My year in league – 2024
As 2024 comes to a close, and with the new season still a few weeks away, here’s a look back on my 2024 in rugby league…
| Games attended – 2023 | Games attended – 2024 | Miles driven – 2023 | Miles driven – 2024 |
| 12 | 14 (+2) | 3,528 | 4,114 (+586) |
February
17th – Castleford Tigers vs Wigan Warriors
After a tough 105 days without a match, Saturday 17th was carved into my calendar the second the fixtures were released.
Anyone who refers to Super League as ‘summer rugby’ clearly hasn’t been to the Mend-A-Hose Jungle in mid-February. Swirling winds, heavy rain and freezing cold temperatures made for tough conditions on the pitch, but honestly, I couldn’t have cared less.
Just being back at a live RL game was enough for me, and Wigan’s one-sided 4-32 victory certainly helped. That being said, Liam Watts’ first half red card looked extremely harsh in real time, and when I saw the replays back later, I still came to the same conclusion. Up ’til that point the game had been pretty even as well, until the Warriors ran away with it.
Oh, it’s good to be back!
24th – Wigan Warriors vs Penrith Panthers
If Cas away was the appetiser, then the following weekend was definitely the main course. Seeing Wigan lift the World Club Challenge against a seemingly unbeatable Panthers side was one of the highlights of the year, although I’m not too biased to admit the Cherry and Whites got a bit lucky with some of the calls.
It does annoy me when people focus on the 50/50 decisions, because it undermines the team’s outstanding defence on the night, however I can’t deny that Jake Wardle’s try shouldn’t have been given.
Still, in sport some decisions go your way and others don’t, and no Wigan fan that night cares one bit that the try was a bit ‘iffy’.
This was also the only game that my partner, Sam, came to me with all season. She’s not too fussed about RL now, but whenever the Aussies come over she’s straight on it, and a visit to the Coronation Street set the following day was enough to convince her.
March
A tough month for me, as it was one of only two months across the season where I didn’t make it to a game.
I had pencilled in London Broncos vs Wigan on the 9th, but I had a 40th birthday party that evening, and it would have been too much of a rush to get back for it.
On reflection though, I really wish I’d scrapped the 40th and gone down to Wimbledon instead.
I had planned to get to Saints on Good Friday as well, but the tickets sold out before I even had a chance to get one. Disappointing as it was on a personal note, as an RL fan I love seeing a ‘Sold Out’ sign, even if it means I miss out.
April
14th – Castleford Tigers vs Wigan Warriors
Just the one game for me this month, and it was back to the Mend-A-Hose Jungle for the second time this year, this time in the Challenge Cup.
With the season firmly underway at this point, I knew that Cas wouldn’t provide much threat, but even so, this was a pretty emphatic win.
The game was effectively over in the first 20 minutes, with Wigan taking a 0-28 lead. The Tigers pulled one back before half-time, but another one-sided second half saw the Warriors comfortably into the semi-finals with a 6-60 win.
On a personal note, it was also my birthday, and safe to say, the win was the best present I could have asked for.
May
11th – Huddersfield Giants vs Wigan Warriors
Another single match for me this month, although it almost didn’t happen. Two days before the game my car failed to start, and my first thought was, “How will I get to Huddersfield on Saturday?”
Several hours and £200 later, my new battery was fitted on the drive by RAC, and I could look forward to my first ever trip to Huddersfield.
I was quite impressed with the John Smith’s Stadium, although it doesn’t look that great when it’s practically empty. Considering Huddersfield is the birthplace of rugby league, it’s amazing to me that they can’t get bigger crowds, but there you go.
As for the game, I expected a fairly close contest and for 40 minutes I was right as the Warriors led 6-12 at the break. The second half was a whitewash though, as Wigan ran out 6-48 winners, which meant a happy drive home for me.
