Dr. Michael Sheard, Ph.D. [October 2013]

The Ultimate Rugby League Table

AWARDING THE POINTS

In deciding how to allocate the points, the first problem was to determine what constituted an achievement worthy of recognition. Championships and Challenge Cups were obvious, but how many achievements in addition to these should be recognised?

It was decided that winning a championship requires greater consistency than winning a cup competition. Therefore, championship winners were awarded more points than cup winners. Championship winners, runners-up and the last four of the Challenge Cup and Regal Trophy were all awarded points.

Comparing pre-First World War rugby league with that of today is virtually impossible. Therefore, division of the eras and the same progressive points system through the eras up to modern day seemed fair. Again, the most physically demanding feat is winning the championship. In terms of tradition and prestige, not forgetting a Wembley final since 1929 (Murrayfield, Millennium Stadium, or Twickenham from 2000 to 2006), the Challenge Cup should come second, with the Regal Trophy third.

British winners of the official World Club Championship (since 1989, though I have included St Helens’ 1976 loss to Eastern Suburbs at the Sydney Cricket Ground) have reached the summit of club rugby league by virtue of winning a one-off match against their Australian counterparts. Though the achievement is spectacular, it surely cannot compare, in terms of effort, with winning a league or an arduous cup competition.

Finally, the advent of Super League demands recognition. Though the first two years of Super League did not have a play-off format, culminating in a showpiece Grand Final, the top three in each season (i.e., 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in the league in 1996 and 1997; the grand finalists and beaten final eliminator team from 1998 to 2008, and beaten semi-finalists from 2009 to the present) have received recognition.

Key:

↓ 1st/Winner once

240 (1-4-2)

↑ ↑ 3rd/Eliminated semi-finalist twice

2nd/Runner-up four times

Compiled by Dr. Michael Sheard, Ph.D.

Position / Team / Pre-First World War / Between wars / Post-war / Super League / Total

Championship

/ Challenge Cup /

Championship

/ Challenge Cup /

Championship

/ Challenge Cup / Regal Trophy / World Club Challenge
1st/Winner = 100 points
2nd/Runner-up = 75
3rd/Eliminated semi-finalists = 50 / Winner = 60 pts
Runner-up = 30
Semi-finalists = 15 / 1st/Winner = 100 pts
2nd/Runner-up = 75

3rd/Eliminated semi-finalists = 50

/ Winner = 60 pts
Runner-up = 30
Semi-finalists = 15 / 1st/Winner = 100 pts
2nd/Runner-up = 75

