UK Super League Table : 2023

As a season goes, it wasn't a predictable one. St Helens were warm favourites after winning last year's league and then the World Club Challenge against Penrith but came in third. I didn't expect the Catalan Dragons to go so close to taking out the league title but a loss to Wigan late in the season was the difference.

Even bigger surprises eventuated. Hull KR made the top four when I didn't see them in the top six, one of the teams therefore that progresses to the playoffs. They also made the Cup final. The Leigh Leopards were the biggest surprise. They were dead certain relegation candidates but have made the final playoff series and won the 2023 Challenge Cup as proof they were the real deal in 2023.

Warrington looked promising and early on in the season the team was delivering but then faltered. Still, they are in the finals. Huddersfield, Salford and Leeds were finalists last year but surprisingly were off the pace. 

The bottom three were the only thing that was really predictable this year. In the end, it was Wakefield that had to leave the top flight. After a nicely upgraded stadium was finally delivered but then relegation. If spending on that rather than recruiting players cost them, it was a price worth paying when one takes the long term view. 

NRL Attendances : 2023

A fine year of attendance figures was enjoyed in 2023. I went back to 1990 and this was the best average year in that time period and by a reasonable margin. The total is up 21% compared to 2022. Is this because after the restrictions of COVID-19, fans were glad just to get out and enjoy the game atmosphere again. I think partially so but the way figures held up during the season, it was a geniune increase. 

The Dolphins (in red, above) is a new franchise in Brisbane, and looking at the Brisbane Broncos 2023 figure, it doesn't seem to have been negatively impacted at all. The NZ Warriors benefitted from being at home after disruptive issues with COVID-19. Only Paramatta and St George were down in numbers. 

The top four attended sides are all outside of Sydney and the bottom four are all based in that city. All new franchises are being established away from Sydney for that reason.

Australasian NRL Table : 2023

The regular season has concluded and a sport without a finals series would end here, with Penrith declared the top side. However, the teams below shaded in blue move into the playoffs while the rest can sit back and watch the others battle it out.

Penrith over the last four years has had a 1 2 1 1 record. Looking down the rest of the list shows other clubs aren't nearly as consistent. The Melbourne Storm would be the only side that comes anywhere near that recent record. 

The New Zealand Warriors have been operating out of Australia for the last two years, all home games effectively away ones and being separated from families for long periods. The first full year back to normal and they had a surprisingly successful season. Well deserved. The only issue is their form has dipped recently and they may not win a finals match.

Both the Brisbane Broncos and Newcastle Knights were big improvers in 2022. The Paramatta Eels and North Queensland Cowboys were well short of their last season standing. As for unwanted consistency, the West Tigers collected their second wooden spoon in a row. Manly, the Gold Coast and Canterbury were likewise consistent. 

I look at points difference to see how a team performed over the season. On that basis, Canberra is very fortunate to make the playoffs. Had South Sydney won their last game, they would have been playing for at least another round as their goal difference was much better than Canberra's.