2021 in Review - The Big Questions Answered

At the start of 2021, we wrote this piece asking 13 questions which would define how the 2021 Rugby League season would be remembered. As the season has drawn to its close, we will now look back at the answers.

1. Can St Helens do the three-peat?

Yes! To win one title is a triumph, to win back to back is historic, to win three in a row you create a dynasty. In any sport, winning three in a row is tough. In a salary capped sport it is even tougher. On the one hand, seeing the same team win repeatedly can be tedious (unless you're a Saints fan!). In Rugby League, we can be guilty of looking at the worst of things at times. This St Helens side is a special team and we should no be afraid of appreciating their talents.

2. How will Leigh cope in Super League?

Not very well was the answer. It took until August for them to win a Super League match and they finished the year with just two wins. In their first round, they pushed rivals Wigan all the way, but this was not a sign of what was to come. It was a year of struggles, and for the third time, Leigh suffered an immediate relegation back to the Championship. It will be interesting to see how they go in 2022.

3. Will we see a new Super League winner?

We did not, but came as close as we have done since the last 'new' team to win the Super League (being Leeds in 2004). Pre-season, I hypothesised that Warrington may be the side to break the mould but yet again they disappointed in the play offs. Instead, it was Catalans who won the League Leaders' Shield in dramatic style. Catalans were fantastic in the Grand Final and would have comfortably beaten any other side in the league. Yet St Helens just managed to deny them. But I don't think Catalans will simply go away in 2022.

4. How will the new coaches go?

Badly, if we're being honest. Richard Marshall has left his post at Salford following an 11th placed finish. Hull FC started well under new head coach Brett Hodgson before they faded terribly and underachieved significantly, finishing 8th. People had high hopes for Huddersfield after substantial investment in the playing staff and the coup of landing highly-rated coach Ian Watson. They finished 9th and never threatened a play off spot. A poor start in 2022 would see Hodgson and Watson face immense pressure.

5) Will Super League see another non-heartland team?

An emphatic yes here! Toulouse's season was hampered by Covid. They played far fewer games than most, including zero regular season home matches, but were unbeaten in the matches they did play. It cannot be argued that they did not deserve their promotion. It's always tough for a new side coming into Super League to stay there. It's a mission that Toulouse will face head on in 2022.

6) Or...maybe not?

This question was asking whether a heartland team could stop Toulouse. Featherstone came the closest with another strong season. They lost only two league matches, both to Toulouse. They were comfortably the best heartland team in the Championship and promotion to Super League next year would not surprise me. The Rovers will be hungry for success after winning the 1895 Cup at Wembley.

7) How will Newcastle cope in the Championship?

Pretty well as it turned out! Despite two teams being relegated to League 1, Newcastle were never under a real threat of demotion. They finished 11th from 14th. I think this is a success. A year of consolidation in 2021. The question is can they grow? In 2022, they will run with a full time squad and have made some eye-catching signings. Concerningly, attendance figures have started to drop, which hopefully can be reversed before long.

8) What to do about Cumbria?

Asking for a strategy for this rugby league hotbed was probably too much. On the field, it was a huge success for Cumbria. Whitehaven went on a brilliant late season surge to make the play offs in the Championship. Barrow and Workington secured promotion to the Championship next year. Things are looking rosy and we are going to have some great derbies next season.

9) Will it be England's Year?

Well...no. It wasn't England's year, but that wasn't England's fault. Australia and New Zealand returned to their tradition of making excuses of why not to play international matches and withdrew from the World Cup, leading to a 12 month postponement. England ended the year with a 50% record, losing to the Combined Nations All Stars and defeating France. 2022 will be a case of de ja vu, with England preparing for a home World Cup. 

10) When will fans return to stadiums?

After 14 long months, on Monday 17th May, five Super League matches welcomed crowds capped at 4,000 back into stadiums. The league smartly moved matches to the first day that Government restrictions eased somewhat to accommodate this.

The Challenge Cup Final saw a 50% capacity, with the event being designated as test event, before the return of full crowds. Later that month, full restrictions on capacities were eased. That made you realise how much the crowd makes the sport. Let's hope that those dark days of empty stadiums are never seen again.

11) Will we get a new TV deal?

We have. In common with other major sports, it is of a reduced value. Interestingly, it is a short deal too. It is not clear whether this is at ours or Sky's behest. The reduced TV deal has led to huge central funding cuts, the brunt of which is being borne by Championship and League 1 clubs. The full impact of this is yet to be seen.

More positively, the Championship will have a weekly match broadcast on Premier Sports next year and there are whispers that Channel 4 may show some Super League matches live next year and a national highlights show. Watch this space!

12) Will the North American dream continue?

On a smaller scale, yes. A small competition is set to be launched in Canada soon. It isn't going to be on the scale of Toronto Wolfpack but from tiny acorns...We have seen some evidence that there is an appetite for Rugby League in Canada. Let's hope that this is the start of a positive new chapter in North America. Meanwhile, the Ottawa Aces dream died before it truly begun.

13) Will RLWC2021 be a spingboard for the sport?

As it turned out, this will be a question for 2022 instead. Despite an NRL-led act of sabotage, the tournament has not been postponed, and all matches will still be shown live on the BBC (and Government funding rolled over). This was key to the tournament's success. 2021 saw huge hurdles placed in the way of the tournament. We can only hope that a further 12 months of preparation will see an even bigger and better tournament.