WELL, that’s the last round of Super League 2023’s regular season done and dusted – and what a round it proved to be!
All six fixtures kicked off on Friday night for the first time in the modern game’s history, with Leigh Leopards and Wigan Warriors doing battle in front of the Sky Sports cameras. After leading 10-6 at half-time, the Warriors managed to close out the game with exactly the same scoreline to confirm their first-placed finish.
Also in the race for the League Leaders’ Shield were the Catalans Dragons, who travelled to the Salford Red Devils who themselves were hunting a play-off spot. After leading 8-2 at the break, the French side just about got over the line with a 19-8 win that saw them finish second and Salford seventh.
St Helens were the third side looking for first place as they hosted Hull FC – who had nothing to play for – at the Totally Wicked Stadium. And, after taking an 8-0 lead into half-time, Saints turned the screw in the second forty minutes to eventually run out 30-12 winners.
With Leigh losing at home to Wigan, Hull KR knew that if they beat already-relegated Wakefield Trinity with a big margin that they would finish in the top four. After leading just 18-6 at half-time, it appeared as though Wakefield could thwart Willie Peters’ efforts. However, Rovers turned the screw with seven second-half tries to take home a 56-12 victory as well as fourth spot.
Meanwhile, Warrington Wolves still had a chance of making the play-offs as they made their way to the John Smith’s Stadium to take on Huddersfield Giants who had nothing but pride to play for in the grand scheme of things. Though Huddersfield made it hard work with Warrington leading just 12-4 at the break, the Wolves did register a 20-8 win to finish sixth and thus earn a play-off spot.
The only real dead rubber of the round was at Headingley where Leeds Rhinos took on local rivals Castleford Tigers with both sides out of relegation harm but outside the play-offs. As it turned out, it was Rohan Smith’s men that established some pride in the last game of the season with a 46-0 thrashing of the Tigers.
But, what were the attendances like over the weekend?
Huddersfield Giants 8-20 Warrington Wolves
5,656 at the John Smith’s Stadium on Friday night
St Helens 30-12 Hull FC
14,036 at the Totally Wicked Stadium on Friday night
Leigh Leopards 6-10 Wigan Warriors
10,308 at the Leigh Sports Village on Friday night – a new club record for Leigh
Leeds Rhinos 46-0 Castleford Tigers
15,109 at Headingley on Friday night
Wakefield Trinity 12-56 Hull KR
4,500 at Belle Vue on Friday night – sell-out with 2,500 Hull KR fans
Salford Red Devils 8-19 Catalans Dragons
4,212 at the Salford Stadium on Friday night
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