3rd/Eliminated semi-finalists = 50

/ Winner = 60 pts
Runner-up = 30
Semi-finalists = 15 / Winner = 40 pts
Runner-up = 20
Semi-finalists = 10 / Winner = 30 pts
Runner-up = 15 / Winner = 100 pts
Runner-up = 75
3rd/Eliminated semi-finalists = 50
1 / Wigan / 1909 / 1922 1926 1934 / 1924 1929 / 1946 1947 1950 1952 1960 1987 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 / 1948 1951 1958 1959 1965 1985 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 2002 2011 2013 / 1983 1986 1987 1989 1990 1993 1995 1996 / 1987 1991 1994 / 1998 2010 2013
1910 1911 1912 1913 / 1911 / 1924 / 1920 1944 / 1964 1971 1975 1986 1989 / 1946 1961 1963 1966 1970 1984 1998 2004 / 1994 / 1992 2011 / 1996 2000 2001 2003
1908 1914 1915 / 1909 1915 / 1921 1925 1927 1931 1933 1935 1936 / 1922 1923 1930 1937 1939 1942 / 1948 1949 1951 1959 1962 1966 1968 1983 1985 1988 / 1953 1956 1968 2003 2007 2009 2012 / 1988 / 2002 2004 2007 2008 2009 2011 2012
550 (1-4-3) / 60 (0-1-2) / 725 (3-1-7) / 270 (2-2-6) / 2,175(13-5-10) / 1,365(17-8-7) / 350 (8-1-1) / 120 (3-2) / 950 (3-4-7) / 6,565
Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Regal Trophy / WCC / Super League / Total
2 / St Helens / 1932 / 1953 1959 1966 1970 1971 1975 / 1956 1961 1966 1972 1976 1996 1997 2001 2004 2006 2007 2008 / 1988 / 2001 2007 / 1996 1999 2000 2002 2006
1897 1915 / 1930 / 1963 1965 1967 1972 1974 1977 1985 1987 1988 1992 1993 / 1953 1978 1987 1989 1991 2002 / 1996 / 1976 2000 2003 / 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
1927 1930 / 1931 1933 / 1954 1956 1958 1960 1961 1964 1968 1969 1973 1978 1986 / 1970 1977 1979 1981 1990 1994 2003 2005 2009 2010 2011 / 1972 1973 1974 1984 1986 1989 1990 1992 / 1997 1998 2001 2005 2012
60 (0-2-0) / 200 (1-0-2) / 60 (0-1-2) / 1,975(6-11-11) / 1,065(12-6-11) / 140 (1-1-8) / 105 (2-3) / 1,125 (5-5-5) / 4,730
Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Regal Trophy / WCC / Super League / Total
3 / Leeds / 1910 / 1923 1932 1936 1941 1942 / 1961 1969 1972 / 1957 1968 1977 1978 1999 / 1973 1984 / 2005 2008 2012 / 2004 2007 2008 2009 2011 2012
1915 / 1929 1930 1931 1938 / 1943 / 1970 1973 1990 1995 1996 / 1947 1971 1972 1994 1995 2000 2003 2005 2010 2011 2012 / 1983 1988 1992 / 2009 2010 2013 / 1998 2005
1906 / 1920 1928 1932 1934 1937 / 1925 1928 1933 1939 1944 / 1947 1955 1957 1971 1974 1975 1976 1989 / 1950 1951 1954 1966 1967 1975 1982 1984 1986 1993 1996 1997 2001 2002 2006 2008 / 1972 1985 1996 / 2003 2010 2013
125 (0-1-1) / 60 (1-0-0) / 550 (0-4-5) / 405 (5-1-5) / 1,075(3-5-8) / 870 (5-11-16) / 170 (2-3-3) / 135 (3-3) / 900(6-2-3) / 4,290
Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Regal Trophy / WCC / Super League / Total
4 / Warrington / 1905 1907 / 1948 1954 1955 / 1950 1954 1974 2009 2010 2012 / 1974 1978 1981 1991
1901 1904 1913 / 1926 1935 1937 / 1928 1933 1936 / 1949 1951 1961 1979 1981 / 1975 1990 / 1979 1987 1995 / 2012 2013
1897 1910 / 1931 / 1956 1973 1984 1987 1994 / 1947 1951 1953 1963 1969 1972 1978 1981 1989 2000 2001 2004 2013 / 1983 1996 / 2011
240 (2-3-2) / 225 (0-3-0) / 105 (0-3-1) / 925 (3-5-5) / 615 (6-2-13) / 240 (4-3-2) / 200 (0-2-1) / 2,550
Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Regal Trophy / WCC / Super League / Total
