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In the Challenge Cup, there have been 8 different winners in the last 10 years. We have also had 8 different winners of the League Leaders' Shield since it was introduced in 2002. Yet there are still just four names on the Super League title since the league's creation in 1996. Since 2018, the title has simply changed hands between Wigan and St Helens as Leeds' "golden generation" ended.  Interestingly, despite the Super League title only having red and white (sorry, cherry not red for Wigan!) ribbons on it since 2018, Wigan and St Helens have only met in one Super League Grand Final in that time. It is strange that we get a variety of teams winning the Challenge Cup and League Leaders' Shield but the Super League champions remain a select few.  And it is not like we haven't come close. Hull FC, Warrington (four times), Castleford, Salford, Catalans (twice) and Hull KR have all got to the Grand Final and all failed. On 10 occasions has a 'new' side...

On 12th January 2020, Mose Masoe played for Hull KR in a pre-season friendly against Wakefield. In an attempt to make a tackle on his goal line, Masoe sustained a serious spinal injury, leading to his retirement and life-changing injuries. Here is a video of Masoe's injury (it is not graphic but viewer discretion advised). The seemingly innocuous challenge where @hullkrofficial prop Mose Masoe suffered a serious spinal injury in the pre season game against Wakefield Trinity yesterday. pic.twitter.com/937Y0SHs9h — Arif Ahmed (@ArifAhmedITV) January 13, 2020 It looks quite innocuous doesn't it? In the heat of the moment, some may even have thought Masoe was staying down to get the game stopped so his defensive line could reset. Out of no malice at all, a fellow Hull KR defender may have attempted to move Masoe so they could get into a better defensive position. Now imagine what may have happened if Masoe had been moved in these circumstances. What was an exceptionally serious i...

On Wednesday, it was announced that the Chair of RL Commercial, Frank Slevin, had left his role; one that he had held since 2022. You would not need to be a genius to figure out that Nigel Wood would ultimately fill this role. Ordinarily, I would reflect on Mr Slevin's legacy in his role at Chair of RL Commercial. However, given I did not know he even held the role until he resigned from it, such was his anonymity, that is not possible. Mr Wood joined the RFL as a finance director in 2001, after a period as Chief Executive at Halifax, which started in 1995 and saw the club fall into financial difficulties to the extent that they required a Creditors Voluntary Agreement to be put in place by 1999. Wood rose through the ranks at the RFL to become the governing body's Chief Executive. His supporters will point to higher revenues, securing a record TV deal with Sky Sports in 2014, introducing the Magic Weekend and overseeing the introduction of Catalans Dragons into Super League (p...

Winning. In finals, that is all that matters. Whether you win by two points in the most unconvincing fashion imaginable or put in a performance that will be revered for generations, the prize is the same. Hull KR put in their ugliest performance of the season in Saturday's Challenge Cup final (according to captain Elliot Minchella). It matters not one jot because they still managed to win. I was staggered by pre-match predictions that Hull KR would breeze past Warrington (not said with  hindsight  may I add).  Hull KR had a second row at centre, they were missing their full back and they were without their first two choice goal kickers. Warrington had big players missing too, namely Matty Ashton and Danny Walker. And whilst they have been so poor at times this season, they have shown glimpses of class. They have shown they can raise their game for 80 minutes but not consistently.  It was entirely plausible that Warrington would raise their game for the Challenge Cup ...

Hull KR and Warrington have been part of Rugby League (almost) since its formation, yet have only met each other once in the Challenge Cup Final, in 1905, with Warrington coming out on top. It has taken 120 years for that line up to be repeated. In some ways, a lot can happen in 120 years. But also a lot can not  happen. Hull KR, for example, have only won one Challenge Cup in that time. Warrington have a lot more historical pedigree in this competition, having won it nine times. The pressure is on Hull KR tomorrow. This is rightly seen as Hull KR's best opportunity to win a trophy in 40 years. They are top of Super League. They have lost just once all season. They are conceding an average of less than nine points per match in the league this year. Hull KR have not lost a match to any opponent apart from Wigan in 80 minutes, in 13 months (they were, of course, defeated by Catalans at home in golden point last July). Their form is superb. All signs point to a Hull KR victory. The bo...

I always think the sign of a good coach is when they leave the club in a better position that when they arrived. Steve McNamara was appointed Catalans coach in May 2017. In their previous match, they lost 56-12 to Huddersfield at home and sat in 9th place in the table. Catalans currently sit in 8th place after shaky start to 2025. But to look at just the start point and the end point rarely tells the whole story. In his eight years at Catalans, Steve McNamara has won the Challenge Cup in 2018, won the League Leaders' Shield in 2021 and reached the Super League Grand Finals in 2021 and 2023. Whilst this season has been difficult, I expect Catalans will look back on the last seven years with fondness. I recall the scenes at Perpignan airport as the team were greeted by cheering Catalans fans as they secured their first major trophy in 2018. The welcome that the Catalans players received as they arrived at their home play off semi finals in 2021 and 2023 were unforgettable. Those vict...