NRL Women's Honours Board: 2018-22

The women's game in Australia was first held in 2018 with sides aligned to existing clubs in the men's NRL competition. Four entrants were involved in the first year, moving to six in 2021 and ten in 2023. There are a league competition (Lge) and finals (Fls).

League: The Brisbane Broncos is the most successful with four titles in a row from 2018 to 2021. With some player defections, fortunes suffered accordingly and 2022 was for them an annus horibilis. The Sydney Roosters won the 2022 title.

Finals: The same pattern here with Brisbane winning the first three, then missing the grand final match and not making the finals at all. The Roosters took the trophy in 2021 and Newcastle in 2022. Overall the Brisbane side is the most successful in this competition too but that may not last long.

Summary: It's early days so comparing clubs is difficult. New sides such as Newcastle and Paramatta have done well in a short space of time. The NZ Warriors were there for three years but not the last two nor for 2023 either. They initially pulled out for a single season due to Covid issues but haven't applied since which is mystifying. 

Photo credit: NRL.

UK Women's Honours Board: 2017-22

The Challenge Cup for women started in 2012 but the league in 2017, so I decided to do the summary from the later date. Even then it was a bit unusual with Castleford in the league and Wigan St Pats in the cup. The 2020 season was cancelled due to Covid.

League: There has been a different winner of the league each of the five seasons, yet the most successful club wasn't one of them. That's an unusual outcome. Leeds has secured one more point than Saints in the seasons they were both in the competition. 

Finals: Bradford won in 2017 as part of the treble winning season for them. Then it was Wigan, Leeds, Saints and Leeds. Leeds are therefore the most successful (56 points) from St Helens (48).

Cup: After Bradford lifted the trophy in 2017, Leeds did it twice and St Helens followed them with a double of their own. 

Summary: Saints are the top side in this period although Leeds would but for being involved in one less season. York is the big improver with two excellent campaigns in 2021 and 22. The talent isn't well spread and unless that changes, expect the same leading sides - Saints, Leeds and York - in 2023.

Picture credit: Leeds Rhinos.

NRL Honours Board: 2020-22

There are just two competitions in the season, the league (Lge) and finals (Fls). The majority of the clubs are located in Sydney, with others scattered along the Eastern Seaboard and New Zealand. The last three years have seen a shift in which club is leading the way. 

Twenty points for the top side in the league, going down to one for the wooden spoon winner. The Finals tops at sixteen and goes down to four. 

League: Penrith has won two of the last three titles as well as a second so have been the most successful with 58 points. Melbourne is next with 50 with a title, second and an uncustomary fifth. The only other club to make the top two in a season is Cronulla-Sutherland, which they did in 2022.

Finals: Penrith are again ahead of the rest with two wins and a second. South Sydney (28) move into second ahead of a downward heading Melbourne (26), although the latter have at least won a grand final. Paramatta (20) made the grand final this year.

Total Points: Penrith (102) are clearly the best side over the past three years, with Melbourne (76), South Sydney (65) and Paramatta (61) doing their best to stay with them. Who would bet against Penrith in 2023?

Picture credit: NRL.