achievement or not depends on what the objective is. The club would have liked a crack at SL but I personally don't think that would have been a good thing. It's not a top flight club regarding its facilities (pleasant as they may be) nor likely to have been sustainable.

The fact it's been good enough to avoid relegation year after year is something to commend Batley Bulldogs for. Now with IMG gradings deciding whether a club can attain SL status, it's unlikely the club will qualify in the future. A competitive side in the Championship for the locals to enjoy supporting is a fine thing in itself. 

This sort of club is what Rugby League is built on. It's the foundation that SL rests upon and without the lower leagues and all those who keep the clubs running would there be a top flight professional league? The lower divisions are in my opinion the lifeblood of the sport. 

Wests Tigers League Placings : 2000-24

Two of the founding clubs in Sydney were Balmain (later known as the Tigers) and Western Suburbs Magpies. The former had a fine record of winning but its best days passed in due course. The latter was not as successful but they still had their moments. The two entities were not achieving much toward the end of their independent existence so joined forces in 1999 to become the Wests Tigers. 

The first season together wasn't that good and it didn't improve for a few years either. Tim Sheens got them in a better place and even helped them to a grand final victory in 2005. Another surge in 2010 and 2011 didn't realise a grand final appearance and 2012 was a step down. 

Others have come along since and tried to spark a resurgence but mediocracy has been the result. Current coach Tim Sheens had another year to run on his contract but it was cut short to allow Benji Marshall to take over in 2024. The club isn't delivering with three consecutive wooden spoons (last), a level of consistency it wants to avoid. It does prove that this is genuinely the worst team in the league.

South Sydney Rabbitohs League Placings : 2000-24

South is only one of two founding clubs of the NSWRL from 1908 still in the NRL. That nearly was taken away from them in 2000 when it was decided they failed to meet the criteria for remaining in the competition. Two seasons in the wilderness they fought their way back into the competition. 

The first few years back were underwhelming with three wooden spoons and a couple of close calls. New owners and Jason Taylor becoming the coach seemed to do the trick and things picked up. However, the coach was sacked for an incident at end of season celebrations in 2009. John Lang came in for two unexceptional years and then retired.

Michael Maguire and the change of fortunes was striking. They finished 3-2-3 for three consecutive years and capped that off with the grand final trophy in 2014. Surprisingly, Maguire's contract was terminated at the end of 2017 after 165 matches in charge and Anthony Seibold came in for a season. Despite a good year, he was bizarrely involved in a coach swap with the Brisbane Broncos and Wayne Bennett. The latter has been involved for three seasons, the team twice missing the grand final by a game prior to 2021. 

2022 saw the introduction of Jason Demetriou as coach but things slipped, even missing out on the top eight finals for the first time since 2017, albeit by a whisker. When 2024 imploded, out went JD and in came interim coach Ben Hornby. The end result is well below the team's potential but someone has to be 16th and this year was South's turn. 

Parramatta Eels League Placings : 2000-24

The Eels have had a modest return this century. Some good times, some real lows. Back in the year 2000, coach Brian Smith was well into his 244 match career at the club. It commenced in 1997 and went until 2006 and he remains the longest serving coach. League winners in 2001 and 2005, the first took them to a losing grand final, the second one game short of the final. The last 16 matches in the 2006 season were overseen by caretaker coach Jason Taylor. 

Michael Hagan's 51 games at the Eels produced a 50-50 win-loss record but he chose to leave after two seasons for personal reasons. Stephen Kearney was the new coach in 2011 but his win record plunged to a quarter and culminated in a wooden spoon in 2011. 

Ricky Stuart was then employed to lead the team but a 20% win rate was the disappointing result. Back to back wooden spoons were the outcome, showing changing coaches in quick succession isn't always the answer. Surely more stability with coaches was required.

Brad Arthur was the man chosen or as I refer to him, Mr. Frown. The three year deal he was initially offered has continued to now, his 8th season. He promised no wooden spoons while he was coach, a promise that lasted until 2018. He skillfully shielded his players through a salary cap issue in 2017.

