# 2014 in rugby league

Top-level rugby league in 2014 centred on Australasia's 2014 NRL Auckland Nines, 2014 NRL season and the Super League XIX. High-profile representative competitions included the 2014 Rugby League Four Nations (held in Australia and New Zealand) and the 2014 State of Origin series.

## February

7: Super League XIX begins with the Huddersfield Giants upsetting last year's champions Wigan Warriors at the DW Stadium in Wigan. 14 & 15: Inaugural NRL Auckland Nines are held at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand. The North Queensland Cowboys are inaugural champions after beating Brisbane 16–7 in the final. 22: Sydney Roosters win the 2014 World Club Challenge after beating Wigan Warriors 36–14 at Allianz Stadium in Sydney, Australia. 25: Europe's Bradford Bulls team are deducted six Super League competition points after entering administration.

## March

6: 2014 NRL season begins with the South Sydney Rabbitohs upsetting last year's champions Sydney Roosters at the ANZ Stadium in Sydney.

## May

2: The 2014 ANZAC Test is played, with Australia defeating New Zealand 30–18 before 25,429 at Allianz Stadium. 3: The Pacific Rugby League International is played, with Samoa defeating Fiji 32–16 before 9,063 at Sportingbet Stadium in Penrith, Australia. In doing so they also secured qualification as the fourth and final team to compete at the 2014 Four Nations later in the year. 3: The City vs Country Origin is played, with City and Country drawing for only the second time since being 'Under origin selection rules'. The match finished 26 points apiece in front of a packed crowd at Dubbo's Apex Oval. 17 & 18: The Northern Hemisphere's Super League held its special Magic Weekend. The Magic Weekend was held at the City of Manchester Stadium in Manchester, England. It made several records such as attendance with Day 1 recording the biggest ever attendance with 36,339 fans attending the ground on one day. While the total aggregate attendance of 64,552 is the biggest ever attendance recorded for Super League's showcase weekend.

## June

14: New South Wales made history, finally winning the State of Origin series after losing 8 consecutive. New South Wales won the historic third-match in the series 6–4 before 83,421 at ANZ Stadium in Sydney, New South Wales.

## July

13: London Broncos are relegated from the Super League. 19: Canada have beaten Jamaica in the fourth annual Caribbean Carnival Cup. 27: Barrow Raiders are relegated from the Championship.

## August

3: Swinton Lions are relegated from the Championship. 10: Rochdale Hornets are relegated from the Championship. 10: The lone Colonial Cup series match is played, with Canada making history and defeating USA 52–14 before 7,356 at Lamport Stadium to win their first ever Colonial Cup since the competition inaugurated in 2010. 11: North Wales Crusaders are relegated from the Championship. 23: The 2014 Challenge Cup final is played, with the Leeds Rhinos defeating the Castleford Tigers 23–10 before 77,914 at Wembley Stadium.

## September

7 : Keighley Cougars are relegated from the Championship on a dramatic final day of the regular season. They finished just one point behind 8th placed Batley Bulldogs and 9th placed Whitehaven. 12: Bradford Bulls are relegated from the Super League. They have been participating in the Super League since its inauguration in 1996 and have won four titles being 1997, 2001, 2003 and 2005.

## October

5: 2014 NRL Grand Final is played and South Sydney are the new premiers after defeating the Canterbury Bulldogs 30–6 in front of a record 'Rectangular Shaped (ANZ) Stadium' crowd of 83,833 at ANZ Stadium in Sydney. This is also the Rabbitohs' first premiership title in 43 years 7: Hunslet Hawks win promotion to the Championship for the 2015 season. 11: 2014 Super League Grand Final is played and St. Helens are the new champions after defeating a '12-man' Wigan Warriors team 14–6 before 70,102 at Old Trafford in Strentford, England. 19: 2014 Hayne/Mannah Cup is played and Fiji are the champions after defeating Lebanon 40–28 at Remondis Stadium in Woolooware, New South Wales.

## November

2: 2014 European Cup is won by Scotland for the first time. Scotland have therefore qualified to play alongside Australia, England and New Zealand in the 2016 Four Nations. 15: 2014 Four Nations Final is won by New Zealand who defeated Australia 22–18 before 25,093 at Westpac Stadium in Wellington, New Zealand.

## December

19: New Zealand halfback, Shaun Johnson is announced as the best official player in 2014 after being awarded the Golden Boot.

