2022 Women's Super League
Teams12
Matches played92
Points scored2,241
Champions Leeds Rhinos
League Leaders Shield York City Knights
Runners-up York City Knights
Biggest home win Warrington Wolves 86–0 Wakefield Trinity
(22 May 2022)
Biggest away win Wakefield Trinity 0–102 Warrington Wolves
(31 July 2022)
Woman of Steel
Promotion and relegation
Promoted from Group 2 Warrington Wolves

The 2022 RFL Women's Super League (also known as the Betfred Women's Super League for sponsorship reasons) was the sixth season of the Rugby League Women's Super League, for female players in clubs affiliated to the Rugby Football League (RFL).

The title was won by Leeds Rhinos who beat York City Knights 12–4 in the grand final.[1] York had finished top of the table to win the league leader's shield.[2]

The defending champions were St Helens, who beat Leeds Rhinos 28–0 in the Grand Final at Headingley on 10 October 2021, in front of a record crowd of 4,235.[3]

The league increased the number of participating teams by 2, from 10 to 12, with Barrow Raiders and Leigh Miners Rangers being promoted to the Super League, after finishing first and second respectively in the 2021 Women's Championship.[4] However, the structure of the league has changed, with the league being split into two groups; a structure based on the play-off and shield structures used in the second half of the 2021 season. Group 1 comprises Huddersfield, Leeds, St Helens, Wigan and York. Group 2 comprises Barrow, Bradford, Castleford, Leigh Miners, Featherstone, Wakefield and Warrington. The RFL explained that the split structure as giving the player for clubs in group 1, challenging fixtures in the run-up to the World Cup; while allowing the clubs in group 2, the opportunity to develop by playing clubs in more competitive matches.[5] However, in April 2022, the RFL acceded to a request from Castleford, for the club to be placed in Group 2, thus changing the structure, with Group 1 containing of five clubs and group 2 of seven clubs.[6]

End of season awards

At the end of season awards on 24 September, three awards were made:[7]

Teams

Fixtures and results

Regular season tables

Group 1

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 York City Knights 8 7 0 1 242 58 +184 14 League Leaders Shield & Advance to semi-finals
2 St Helens 8 6 0 2 314 63 +251 12 Advance to semi-finals
3 Leeds Rhinos 8 5 0 3 320 116 +204 10
4 Wigan Warriors 8 2 0 6 104 313 −209 4
5 Huddersfield Giants 8 0 0 8 32 462 −430 0
Source:

Group 2

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 Warrington Wolves 12 12 0 0 744 36 +708 24 Advance to semi-finals
2 Barrow Raiders 12 9 0 3 386 168 +218 18
3 Featherstone Rovers 12 8 0 4 370 156 +214 16
4 Bradford Bulls 12 6 0 6 202 296 −94 12
5 Leigh Miners Rangers 12 4 0 8 174 298 −124 8
6 Castleford Tigers 12 2 0 10 106 510 −404 4
7 Wakefield Trinity 12 1 0 11 68 586 −518 2
Source:

Play-offs

The play-off structure for each group was the same; 1st v 4th and 2nd v 3rd in the semi-finals with the winners meeting in the final. In Group 1, the final known as the Grand Final would determine the champions for the season. In Group 2 the final was called the Shield Final and would determine which team was promoted to Group 1 for 2023. The finals were played as a double header at the Totally Wicked Stadium in St Helens.

Group 1

In the semi-finals York beat Wigan 12–4 and Leeds beat St Helens 14–6.[8] Leeds beat York 12–4 in the Grand Final to take their second title.[9]

Group 2

Warrington beat Bradford 72–0 while Featherstone beat Barrow 12–10 in the semi-finals.[10] In the Shield Final, Warrington won 34–6 against Featherstone to be promoted to Group A.[11]

References

  1. ↑ "Leeds beat York to win Women's Grand Final". BBC Sport. 18 September 2022.
  2. ↑ "York City Knights claim Betfred Women's Super League Leaders' Shield". RFL. 28 August 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  3. ↑ "Saints win Women's Super League". BBC Sport. 10 October 2021.
  4. ↑ Gordon, James (2 November 2021). "Women's Super League to expand to 12 teams from 2022". LoveRugbyLeague. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  5. ↑ "Women's Super League: Barrow Raiders and Leigh Miners Rangers join expanded 12-team competition for 2022". Sky Sports. 2 November 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  6. ↑ "Statement: Castleford Tigers Women". www.rugby-league.com. 21 April 2022. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  7. ↑ "Forsell and Dodd join Stanley as 2022 BWSL Awards winners". RFL. 24 September 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  8. ↑ "Women's Super League: York City Knights reach first Grand Final as Leeds Rhinos end St Helens' reign". Sky Sports. 5 September 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  9. ↑ Darbyshire, Drew (18 September 2022). "York 4-12 Leeds: Rhinos crowned Women's Super League champions". LoveRugbyLeague. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  10. ↑ "Women's Super League: Warrington Wolves to face Featherstone Rovers in Group 2 play-off final". TotalRL.com. 12 September 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  11. ↑ "Warrington Wolves' women's team are officially promoted". Warrington Guardian. 18 September 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
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