It is with credit to the Parramatta club that they promised to keep Brad Arthur for the remaining year of his contract in 2019. This was probably due to the way he handled a difficult season the year before. He stayed on coaching after a much improved 2019 and while trophies have eluded the club for some time now, they had four seasons of strong performances. 2023 ended a bit limp though.

It became too much when 2024 went the same way as the previous season so he was released and replaced by interim coach Trent Barrett. The team is better than 15th place would suggest. 

Gold Coast Titans League Placings : 2000-24

 The Gold Coast had a team from 1988 to 1998, playing under various names and having to play in NSW to avoid complying with a licence agreement the Brisbane Broncos had. It didn't work but not for the lack of trying. Fast forward a decade and a new Gold Coast team emerged, the Titans. After a season, they got a nice new stadium and the first four years were successful. 

Coach John Cartwright had a decent spell at the club, 186 matches in all, and yes, a club record so far at least. They collected their first of two wooded spoons in 2011. He tended his resignation in 2014 and Neil Henry replaced him. A mixed few years ended with his sacking with issues with some of the senior players at the end of his tenure.

Garth Brennan stepped up to the plate but things didn't go well for him. A poor 2018, followed by the club's second wooden spoon led to his departure. Justin Holbrook arrived in 2020 after a successful time at St Helens in England. The transition from a top side to one struggling was a challenge but the first two seasons brought a definite improvement in finishing 9th. 

It didn't go so well since so he left and Des Hasler took over in 2024. He's an experienced coach and at times his first season in charge showed promise but that wasn't fully delivered on. Still early days.

New Zealand Warriors League Placings : 2000-24

The NZ Warriors (formerly the Auckland Warriors) have a huge talent base to work with but that doesn't always translate into success. NRL clubs from across the Tasman have been coming over for years and tempting young lads with potential to join them. Most of the players don't make the cut, many end up playing in lower league competitions in Australia. 

For those that are retained by the Warriors, the club hasn't delivered to the level it should have done. Initially, money that could have been pumped into the club had to pay travel expenses for all teams. Not a way to help a new franchise. Early on, some of the officiating was decidedly against them but that is a thing of the past. Travel isn't helpful but other clubs have overcome that hurdle. Management at times has been average to put it kindly.

For all that, since their inception in 1995, they have never picked up a wooden spoon. They have also been to two grand finals, in 2002 and 2011. Eight times they have made the playoffs but not usually finished high enough in the league to reduce travel, which is fatiguing. The higher you finish, the more home games and a chance for more byes. 

Since 2000, we can see by the timeline at the base of the chart the coaches used. In 2000, it was Mark Graham who had taken up the coaching position in 1999. While he was voted the greatest player NZ produced for the first century of the game in NZ, his coaching didn't reach those heights. 

In came Daniel Anderson in 2001 with the best passage of the club's history during his tenure. A poor 2004 had Tony Kemp brought in but lasted 37 games before being replaced by Former player Ivan Cleary. He did well in the 164 matches he was involved in. That was followed by a flurry of coaches, Brian McClennan, Matthew Elliott, Andrew McFadden before a longer run with former player Stephen Kearny. The 79 games he coached matched exactly the number of games he played for the club. 

In 2020, coaching novice Todd Payten came in for 14 games and did very well in trying circumstances. He then decided to move on in his fledgling career and the experienced Nathan Brown has stepped up to the plate in 2021. It was a squad that attacked with some flair but lacked the ability to defend with enough resilience. You won't go too far without the defence in order.

That was sorted in 2023 with the arrival of Jake Webster as coach. The season started slowly and finished a bit weak but a hot patch in between had them finishing an amazing fourth, based around good defence. That exceeded all expectations but after the sacrifices they made during Covid, not begrudged by anyone. 

2024 was a season of hope and disappointment as it progressed. Some games were very good but too many just not quite up to scratch. The packed stadium was at least consistent as the fans turned up regardless. Well done for that. 

