Super League Clubs

A sport that brings passion, adrenaline, big hits and the occasional brawl… Why wouldn’t you pick rugby league?

Maybe it’s the way that even though rugby league is a small community, compared to football or rugby union, it still seems massive to those who enjoy the sport; I bet most rugby league fans will sit and watch the grand final when the day finally comes, it’s just an event that you cannot seem to miss, whether your team is starring or not.

From a very little age I was introduced to the world of rugby league, I may not have known what was going on from being so young but I seemed to enjoy it seeing as for the past 17 years I have attended most games as well as having a season ticket.

Not only did I go and watch Bulls play week in week out but I also went to go see my Dad play at West Bowling and various other clubs. I thought it was a luxury to be able to sit in the dug-out throughout the game and talk to the players but now thinking back and realizing I was sat on a small, dirty bench surrounded by sweaty men, I don’t find it as much as a luxury. I even remember my Dad throwing a BBQ and Leon Price and Stuart Reardon turning up, I sat there in awe, I genuinely thought I was in the company of celebrities.  

With every sport brings its good and bad memories, the most recent of memories being the Rugby World Cup, I was lucky enough to attend the opening ceremony as well as the semi-finals and the final itself. The semi-finals will stick in my memory until the day I die; 20 seconds to go, one final play and Sinfield goes in for the early tackle and misses, allowing the kiwi to slip through and score the heart wrenching try, the one try that would mean England wouldn’t go through to the finals. I will admit I cried and whenever I see the clip I still get tears in my eyes.

That’s the amazing thing about rugby league; a few seconds can change the whole outcome of the game. You have to have your head in the game at all times, you zone out for a second and your opponent is past you and over the try line in most cases. Another amazing thing is how patriotic the players are, to be able to play for your country is a rather big deal. Compared to a sport such as football (I apologise to any football fans out there), even Roy said himself that the English football players just didn’t seem to care anymore whereas you appoint a rugby player to play for his country and he will put his heart out on the line, not only that but you get to see amazing talent come together and show how much potential there actual is out there.

For example, before the World Cup I didn’t really like any Leeds players (being a Bradford fan I was taught that Leeds was our rivals, obviously) but during the World Cup I began to actually like them, shocking, I know… Hall is an immense player, he scored tries I wouldn’t be able to carry out myself no matter how hard I tried and Sinfield really brought the England team together, he kept his cool which benefitted the England team, especially with it being such a big event. 

With big events comes phenomenal atmosphere. Atmosphere can help to pick a team up, whether they’re winning or losing. Knowing you have the power to be able to give your team the drive they need to push forward throughout the full 80 minutes, however challenging it may seem. One of my favorite times during a match is when it seems like everyone is chanting their hearts out, it makes me smile every time; full of passion and love for their team, nothing will stop them from singing, is there really any better moment? Other than winning, of course…

Rugby League has made me who I am today, the rugby league fanatic. I come across as a shy teenager, but as soon as someone brings up anything rugby related I will gladly sit down and talk to them for hours about the topic, it’s also how I’ve made most of my friends, which is a huge positive! Just like any other sport it brings an amazing community, filled with people who just love rugby league, it really doesn’t matter who you are, just have a passion for the amazing sport and you’ll fit right in! I am a rugby league fan and forever will be one.