5 / Bradford Northern / 1944 / 1980 1981 / 1947 1949 2000 2003 / 1975 1980 / 2002 2004 2006 / 1997 2001 2003 2005
1945 / 1948 1952 1978 1994 / 1948 1973 1996 1997 2001 / 1991 1993 / 1999 2002 2004
1941 / 1946 1953 1972 1993 / 1950 1979 1983 1992 1993 1999 2007 / 1978 1979 1989 1994 / 1996 2000 2006
105 (1-1-1) / 700 (2-4-4) / 495 (4-5-7) / 160 (2-2-4) / 90 (3-0) / 775 (4-3-3) / 2,325
Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Regal Trophy / WCC / Super League / Total
6 / Huddersfield / 1912 1913 1915 / 1913 1915 / 1929 1930 / 1920 1933 1945 / 1949 1962 / 1953
1914 / 1920 1923 1932 / 1935 / 1946 1950 / 1962 2006 2009
1914 / 1922 1939 / 1921 1924 1934 1936 / 1948 1952 1953 / 1949 1968 1971 2004 2012 / 2010 2013
375 (3-1-0) / 135 (2-0-1) / 525 (2-3-2) / 270 (3-1-4) / 500 (2-2-3) / 225 (1-3-5) / 100 (0-0-2) / 2,130
Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Regal Trophy / WCC / Super League / Total
7 / Hull / 1914 / 1920 1921 1936 / 1956 1958 1983 / 1982 2005 / 1982
1908 1909 1910 / 1922 1923 / 1957 1982 1984 / 1959 1960 1980 1983 1985 2008 2013 / 1976 1985 / 2006
1914 / 1903 / 1922 1923 1926 / 1920 1926 1928 1935 / 1952 1960 1980 1991 / 1961 1988 1992 2000 / 1981 1987 1993
50 (0-0-1) / 165 (1-3-1) / 450 (3-0-3) / 120 (0-2-4) / 725 (3-3-4) / 390 (2-7-4) / 110 (1-2-3) / 75 (0-1-0) / 2,085
Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Regal Trophy / WCC / Super League / Total
8 / Widnes / 1930 1937 / 1978 1988 1989 / 1964 1975 1979 1981 1984 / 1976 1979 1992 / 1989
1936 / 1934 / 1980 1991 / 1950 1976 1977 1982 1993 / 1975 1978 1980 1984 1989
1911 / 1898 1900 / 1920 / 1922 / 1947 1963 1979 1982 1990 / 1946 1980 1987 1989 1991 1996 / 1977 1983 1987 1991 1995
50 (0-0-1) / 30 (0-0-2) / 125 (0-1-1) / 165 (2-1-1) / 700 (3-2-5) / 540 (5-5-6) / 270 (3-5-5) / 30 (1-0) / 1,910
Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Regal Trophy / WCC / Super League / Total
9 / Halifax / 1903 1907 / 1903 1904 / 1931 1939 / 1965 1986 / 1987 / 1972
1896 / 1921 1941 1942 / 1953 1954 1956 1966 / 1949 1954 1956 1988 / 1990
1909 / 1909 1912 / 1921 1934 1939 / 1932 1938 1944 1945 / 1950 1955 1996 / 1961 1972 1980 / 1985
325 (2-1-1) / 150 (2-0-2) / 150 (0-0-3) / 270 (2-3-4) / 650 (2-4-3) / 225 (1-4-3) / 70 (1-1-1) / 1,840
Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Regal Trophy / WCC / Super League / Total
10 / Salford / 1914 / 1933 1937 1939 / 1938 / 1974 1976
1902 1903 1904 / 1900 1902 1903 1906 / 1934 / 1939 / 1969 / 1973
1910 / 1898 1899 1907 1910 / 1929 1930 1935 / 1936 / 1969 1972 / 1988 1997 1998 / 1976 1980 1992 1994
375 (1-3-1) / 180 (0-4-4) / 525 (3-1-3) / 105 (1-1-1) / 300 (2-0-2) / 75 (0-1-3) / 60 (0-1-4) / 1,620
Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Regal Trophy / WCC / Super League / Total
11 / Hull Kingston Rovers / 1923 1925 / 1979 1984 1985 / 1980 / 1985
1905 / 1921 / 1925 / 1968 1983 / 1964 1981 1986 / 1982 1986
1912 1913 / 1929 / 1966 1967 1970 1981 / 1962 1963 1970 1977 1985 2006 / 1973 1975 1979
100 (0-0-2) / 30 (0-1-0) / 325 (2-1-1) / 30 (0-1-0) / 650 (3-2-4) / 240 (1-3-6) / 110 (1-2-3) / 1,485
Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Regal Trophy / WCC / Super League / Total