Brisbane Broncos League Placings : 2000-24

No one doubts the record of the mighty Brisbane Broncos. Having a whole city to draw on was helpful but also the State of Queensland was there to be tapped into. Not that the Broncos were the only side to do so but being the local club must have helped. 

The success came but then so did other Queensland clubs although the city of Brisbane still only has one team. That should have been enough to stay very competitive but it's not enough to have talent on hand. It has to be found and nurtured. Having too much choice can be a negative too.

In the year 2000, the Broncos won the league competition, named the Minor Premiership. Wayne Bennet was the coach then and a very successful one too. However, as you can see below, while the club was regularly making the top eight and therefore the finals series, there was a gradual decline in where the club finished. 

The timeline along the bottom of the graph shows Wayne Bennett's tenure came to an end in 2008. In came Ivan Henjak, who lasted two seasons, the second of which the team missed out on a top eight spot. After him came Anthony Griffin. An immediate spike up to third in 2011 was a short lived shot in the arm. A poor 11th in 2013 was followed by an improved 2014 but he went anyway. 

In came Wayne Bennett for another stint, this time four years. They made the finals each season without actually winning the minor premiership. That ended with Anthony Seibold taking charge in 2019. A solid first year gave no indicator of a wooden spoon the following season. 

Now past player Kevin Walters took charge for 2021 but the losses kept coming. A review of all operations and personnel of the club was undertaken. How that was to unfold and whether it would see a return of better days was uncertain. 

However, 2022 saw an improvement and one place short of a finals spot while 2023 had the team coming second. The improvement since 2020 has been nothing short of amazing but the bubble burst in 2024 with a visibly frustrated coach turning up at press conferences increasingly in despair. 

St George-Illawarra Steelers League Placings : 2000-24

The St George Dragons started in 1921 and the Illawarra Steelers in 1982, coming together in 1998. A case of cradle snatching if ever I saw one. St George is in the southeast of Sydney and Illawarra is in the city of Wollongong, on the coast and not far south of Sydney. The union has been a harmonious one.

The first coach to feature here was David Waite, from 1996 until during the 2000 season. He had some fine success but 2000 wasn't part of that. Andrew Farrar had been the coach at Illawarra and became an assistant coach with the merger. He took control in 2000 when David Waite departed.  

A few seasons of midtable placings led to Nathan Brown taking the helm. He presided over a topsy-turvy ride, up to second on the ladder and down to 13th. Wayne Bennett came and things picked up immediately. Two consecutive league titles and a grand final in 2010 were heady stuff for a team not winning silverware. Wayne moved on and Steve Price came in.

It didn't go well so Paul McGregor arrived for an eventual 151 games. His tenure wasn't that successful but probably consistent with the playing roster the club had. It finally came to an end and Anthony Griffin was appointed for the 2021 season. 

His tenure came to an end during 2023, replaced by Ryan Carr who was a temporary appointment until Shane Flanagan took the reins in 2024. I expected the new coach to improve things and he did to a point. However, there was some frustration that more wasn't achieved. At least there was progress.

Canberra Raiders League Placings : 2000-24

The Raiders are situated in the capital city of Canberra in territory know as the ACT. They arrived as a club in 1982 and got the name the Green Machine because of the colour of the jersey and I assume the success they achieved. By looking at the manhattan skyline below, we can deduce that they have had their share of ups and downs since the century started. 

Club legend Mal Meninga coached the teams here from 1997 to 2001. It wasn't a period of outstanding achievement and Matthew Elliott was his replacement. Nothing much changed with him and the two succeeding coaches. In came a former star of the club Ricky Stuart. Things did get better and 2016 was a highlight and solid performances in the league did get them to a grand final in 2019. 

The side ended up sitting at a not too flash 10th placing, the team not performing to expectation. Leads were run down and 80 minute performances non-existent, which cost them valuable points that in previous years would have been taken. The way they handled the George Williams affair didn't impress me either.