The following week I was gutted to miss out on the Challenge Cup Quarter Final. Had the game been played on the Sunday I would have made it, however I was in Vienna for a few days in the week before, and only got home on the Saturday night. Still, at least Wigan’s 38-6 win meant I’d be seeing them at Wembley a few weeks later.
June
1st – Warrington Wolves vs Wigan Warriors
This was the first of three straight weekends of RL for me, and that was reason to be cheerful as I headed up to the Halliwell Jones Stadium for my first visit in six years.
I’ve always had a soft spot for the town as I used to have family there, so it was nice to get up there nice and early and have a stroll around the town centre before the game.
Then as for the game itself, what a contest! With the Challenge Cup Final taking place the following week, this was a bit of a warm-up and both sides made plenty of changes, but it was still a great game.
The action all started before kick-off when members of the military abseiled down from the roof, then the game itself was a thriller with Harry Smith’s drop goal before half-time proving decisive in an 18-19 win for Wigan.
8th – Warrington Wolves vs Wigan Warriors and Wakefield Trinity vs Sheffield Eagles
What a day this was! My 15th Challenge Cup Final, and for the first time ever I stayed to watch the 1895 Cup Final as well.
This is one of the few games that Sam usually comes to with me, but as she was working I was on my own this time. The bonus being that I could stay behind for a second game of course, without her wanting to head home.
The first game was the main event of course, and when both teams had a man sin-binned in the opening few minutes, I was concerned the referee might spoil it. Fortunately he didn’t though, and an entertaining game finished with an 8-18 win for Wigan. Two trophies down and two to go!
I also spent most of the game chatting to a fellow southerner who was also at the game on his own. Rob’s story wasn’t too dissimilar to mine – a one-time football fanatic who’s sick of the way the game has gone, and who hasn’t looked back since discovering rugby league. Hopefully, I bump into you again next year, Rob!
As for the Sheffield game, that was a bit of a non-event unfortunately. Wakefield showed their class to destroy Sheffield 50-6, but I’m glad I hung around and got another game in, although Rob was long gone by this point, so I had most of Wembley’s upper tier to myself.
16th – London Broncos vs St Helens
Three weekends, four games, and I even squeezed in a work trip to Bulgaria between my Wembley weekend and this one.
With the Broncos taking a game back to the Stoop for the first time since 2013, I had to be there. Wimbledon is far too much of a pain to get to for me, but the Stoop – despite being a long drive – is actually a pretty simple place to reach.
The game wasn’t much of a contest with Saints running out easy winners, but with a bit of marketing behind it and their biggest crowd in years, this was a sign of the enormous potential the Broncos have if only they could get it right consistently.
July
12th – Wigan Warriors vs St Helens
This was my one and only game for the month, although it shouldn’t have been (more on that later).
It’s very rare that I go up for a Friday night match, but as it was Saints and I’d missed the Good Friday game, I had to go to this.
Cue a day off work and a 2am arrival home, before I had to take my car to the garage for 7am on Saturday. Was it worth it though? 100%! Even without Wigan’s 16-12 win, I’d do it all again in a heartbeat.
The following Saturday I had a ticket for the Hull FC match as well, but sadly it wasn’t to be. Our boiler packed up in the days before the game, and the first available time for the engineer to come was Saturday morning. I checked with Sam whether we needed hot water before Monday and her stern look told me everything I needed to know.
Had the engineer arrived at the start of his 9am-1pm ETA, I could have actually made it to Hull, but with him leaving at 11.30, it was too touch and go for me to make it.
August
10th – Leeds Rhinos Reserves vs Wigan Warriors Reserves and Leeds Rhinos vs Wigan Warriors
Another big month of RL for me with six games in three weekends. This is what they mean by summer rugby!
Not that it started out so summery on a rainy lunchtime at Headingley. I hadn’t even planned to watch the reserves match, but having arrived at the ground super early and grabbed some snacks, it made sense to go in and watch it rather than hang around on my own outside.