12 / Oldham / 1905 1910 1911 / 1899 / 1925 1927 / 1957
1907 1908 1909 / 1907 1912 / 1922 / 1924 1926 / 1955
1901 1903 / 1924 1931 / 1920 1934 1942 1943 / 1958 1959 / 1960 1964 1986 1990 1991 1995 / 1982 1988
525 (3-3-0) / 150 (1-2-2) / 175 (0-1-2) / 240 (2-2-4) / 275 (1-1-2) / 90 (0-0-6) / 20 (0-0-2) / 1,475
Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Regal Trophy / WCC / Super League / Total
13 / Swinton / 1900 / 1927 1928 1931 1935 / 1926 1928 / 1963 1964
1925 1933 / 1927 1932
1903 / 1897 1907 / 1923 1926 1938 / 1938 / 1950 1961 / 1965 / 1982
50 (0-0-1) / 90 (1-0-2) / 700 (4-2-3) / 195 (2-2-1) / 300 (2-0-2) / 15 (0-0-1) / 10 (0-0-1) / 1,360
Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Regal Trophy / WCC / Super League / Total
14 / Wakefield Trinity / 1909 / 1967 1968 / 1946 1960 1962 1963
1914 / 1960 1962 / 1968 1979 / 1972
1910 1911 / 1912 1913 / 1927 1932 1937 1941 / 1946 1965 1971 / 1947 1965 1969 1975 2008 / 1978 1980
100 (0-0-2) / 120 (1-1-2) / 60 (0-0-4) / 500 (2-2-3) / 375 (4-2-5) / 40 (0-1-2) / 1,195
Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Regal Trophy / WCC / Super League / Total
15 / Castleford / 1935 / 1969 1970 1986 / 1977 1994
1939 / 1969 / 1992
1901 / 1929 / 1965 1967 1970 1977 1992 1995 / 1964 1971 1973 1982 1983 1985 1994 1999 2002 2011 / 1976 1981 1990 1993 1995 / 1999
15 (0-0-1) / 75 (0-1-0) / 75 (1-0-1) / 375 (0-1-6) / 360 (3-1-10) / 130 (2-0-5) / 50 (0-0-1) / 1,080
Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Regal Trophy / WCC / Super League / Total
16 / Hunslet / 1908 / 1908 / 1938 / 1934
1906 / 1899 / 1959 / 1965
1912 / 1902 1904 / 1928 1932 / 1946 1948 1954 1955
225 (1-1-1) / 120 (1-1-2) / 200 (1-0-2) / 60 (1-0-0) / 75 (0-1-0) / 90 (0-1-4) / 770
Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Regal Trophy / WCC / Super League / Total
17 / Featherstone Rovers / 1977 / 1967 1973 1983
1928 / 1976 / 1952 1974
1962 / 1955 1958 1959 1960 1962 1976 1978 1995
75 (0-1-0) / 225 (1-1-1) / 360 (3-2-8) / 660
Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Regal Trophy / WCC / Super League / Total
18 / Leigh / 1906 / 1921 / 1982 / 1971
1899 1908 / 1924 / 1951 / 1952 1957 1959 1974 1987 / 1977 1984 1986
100 (1-0-0) / 30 (0-0-2) / 50 (0-0-1) / 60 (1-0-0) / 150 (1-0-1) / 135 (1-0-5) / 30 (0-0-3) / 555
Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Regal Trophy / WCC / Super League / Total
19 / Dewsbury / 1912 / 1943 / 1973
1929 / 1947
1913 / 1913 / 1927 / 1966 1967 1973 1974
50 (0-0-1) / 75 (1-0-1) / 105 (1-1-1) / 175 (1-1-0) / 60 (0-0-4) / 465
Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Regal Trophy / WCC / Super League / Total
20 / Barrow / 1955
1938 / 1951 1957 1967 / 1981
1938 / 1923 1924 1930 1935 / 1949 1957 / 1949 1952 1956
50 (0-0-1) / 90 (0-1-4) / 100 (0-0-2) / 195 (1-3-3) / 20 (0-1-0) / 455
Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Regal Trophy / WCC / Super League / Total
21 / Broughton Rangers / 1902 / 1902 1911
1904 1905 1908 / 1905 1908 1914
250 (1-0-3) / 165 (2-0-3) / 415
Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Regal Trophy / WCC / Super League / Total
22 / Batley / 1897 1898 1901 / 1924
1909 / 1902 1906 1911
50 (0-0-1) / 225 (3-0-3) / 100 (1-0-0) / 375
Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Regal Trophy / WCC / Super League / Total
23 / Workington Town / 1951 / 1952
1958 / 1955 1958
1954
225 (1-1-1) / 120 (1-2-0) / 345
Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Regal Trophy / WCC / Super League / Total
24 / Bradford / 1904 / 1906
1905 / 1898
1904 1905
175 (1-1-0) / 120(1-1-2) / 295
Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Regal Trophy / WCC / Super League / Total
25 / Rochdale Hornets / 1922
1974
1915 / 1911 1915 / 1921 1925 / 1948 1958 / 1991
50 (0-0-1) / 30 (0-0-2) / 90 (1-0-2) / 30 (0-0-2) / 30 (0-1-1) / 230
Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Regal Trophy / WCC / Super League / Total
26 / Runcorn
1896 1902 1907
150 (0-0-3) / 150
Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Regal Trophy / WCC / Super League / Total
=27 / Keighley
1937
1907 / 1906 / 1943 1945 / 1976
50 (0-0-1) / 15 (0-0-1) / 60 (0-1-2) / 15 (0-0-1) / 140
Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Regal Trophy / WCC / Super League / Total
=27 / St Helens Recreation
1927
1925 / 1929
125 (0-1-1) / 15 (0-0-1) / 140
Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Regal Trophy / WCC / Super League / Total
29 / London Broncos
1999 / 1997
1998 2013
60 (0-1-2) / 75 (0-1-0) / 135
Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Regal Trophy / WCC / Super League / Total
=30 / Liverpool Stanley
1936 1937
100 (0-0-2) / 100
Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Regal Trophy / WCC / Super League / Total
=30 / Manningham / 1896
100 (1-0-0) / 100
Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Regal Trophy / WCC / Super League / Total
=32 / Catalan Dragons *
2007
2010 / 2009
45 (0-1-1) / 50 (0-0-1) / 95
Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Regal Trophy / WCC / Super League / Total
=32 / York
1931
1933 / 1984
50 (0-0-1) / 30 (0-1-0) / 15 (0-0-1) / 95
Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Regal Trophy / WCC / Super League / Total
34 / Sheffield Eagles / 1998
60 (1-0-0) / 60
Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Regal Trophy / WCC / Super League / Total
35 / Whitehaven
1957 / 1975
15 (0-0-1) / 10 (0-0-1) / 25
Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Regal Trophy / WCC / Super League / Total
36 / Blackpool Borough
1977
20 (0-1-0) / 20
Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Regal Trophy / WCC / Super League / Total
=37 / Leeds Parish Church
1900
15 (0-0-1) / 15
Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Regal Trophy / WCC / Super League / Total
=37 / Prescot
1926
15 (0-0-1) / 15
Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Regal Trophy / WCC / Super League / Total
=37 / Toulouse**
2005
15 (0-0-1) / 15
Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Regal Trophy / WCC / Super League / Total
40 / Bramley
1974
10 (0-0-1) / 10
Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Championship / Challenge Cup / Regal Trophy / WCC / Super League / Total

* Includes Super League and Challenge Cup achievements only (does not include French Championship records).

** Includes Challenge Cup achievements only (does not include French Championship records).

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