The last two seasons but one they have squeaked into the finals then in 2024 they just missed out on a finals berth. Talent is there but they still have a problem playing a full 80 minutes. Sort that and they will do a lot more than what they are presently.

Newcastle Knights League Placings : 2000-24

Newcastle is situated on the NSW coast north of Sydney. It's a strong RL city with good support on game day, even when the team isn't going well. They certainly had reason to turn up to watch their team in the early 20th century.  

The coach for 2000 was Warren Ryan, in his second and last year for the club. In came Michael Hagan for 154 games over six years. In his first year, he led the team to second place and a grand final victory. He was there for the club's first wooden spoon but the team bounced back the following year. 

After he moved on, Brian Smith arrived but the year was a disaster. The forced retirement of the outstanding player Andrew Johns and an horrific injury toll coupled with personality conflicts all contributed. Things did improve in 2008 but Smith resigned during the season, allowing Rick Stone to take charge. Average results led to Wayne Bennett taking over but again for the most part not the most productive period for the club.

Rick came back but was sacked, with Danny Buderus stepping in as a temporary measure. The second wooden spoon was followed by two more under new coach Nathan Brown. Things did pick up after that but not enough it seems as he was replaced by Adam O'Brien for the 2020 season. A strong 2020 has been followed by a softer 2021 but a bad injury run didn't help the cause.

2022 followed 2021 in a similar fashion but while 2022 started poorly, a nine match winning streak propelled them into the finals with a fifth spot finish. They seem full of confidence as you do when winning becomes a habit. The last two years have been solid but the club wants to be more than that. 

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Placings : 2000-24

A club with the reputation that they were the privileged, coming from the more affluent north shore of Sydney. The nickname the Silvertails was applied to them, which came from that reputation. The fact that the players at Manly were generally very working class in background didn't matter. It led to some ugly matches between Manly and the Western Suburbs Magpies, where the term originated. 

Manly wasn't looking too flash in the early 20th century. At the time the team was called the Northern Eagles, due to a forced amalgamation of the North Sydney Bears and the Manly club from 2000 to 2002. It seemed to affect results adversely. I've kept the results as Manly's because they were the main part of the joint venture. 

The coach at the time was Peter Sharp, from 1999 until 2003 in total. After he resigned, in came Des Hasler, a stalwart of the club as a player. He had success as the team built momentum up until 2007 and 2008. It slipped before a strong performance in 2011, culminating in a win at the grand final.

He left with some ill-feeling and in came another ex-player of note Geoff Toovey. They had three good years under him but a poor 2015 saw him shown the door. His replacement was Trent Barrett who had a modest run and was replaced by Des Hasler, back for another stint at the job. 

This time around the success hasn't been as it was during his previous tenure. 2021 was good though, they finished higher than I expected. Things turned downward after that and now Anthony Seibold has the job to do and made useful progress in 2024. Keeping their game breaker Tom Trbojevic on the field will help. 

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs League Placings : 2000-24

This club has at times had quite an illustrious history but in this century, while it has had some good moments, it hasn't been consistent. The early part of the 20th century has a definite Manhattan skyline look about it as the bar graph shows. 

Local junior Steve Folkes left behind a successful playing career to become the coach in 1998. The eleven years in that post and the 288 games he oversaw was - as mentioned already - an up and down affair. The chart shows they didn't win the minor premiership (I prefer the league title, the term 'minor' degrades the achievement). He is the club's longest serving coach in history but his last season wasn't an ideal way to bow out, with a wooden spoon.

Kevin Moore came in and with some sound recruitment at the club immediately took them to second place in the league and to a losing grand final. The two following years were less than stellar, leading to his being shown the door. 

Des Hassler arrived in 2012 and stayed until 2017 with 166 games under his belt. In the first year, they won the league title but lost the grand final. That year he was named coach of the year. Subsequent years were solid but there were diminishing returns as each season passed. His removal after the 2017 season was settled out of court. 