I couldn’t tell you much about the game, apart from watching Jack Farrimond run the show for Wigan. A quick search though has jogged my memory, and reminded me that the Warriors got a bit lucky in the first game of the day. A 6-40 lead was cut down to 30-40 by Leeds, although Wigan held out.
As for the first team match, it was 30 points for the home side again, but sadly the Warriors’ men’s side couldn’t match the scoring of the youngsters, posting just a single unconverted try.
Harry Smith was sent off for a stupidly dangerous tackle near the end too, but the one positive of that was that it meant Farrimond would at least get a crack at first grade in the coming weeks.
17th – Hull FC vs London Broncos, Wigan Warriors vs St Helens, Warrington Wolves vs Leeds Rhinos
My first Magic Weekend since 2019 and I loved every minute of it!
I get why fans weren’t happy with Elland Road and it wouldn’t be on my top 10 stadiums to host the event, but at least it’s in the heartlands and it’s easy to get to.
As per usual, I only attended the first day. Normally I’m tempted to stay for both, but the fixtures were so stacked this year that it never even crossed my mind to watch Sunday’s games as well.
First up was Hull v London, and this was the one I had been looking forward to most. I thought 11th vs 12th would be a tight contest, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. The Broncos smashed the Black and Whites 29-4, and it was great to see so many fans cheering London on – even if it was just the once.
Next up was Wigan vs Saints, and I was surprised how easily Wigan saw their rivals off, 20-0.
By the time of the third game, I was starting to flag a little, but the Wolves vs Rhinos match had the best atmosphere thanks to the thousands of Leeds fans there. The players couldn’t rise to the occasion though, as Warrington ran out comfortable 24-6 winners.
25th – Wigan Warriors vs Hull FC
A third straight weekend of rugby league for me as I headed to Wigan for what was due to be the final time in 2024.
I honestly can’t remember much about this game at all. Before the game I was expecting at least a 40-point win, so the fact it was only 22-4 was a little disappointing, but a win’s a win.
September
Only a second month of the season without a game for me, but I can’t complain too much. Unfortunately all three of Wigan’s matches fell on Thursday or Friday nights, so September was a no-go.
October
5th – Wigan Warriors vs Leigh Leopards
Another month of three games, and the perfect way to round out the year. For a number of weeks I’d been desperately hoping Wigan finished top, because it meant a Saturday evening fixture in the play-offs.
Thankfully, they delivered, and their third trophy of the season set up a semi-final with Leigh. For only the third time this season I had company, as my mate Henry joined me. Thanks to my tipping he won a few quid as well. I told him Wigan would win by 20+, so it came in pretty emphatically in the end.
12th – Wigan Warriors vs Hull KR
The following week I was off to Old Trafford for my 16th Grand Final, and I couldn’t have been more excited to see the top two going at it.
As per usual for the big one, I arrived ridiculously early – 4 hours early to be exact – and I was absolutely buzzing. I know this game had mixed reviews, given the low scoreline and the defensive battle, but personally I thought it was fantastic, and I’m not just saying that because Wigan won.
Anyone who follows rugby league would have been impressed with both teams’ defensive masterclasses, and the only real difference was Bevan French’s latest moment of magic to seal the game and a historic quadruple for Wigan.
27th – England vs Samoa
One final trip to Wigan for the year, only this time I was watching England rather than the Cherry & Whites. Henry joined me for the third time this season as we watched England put Samoa to the sword, 34-18.
I always have mixed feelings about the internationals at the end of the year. They’re the best hope we have of growing the game and it’s great to squeeze out some more RL for the year ahead of a long winter, but they also feel a bit half-hearted as well.
The crowd wasn’t great, the Samoans weren’t great, and by the end of it I wasn’t pining for rugby league like I normally would be.
Still, I’d have loved to go to Leeds the following weekend for the second test, but another work trip meant I couldn’t go.
So, after 14 games, 4,000+ miles and one new stadium ticked off, rugby league was finished for me in 2024.
I’m already counting down the days…