## Test Matches
### ANZAC Test

* 2 May 2014
| Australia | 30–18 | New Zealand |
| Try: B Morris (2) Bird Cronk Inglis Goal: Thurston (5/5) | Match Report | Try: Bromwich Harris Moa Goal: Johnson (3/3) |
* Allianz Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 25,429 Referee: Shayne Hayne Player of the Match: Johnathan Thurston

### Pacific Rugby League International

* 3 May 2014
| Samoa | 32–16 | Fiji |
| Try: Manumalealii (3) Tuimavave Vidot Goal: Inu (6/6) | Match Report | Try: Naiqama Storer Tuqiri Goal: Tuqiri (2/3) |
* Sportingbet Stadium Penrith Attendance: 9,063 Referee: Ashley Klein Player of the Match: Penani Manumalealii

### European Cup

* 17 October 2014
| Scotland | 42–18 | Wales |
| Try: Brough Thomas Kilday J Walker Scott (2) C Phillips B Phillips Goal: Brough (5/8) | Match Report | Try: Williams Roets Farrer (2) Goal: Hough (0/2) Reece (1/2) |
* Derwent Park, Workington Attendance: 2,036 Referee: James Child Player of the Match: Danny Brough
* 18 October 2014
| Ireland | 22–12 | France |
| Try: McDonnell (2) Peacock (2) Murphy Goal: Dunne (1/5) | Match Report | Try: Larroyer Pélissier Goal: Marginet (2/2) |
* Tallaght Stadium, Dublin Attendance: 1,428 Referee: Tim Roby Player of the Match: Josh Toole
* 25 October 2014
| Ireland | 4–25 | Scotland |
| Try: James Toole Goal: Dunne (0/1) | Match Report | Try: C Phillips Hurst Addy Thomas Goal: Brough (3/4) Drop Goal: Brough (1/1) |
* Tallaght Stadium, Dublin Referee: Richard Silverwood
* 25 October 2014
| France | 42–22 | Wales |
| Try: Soubeyras Fages Baile Pala (2) Marginet (2) Goal: Marginet (7/7) | Match Report | Try: Fleming Fozard Williams Roets Goal: Reece (3/4) |
* Stadium Municipal d'Albi, Albi Attendance: 5,225 Referee: Tim Roby
* 31 September 2014
| Scotland | 22–38 | France |
| Try: Kavanagh Hellewell A Walker J Walker Goal: Brough (3/4) | Match Report | Try: Marginet (3) Baitieri Pélissier Decarnin Gigot Goal: Marginet (5/7) |
* Netherdale, Galashiels Attendance: 1,432 Referee: Richard Silverwood Player of the Match: Rémy Marginet
* 2 November 2014
| Wales | 14–46 | Ireland |
| Try: Williams Grant Hughes Goal: Reece (1/2) Emanuelli (0/1) | Match Report | Try: Hope Hargreaves (3) Ambler Finn Peacock Dunne Goal: Finn (7/8) |
* Racecourse Ground, Wrexham Attendance: 1,293 Referee: Ben Thaler

### 2014 Four Nations

* 25 October 2014
| England | 32–26 | Samoa |
| Try: Shenton Watkins Farrell J Tomkins S Tomkins Goal: Widdop (6/6) | Match Report | Try: Liu Vidot Godinet (2) Winterstein Goal: Stanley (3/4) Roberts (1/1) 72' |
* Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 47,813 Referee: Gerard Sutton Player of the Match: Sam Tomkins
* 25 October 2014
| Australia | 12–30 | New Zealand |
| Try: Scott Inglis Goal: Smith (2/2) | Match Report | Try: Proctor Brown Johnson Whare Nightingale Goal: Johnson (5/5) |
* Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: Attendance combined with England v Samoa Referee: Phil Bentham Player of the Match: Shaun Johnson
* 1 November 2014
| New Zealand | 14–12 | Samoa |
| Try: Foran Nightingale Kenny-Dowall Goal: Johnson (1/3) | Match Report | Try: Moga Vidot Leilua Goal: Lafai (0/3) |
* Toll Stadium, Whangārei Attendance: 16,912 Referee: Henry Perenara Player of the Match: Kieran Foran
* With the victory, New Zealand retained the Peter Leitch QSM Challenge Trophy
* 2 November 2014
| Australia | 16–12 | England |
| Try: Jennings Hunt Inglis Goal: Smith (2/3) | Match Report | Try: Watkins Hall Goal: Widdop (2/2) |
* AAMI Park, Melbourne Attendance: 20,585 Referee: Gerard Sutton Player of the Match: Cameron Smith
* Sione Mata'utia made his international test début for Australia and becoming the youngest ever player to play for the 'Kangaroos' at age of 18 years and 129 days, eclipsing Israel Folau's seven-year-old record by 65 days.
* 8 November 2014
| New Zealand | 16–14 | England |
| Try: Nightingale (2) Vatuvei Goal: Johnson (2/3) | Match Report | Try: Hall (2) Charnley Goal: Widdop (1/3) |
* Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin Attendance: 15,863 Referee: Phil Bentham Player of the Match: Jason Taumalolo
* 9 November 2014
| Australia | 44–18 | Samoa |
| Try: Cronk (2) Inglis (2) Cherry-Evans Klemmer Papalii Mansour Goal: Smith (4/6) Cherry-Evans (2/2) | Match Report | Try: Simona Roberts Fa'alogo Goal: Lafai (3/3) |
* WIN Stadium, Wollongong Attendance: 18,456 Referee: Gerard Sutton Player of the Match: Greg Inglis