Dean Pay was brought in but his coaching stint didn't match his playing career. A new coach per season isn't an ideal situation but that's what's been happening lately. Present coach Cameron Ciraldo needed to get on field results happening and is what happened in 2024. As the graph shows, it's been a few years since the club has been a force in the NRL and there's still work to do but things look promising.

North Queensland Cowboys League Placings : 2000-24

The club started in 1995 and the first years were not very successful. Tim Sheens had coached them since 1997, picking up their second wooden spoon in 2000. He departed in 2001 and assistant Murray Hurst took over. 36 matches later and he was on his way too, replaced by Graham Murray. That brought some stability and improved performances. 

In 2004 the side was one game short of the grand final (repeated in 2007) and the following year lost the grand final. He was there for 161 games but was told this was his last season. He resigned shortly afterward and Ian Millward stepped in for the balance of the season. Neil Henry took the reins and after a couple of poor seasons picked up. They were spared the wooden spoon in 2010 due to the Melbourne Storm's salary cap punishment. Finals football ensued but not with much success. 

Paul Green was given the hot seat and delivered. They didn't win the league but did the grand final and the club's first premiership title. Then one short of a grand final in 2016 and losing finalist in 2017 despite coming 8th in the league were notable results. From there the results were poor. 

Eventually, the end of Paul Green's 167 game run ended and Josh Hannay saw out the season. In came Todd Payten for 2021 and the final placing was well below what most would have expected. From 2022 to 2024 the NQC up and down. Give them a sniff they are devastating but stifle them and they're tamed. 

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks League Placings : 2000-24

The club on the southeast coast of Sydney city, Cronulla being within the Sutherland Shire. As far as Rugby league is concerned it is a club usually competing well enough but not with much silverware to show for the effort. They were formed in 1967 yet won their first and only premiership in 2016.

We take up the story in the year 2000, when the coach John Lang was coming to the end of a career with the club going back to 1994 and 220 matches. After he resigned, in came Chris Anderson for a controversial two seasons. Stuart Raper followed and after a promising start, things fell away in 2006. His run followed a similar pattern to the former but the club had several incidents that made this a turbulent time. 

Shane Flanagan was the new head honcho and things went up well but he was suspended for a season for his role after a supplements investigation at the club. Peter Sharp came in for half a season, resigned and the rest of the season Cronulla was led by James Shepherd. The wooden spoon was duly secured by the club.

Shane Flanagan came back and a fine spell of success ensued. It all turned to custard when it became known that he had broken the conditions of his suspension in 2014. The club was fined and the coach left. John Morris got the hot seat and did a workmanlike job despite financial issues with the club. His playing career amounted to 300 first grade games and he coached at Cronulla 54 matches. 

His departure during 2021 gave assistant coach Josh Hannay the driver's seat as a caretaker. After some frustrating losses after his appointment, the results have evened out, if not with an overly spectacular ending.  

Craig Fitzgibbon has now had three seasons at the helm and the result have improved. He seems a straight up sort of man who would be good at getting the best from players. I think he's overachieved with what he has at his disposal. 

Sydney Roosters League Placings : 2000-24

Once the Eastern Suburbs club (based in that part of Sydney), now the Sydney Roosters are only one of two founding clubs still plying their trade at the elite level. They have also been referred to as the Tricolours. Winning trophies have been successfully spread across their history. 

Picking up the story in 2000, Graham Murray was the new coach with a positive first year 2nd place and a grand final loss. The same level wasn't delivered next season, leading to his being sacked. Ricky Stuart stepped up to the plate and went on to win the grand final in 2002 after a 3rd place in the league. A league win in 2004 was a small consolation for two grand finals losses in '03 and '04. Two poor seasons after that meant a new coach was required. 

Chris Anderson was there and then gone,  replaced by Brad Fittler. In 2007, the Roosters became the first club to play 100 years of first grade Rugby league in Australia. 2008 was positive but the wooden spoon was the reward for their limp effort the following season. Brian Smith had a crack at revitalising fortunes with limited success. 

