UK Championship (Division 2) Finals: 2025

Six sides took part in the finals series of the Championship, the European second division. Winning the grand final or even just making it there should help press claims for Super League status in 2025. Grand final highlights are in the video above.

First round: The top sides from the league had a week off so three to six did battle. The Halifax Panthers were too good for Oldham but well done to Oldham as a newly promoted side getting this far. In the other fixture, Bradford overcame Featherstone 28-8. 

Semi finals: York hosted Halifax and booked their place in the grand final with a solid 30-18 victory. Bradfoed went to France and did very well to lose narrowly 20-24. The top two league teams showed their class in progressing through.

Grand final: York had home advantage but there was little between the sides through the season and that is how the final panned out. York scored two unconverted tries and Toulouse kicked five penalties to edge it 10-8. Poor discipline by York hurt them, as did missed conversions. Both will now hope to be promoted to Super League next season. 

UK SL/Championship (Women) Finals : 2025

This covers both finals series for women's RL in the UK. First up, the elite Super League playoffs, then the second division (Northern Championship) finals.

Super League: The top four from the league went on to press for grand final success. Wigan had already won the cup and league so were looking to do the treble. It was hard to see who could stop them. In 2024, York won the grand final against St Helens. 

Semi finals: Wigan took on Leeds, a club which hadn't won anything since its 2022 grand final victory. The wait goes on when it was easily beaten 0-38 by the Warriors. In the other semi, St Helens battled to a narrow 12-8 win over the holders York Valkyrie. 

Grand Final: 5,000 attended the match, a record for the event. Wigan went in hot favourites but were soon trailing, with Saints players desperately not wishing to take home another runners up medals. Then Wigan took control and despite a late try from Saints, got home 16-12. 

Northern Championship: The London Broncos were promoted to this division and amazingly went through the league season undefeated. Meanwhile, Featherstone Rovers had been demoted from Super League and had lost just one match. 

London maintained their unbeaten run in getting past Salford 22-10 and Featherstone overcame another newly promoted side the Cardiff Demons 20-14. The top two clubs from the league were to meet in the final.

Played in London, the locals took an early lead 10-0 but it was whittled down to 10-8 by the break. Feathestone then went on to overtake London and gain immediate promotion back to Super League.

NRLW Women's Finals Series : 2025

Six teams made it to the finals series. Three from Queensland and three from NSW (two from Sydney). Two sides were likely to stand out. The Brisbane Broncos are the most successful club historically and the Sydney Roosters. who have been the best in recent times, The latter were the 2024 grand final winning club. 

First round: Newcastle were expected to defeat the Gold Coast and delivered on that expectation. Cronulla vs North Queensland was slightly harder to pick, although I had Cronulla as my choice. In a tight affair, the Sharks prevailed 24-18. 

Second round: The two rested sides returned to the action. The Roosters struggled to overcome the Sharks but in the end sqeaked home 17-16. In contrast, the Broncoes were in fine form in powering past the Knights 30-6. The Broncos certainly looked the form side going into the grand final.

Grand final: Brisbane got ahead early but the Roosters didn't go through the whole season undefeated by fluke and came back to lead with minutes to go. A late try was awarded to the Broncos that secured the title they last won in 2019. 

I wasn't sure with that last try that the ball was grounded, but if it was, it was a prominent blade of grass that did the honours. Either way, it was awarded and that's all that matters. Tight games are often decided by fine margins.

NRL Men's Finals Series : 2025

The top eight were decided and off they all went in pursuit of the grand final trophy. Four clubs from Sydney and one each from Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne and New Zealand.

First round: League winners Canberra got run down in spectacular fashion by Brisbane and Cronulla shut out the in form Sydney Roosters. The NZ Warriors came into the finals in less than ideal form and the inform Penrith Panthers in the end ran away with the match. Finally, Melbourne were just too experienced for the plucky Canterbury Bulldogs side. 

Second round: With two teams having a week off, Canberra tried to get redemption for last week's heatbreak but were outplayed by a very solid Cronulla Sharks. I the other encounter, Penrith's experience in finals paid off in a comfortable win over the Bulldogs. 

Third Round: One game away from a grand final berth. Melbourne got home against a plucky Cronulla while Brisbane enjoyed another nail biting victory over the last four grand final victors Penrith. Is the dynasty over for the losing Panthers? 

Grand Final: Melboune won its last grand final in 2020 and Brisbane in 2006 so for the latter a long time between drinks of the celebratory sort. Melbourne was ahead for much of the game but Brisbane have been reveling in arm wrestles and wouldn't go away. In the end, they won yet another tight one 22-18.