'23 in Review - A Look Back

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 my defence, this was not an expression of my opinion! Instead, that was the opinion of Huddersfield's new signing, Jake Connor.

It was always an eye-catching remark but there was an expectation that Huddersfield would build on an impressive third place finish and Challenge Cup Final appearance, especially with an aggressive recruitment strategy.

The reality proved very different. The season was a disappointment with the club never threatening to make the play offs at any point. Expectations will consequently be tempered for 2024. Perhaps that suits Huddersfield?

3) Will we see a Warrington revivial?

Warrington had one of the most impressive starts in Super League history, winning their first 8 matches in the league and knocking Catalans out of the Challenge Cup away win from home.

Whilst such form could never realistically be maintained, the manner of Warrington's collapse was still startling. It culminated in the sacking of Daryl Powell. Gary Chambers held the fort in a season that the club seemed to write off from July onwards.

Next year sees the Sam Burgess era begin. The club's hierarchy have openly said that they went for an experienced coach last time and it failed, so what have we got to lose with an inexperienced one? Warrington have endured several years of underperformance, there is a demand for better next year.

4) Can Salford continue to defy gravity?

After coming so close to a return to Old Trafford in 2022, this year saw the Red Devils miss out on the play offs. Still, they outperformed teams with far higher salary cap spending such as Leeds, Huddersfield and Hull FC.

There is no disgrace in a 7th placed finish for Salford. It cannot be said that Salford defied gravity but 2023 was a respectable year nevertheless. With the loss of Brodie Croft and Andy Ackers, 2024 will bring more challenges, it will be tough for Salford to rise to them.

5) Can Leigh survive?

Survive?! Survive you say?! A Challenge Cup win and a play off berth?! That's not surviving, that's thriving!

Derek Beaumont promised Leigh fans that the club would win a major trophy in the next three years. He delivered it in the first year. It was not just Beaumont's investment though but a small, tightly-knit and well-coached squad that led to success.

A first Challenge Cup in over 50 years represented the greatest moment in the lifetime of many Leigh fans. This year is one that will never be forgotten in Leigh.

6) Does Tony Smith still have that magic?

2023 was another year of disappointment for Hull FC. Another year without play off rugby. Another year littered with embarassing home defeats. Another year where a squad hugely underperformed.

It begs the question, if a coach as successful and experienced as Tony Smith can't get this squad to fire, then who can?  There has been another huge turnover of players. In 2024, this will be Smith's squad. Will it finally bring Hull FC out of their malaise?

7 How will the Championship promotion race unfold?

The answer to this one was very unexpected. When London lost four of their first five matches, off the back a dreadful 2022, you would have been laughed at if you had suggested promotion for the Broncos.

That's exactly what happened with a stunning late season surge, including play off wins away at Sheffield, Toulouse and Featherstone. The favourites were swept aside and London are back in Super League.

In a slightly anti-climatic moment, irrespective of what London do next year, we all know their Super League stay will be for one year only. With the club sat 24th in the indicative new grading system, it is a long way back to the big time.

8) Can Newcastle and York halt decline?

For the former, no. For the latter, yes. Newcastle suffered relegation and then they withdrew from League 1. In a late-year scramble, Newcastle have managed to reach the starting line for 2024 and were reinstated in League 1. Those lofty ambitions of Super League by 2030 are a mere pipe dream.

York went into 2023 with a thin squad and having lost head coach James Ford. Yet, they made the play offs and have recruited well for 2024. York now look more stable than they did 12 months ago.

9) How will the cost of living impact the sport?

Despite a record fall in living standards, Super League posted their highest crowds since 2015. Crowds for major events held steady. A 58,000 crowd for the Grand Final with Catalans in attendance is no disgrace.

We have also seen several clubs receive new investment, which is exciting. But by contrast, we have lost London Skolars, almost lost Newcastle and seen clubs like Featherstone tighten the purse strings, with an on-field route to promotion cut off.

Times have been hard in 2023 but given the economic challenges faced, I think the sport has coped well.

10) What about TV rights?

We have signed a new TV deal with Sky Sports but with a significant reduction in value. This is in part offset by every Super League game being broadcast (it is unclear yet whether this means televised or streamed).

There is no confirmation either way as to whether Super League will continue to be shown on free-to-air television. Media reports suggest talks is ongoing. Whilst crowds have held up well, a further fall in the value of our TV rights is a major worry. The sport continues to haemorhage money.

11) Is League 1 feasible?

West Wales and London Skolars have both dropped out on the league in recent years. In 2023, the league had 10 teams. By 2024, it will be just 9. Newcastle very nearly dropped out too, which would have reduced the league to 8.

Several League 1 teams have called for a merger with the Championship. A compromise with an expanded 1895 Cup was agreed instead. Still, the league continues to contract, it appears a combination of a graveyard for once-great traditional clubs and some expansion clubs. The league survives for now but you sense it is only a matter of time.

12) Can the women's game stand on its own two feet?

The Challenge Cup Final being played at Wembley was historic. And we should listen to the athletes, who spoke in glowing terms about the final being played at the national stadium.

But from a spectator's perspective, I thought the Grand Final played in front of a reasonably full stadium at York with a good atmopshere looked far better than the Challenge Cup Final being played before an empty stadium.

It has been great to see some women sign professional deals and others thrive in NRLW. The women's game has taken steps forward. Small steps, yes, but progress.

13) When will men's internationals be arranged?

This time last year, we did not know whether England's men's team would play a competitive fixture at the end of the year. Thankfully, we did and a series against Tonga was arranged.

It is rather depressing that 12 months on the exact same question is being asked. England are scrambling around for an opponent following Samoa's withdrawal from a planned tour.

I'll repeat what I said last year. With all competitive opposition in the Southern Hemisphere, finding regular internationals for England is difficult. And it's hard to see what the solution is.

14) Will the wheelchair game ride the crest of a wave?

I was pleased to see England face France in a two-match series at the end of the year. The series finished as a tie, with one win each. The matches had an edge to them and I certainly bought into a genuine sense of rivalry.

With wheelchair rugby league being an indoor sport, I'd love to see it start being played in winter. More focus could be paid to this form of the sport and it would fill the off season of other forms of the sport.

In a few days, check back here for my preview of 2024!