This heralded the arrival of Trent Robinson. Three consecutive league titles immediately followed and a grand final win in 2013 for good measure. A horror 2016 proved a mere blip as subsequent seasons show. Consecutive grand final wins in 2018-19 were also achieved. 2020 looked promising but a form drop at the wrong time had the season fizzle out to a disappointing end. 2021 followed a similar pattern if not to the same degree. 

Trent Robinson's tenure as coach continues and the results are solid with him although slipping gradually before a nice jump back up for 2024. No one doubts the solidness of the team and the defense of late has been exceptional. They seem just short of the best but can never be underestimated. 

Penrith Panthers League Placings : 2000-24

Way out west of Sydney at the foot of the Blue Mountains resides a community with a strong passion for the game and their club. Founded in 1967, it took until 1985 before making it into a finals series. Royce Simmons as a former player (238 first grade matches for the Panthers) was the coach from 1994 until 2001, a total of 187 matches. His coaching career wasn't stellar (41% win record) but they stuck with him.

After collecting the wooden spoon in 2001, in came John Lang from Cronulla. After a slow start to 2002, momentum built and in 2003 Penrith took the league (minor premiership) and grand final. It slipped from there and ended in 2006. In came Matthew Elliott and after getting the wooden spoon (again in 2006) built nicely for the second place in the league. It wasn't sustained and after Steve Georgallis finished the season for Matt, Ivan Cleary arrived from a successful stint at the NZ Warriors. 

Apart from 2014, it wasn't hugely a profitable time at the club so Anthony Griffin was engaged in 2016. The results were good but a falling out led to his departure in late 2018. Ivan Cleary was welcomed back in 2019 and has done good things with the team. 

The Origin series rattled them in 2021, losing many players to that competition. As Australian clubs whinge about losing players for international matches, the silence is deafening when it comes to a domestic competition doing the same thing. It comes down to what you value and what you don't. 

The last five years have been super consistent, managing Origin better and improving the depth of the squad working to keep them at the top of the pile. They are the new Melbourne Storm and with a strong junior programme should be able to keep this success going. 

Melbourne Storm League Placings : 2000-24

The Melbourne Storm arrived in 1998 and hit the ground running. It benefitted from a unique situation of the Perth Reds and Hunter Mariners folding just before as a result of the Super League truce, where it got many of its players from. It made the finals series in its first year and won the grand final in just its second season. 

The first coach was Chris Anderson, whose tenure in that position lasted three years. Actually, seven games into 2002 can be added to that before he was relieved of his position due to poor results. Mark Murray took the helm but things only got worse, missing the finals for the first time not once but twice.  

Wayne Bennett's assistant coach at the Brisbane Broncos became the new coach in 2003. Craig Bellamy has held that post since then. Things immediately improved and the club hasn't missed the finals since, apart from 2020. What took place at the club was spending over the salary cap, which was intentionally disguised. 

The upshot was that in 2010 when it became known it resulted in three minor premierships from 2006 to 2008 being taken from the club and all wins in the 2010 season were not counted. Two premierships were also annulled. The amazing thing was the club has continued on its successful way, with a record of consistent achievement that's unseen in a sport with a salary cap in place. Now adhered to of course.  

It's a club that is based in a city with no history of Rugby league and therefore not a provider of talent to support the player roster. It has required a most effective scouting regime, finding players from mainly Queensland and New Zealand. The consistency and effectiveness of this side of the operation are staggering. 

From a 'low' in 2022, another building phase has been effected, becoming again one of the two best clubs in the competition. Will the Melbourne Storm continue delivering at such a high level? They seem to know how to maintain an exceptional standard year after year. 

UK Championship Finals : 2024

UK's division two had six sides competing in the finals series, the hope being to win the grand final and promotion to the elite Super League. 

First round: The top two sides had a bye while third to sixth battled it out. The York Knights overcame the Widnes Vikings 27-10. Ironically York was once named Jorvik by the Vikings. On this raid, the Vikings were repulsed. In the other match, the Bradford Bulls defeated the Featherstone Rovers 25-12.

