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The biggest risk in life is not taking risks at all. Risk is what makes life worth living. And whether we realise it or not, we take small risks every day. If you are lucky enough to have a partner or a close friend, think of how you met them. One of you would have had to pluck up the courage to speak to the other. That's a risk. The risk of appearing foolish is one that we rarely talk about but impacts the decision making of humans greatly. But think where your life would be without risk. Applying this to sport, none of the players who play Rugby League professionally would be where they are today without risk. The first step on that ladder is usually turning up to a junior team, often alone, to play a team sport. The majority of Rugby League players lives would not be the same, if their younger self did not take that risk. Risk is not always good though. A way of navigating life is knowing when to take a risk and when not to. And if you are in the insurance industry, risk is not

In 2021, I did some research regarding how red cards seem to impact on results of matches. If you want to read that piece, it's available here . With four red cards shown in the opening round of Super League in 2024, I thought it was time to revisit this. I have looked at every red card that was issued in a Super League game in 2023 (and Challenge Cup matches involving Super League teams), what time of the match it was given, what the score was at the time and what the score was at the end. For the purpose of this piece, I have excluded Konrad Hurrell's red card for St Helens against Leeds in February 2023 and James McDonnell's red card in the reverse fixture. This is because these red cards were shown in the final five minutes of those matches. 1) Gil Dudson (Catalans v Warrington - April 2023) Gil Dudson was sent off in this match after 66 minutes for a punch. At the time, the game was level at 14-14. In the top of the table clash, Warrington scored a late try to turn a d

I don't know if it's just me, but does this off-season seem to have dragged? It seems a very long time since 14th October when Wigan defeated Catalans at Old Trafford. But we're close to being back. So it's time to complete my annual ritual of humiliating myself by making predictions that turn out to be laughably inaccurate.  People tend to get quite upset when other people make predictions that suggest their team may not do that well. Relax. They're just predictions. Most are almost certainly going to be wrong. Or, I dunno, maybe I just hate your team. That's the more simple explanation. Anyway, this is how I see the table looking in 2024. 1st Place - St Helens I think many are underestimating St Helens this year after (by their standards) a disappointing 2023. This is partly based on an assumption that they are weaker without James Roby. I disagree. Roby was unparalleled for his career but time caught up with him last year. Whilst Roby was a better player over

The accepted (and probably accurate) view in Rugby League circles is that London Broncos will participate in Super League for one season in 2024 and then be relegated to the Championship.  Before I started writing this piece, the preconception that I had was that Leigh are the other current Super League team who were at the greatest risk  of dropping out. I decided to dive into the data and criteria to see if my perception was correct. Grading System and 2024 Indicative Scores From 2025, a new 'grading' system comes into place and the top 12 teams will make up Super League. In October 2023, indicative gradings were published, showing what would have happened in the system had been 'live' from 2024. Castleford came out in 13th spot and would have lost their Super League status. They appealed their grading on the basis that some financial data was incorrect.  Whilst the appeal was rejected, the RFL accepted that, had the correct data being used, Castleford's score wou

Happy New Year! As we enter January 2024, we can say that the Rugby League season will return with the 1895 Cup at the end of this month and that the new Super League season is just six weeks away. As I do every year, here are the questions that I think will define 2024! 1. Will a new Wigan era of dominance begin? Wigan enter the new season as champions. Ominously for their rivals, their squad looks stronger for 2024, with the signings of Adam Keighran, Kruise Leeming, Sam Walters and Luke Thompson to name but four. A special occasion awaits as Wigan host Penrith in the World Club Challenge in February. And then attention will turn to retaining their Super League crown. With the strength of their squad, they will be favourites to go back-to-back. 2. Will Hull KR challenge for the Super League title? Hull KR made major strides forward in 2023, with a fourth place finish and a Challenge Cup final appearance. Willie Peters made a strong start to his career as a head coach and has also str

At the start of 2023, I assessed 14 questions that I thought would define the year ahead. Feel free to take a read back at that blogpost, here . Now, the time has come to look at the answers to those questions! 1) Can St Helens make it five in a row? 2023 was the year that the St Helens era of dominance came to an end with the League Leaders' Shield, Challenge Cup and Super League all going elsewhere. That is not to say St Helens faded away. They went into the final day of the season with a shot at top spot and lost narrowly in two semi finals, the result being in doubt until the last action in both. The St Helens dynasty was completed with a stunning triumph in the World Club Challenge, away at Penrith. Unquestionably, this was one of, if not the greatest, achievements in the club's 150 year history.  All three domestic trophies now reside in the Wigan borough. That will provide motivation for St Helens in 2024. 2) Do Huddersfield have the best squad in Super League? Now, in m