Semi final: Wakefield Trinity welcomed the York Knights and had a fight on their hands in their match, the hot favourites only up 7-6 at the break. They prevailed in the end 22-13 but it was a close encounter. 

Toulouse hosted the Bradford Bulls and the visitors were ahead 12-8 at the half way mark. Toulouse fought back and led 21-14 but a converted try minutes before the end meant an exciting end to the game. A 21-20 victory had the top two sides meeting in the grand final but neither were that convincing in getting there.

Final: It was live streamed and the quality of the presentation was excellent. Wakefield were far too good for the visiting French based side, leading 22-0 at half time and 36-0 when the hooter sounded after 80 minutes. Toulouse couldn't get into gear, their rare attacking forays were not threatening while Trinity was sharp on attack. 

dduring the game, Max Jowitt scored the most points by any player in a season when reaching the 500 mark. 26 tries and 198 goals in all. That's some feat. 

To see the full game, simply click here. You will have to slide the red dot along the line at the bottom of the video to avoid the brief wait at the beginning.

Summary: To qualify for the Super League, the IMG International Management Group is tasked with deciding if sides qualify to enter the elite competition and which sides would make way for them. Clubs are awarded points on many criteria so winning the grand final doesn't necessarily mean promotion.

That will be decided this week. Clubs already have been given grading scores but that hasn't fully clarified what will happen. My take is that both finalists have enough points to be promoted with London already known to be relegated. 

That would mean Wakefield would be definitely going up. The question as I see it is will Toulouse, despite losing the final, also gain acceptance and that depends on other existing SL clubs being outpointed. I'll report back once the situation is clear. 

UK Rugby League Quiz : 21st Century

Here are a few questions you may be interested in answering. The answers appear below. All of the questions are confined to the 21st century only.

Questions:

1) Which club had the longest continuous participation in the Super League grand finals (division one), without promotion or demotion?

2) Which club had the longest continuous presence in the Championship (division two), without promotion or relegation?

3) Which club had the longest continuous presence in League One (division three), without promotion or demotion?

4) Which Club has reached the Challenge Cup quarter finals more often than any other.

Answers below.

Picture source: Hull FC.

Answers: 

1) St Helens. They have been in every finals series going back to the year 2000. Wigan are the closest, having missed out twice, in 2005 and 2006. 

2) Batley. Since its inception in 2003, they have been there every season up to and including 2024. Halifax ran them close but their first year was 2004. See an article on this achievement by clicking here.

3) London Skolars. They were part of this league every year from 2003 to 2023, when they demoted themselves to a regional league. No other side comes close in terms of uninterrupted participation. 

4) Wigan. 21 cup quarter final appearances. St Helens and Warrington have managed 20 each. Wigan didn't miss more than one year in succession and that consistency makes them top of this list. 

UK League One Attendances : 2022-24

Trying to collate attendance numbers for the UK's third division or League One is not easy. Clubs come and go as do the number of teams competing. In 2022, there were eleven sides, 2023 ten and 2024 nine. This issue is being addressed, with eleven clubs in 2025 and twelve in 2026 which is the number being targeted.

The Total figure below is the total average of all clubs. The average figure is the Total figure divided by the number of clubs participating. 

Six clubs have been present over the three years. Oldham had a huge increase in 2024 and Rochdale slightly less overall but nice growth. Midland has also gained. Cornwall started in 2022 and a honeymoon first year held up well in 2023. For 2024 only two game's attendances were provided and the average is based on them. Has it really crashed that much?

Keighley went up a division for 2023 and came straight back down but fewer attendees in 2024. The London Skolars dropped to a lower regional division and West Wales ended I believe. Newcastle also came down a division and is doing it tough. They too provided few attendance figures so again estimates for the missing fixtures have been applied. 

League One has lost funding in recent times and they have done well to adapt and survive. Getting more sides into the league will hopefully reduce the byes that were used in 2024.

Picture source: Oldham RLFC.