## Final

* 15 November
| New Zealand | 22–18 | Australia |
| Try: Vatuvei (2) Nightingale Johnson Goals Johnson (3/5) | Report | Try: Jennings Mata'utia Hunt Goals Smith (3/3) |
* Westpac Stadium, Wellington Attendance: 25,093 Referee: Phil Bentham Player of the Match: Shaun Johnson

### Other Test Match results
#### Regional Tournaments – Europe

| Name | Participants | First Played | Last Played | Frequency | Holder | Tier |
| European Championship C | 3 – Czech Republic, Greece, and Malta | 2008 | 2014 | Annual | Greece | 3rd Tier |
| Balkans Championship | 4 – Bosnia-Herzegovina, Greece, Hungary, and Serbia | 2014 | 2014 | Annual | Greece | 3rd Tier |
| Nordic Cup | 3 – Denmark, Norway, and Sweden | 2011 | 2014 | Annual | Denmark | 3rd–4th Tier |
| Jerome Cup | 2 – Denmark and Belgium | 2014 | 2014 | Annually | Denmark | 4th Tier |

#### Regional Tournaments – Asia/Middle East & The Atlantic

| Name | Participants | First Played | Last Played | Frequency | Holder | Tier |
| Colonial Cup | 2 – Canada, and United States | 2010 | 2014 | Annually | Canada | 2nd–3rd Tier |
| Caribbean Carnival Cup | 2 – Canada, and Jamaica | 2010 | 2014 | Annually | Canada | 3rd Tier |

#### Trans-Continental

| Name | Participants | First Played | Last Played | Frequency | Holder | Tier |
| Ohana Cup | 2 – United States and 1 pacific nation (2014 – Samoa) | 2012 | 2014 | Annually | United States | 2nd Tier |
| Magellan Cup | 2 – Philippines and Latin Heat | 2014 | 2014 | Annually | Philippines | 4th Tier |

## Domestic Competitions
### Australasia
#### NRL Auckland Nines

The 2014 NRL Auckland Nines tournament will run over two days from 14 to 15 February 2014. All the matches are held at Auckland's Eden Park.

#### National Rugby League

The 2014 NRL Season will run from 6 March 2014 to 5 October 2014, with the latter date hosting the Grand Final at Sydney's ANZ Stadium.
2014 NRL seasonvte :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | B | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
| 1 | Sydney Roosters | 24 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 615 | 385 | +230 | 36 |
| 2 | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | 24 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 502 | 399 | +103 | 36 |
| 3 | South Sydney Rabbitohs (P) | 24 | 15 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 585 | 361 | +224 | 34 |
| 4 | Penrith Panthers | 24 | 15 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 506 | 426 | +80 | 34 |
| 5 | North Queensland Cowboys | 24 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 596 | 406 | +190 | 32 |
| 6 | Melbourne Storm | 24 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 536 | 460 | +76 | 32 |
| 7 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 24 | 13 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 446 | 439 | +7 | 30 |
| 8 | Brisbane Broncos | 24 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 549 | 456 | +93 | 28 |
| 9 | New Zealand Warriors | 24 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 571 | 491 | +80 | 28 |
| 10 | Parramatta Eels | 24 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 477 | 580 | −103 | 28 |
| 11 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | 24 | 11 | 0 | 13 | 2 | 469 | 528 | −59 | 26 |
| 12 | Newcastle Knights | 24 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 463 | 571 | −108 | 24 |
| 13 | Wests Tigers | 24 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 420 | 631 | −211 | 24 |
| 14 | Gold Coast Titans | 24 | 9 | 0 | 15 | 2 | 372 | 538 | −166 | 22 |
| 15 | Canberra Raiders | 24 | 8 | 0 | 16 | 2 | 466 | 623 | −157 | 20 |
| 16 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 24 | 5 | 0 | 19 | 2 | 334 | 613 | −279 | 14 |

#### State of Origin

2014 State of Origin series

### Europe
#### Super League XIX

The Super League is the top club competition in Europe. In 2014 there are thirteen English teams and one French team in the 2014 season, known as Super League XIX with the bottom two teams on the table set to be relegated at the end of the regular season.
| Position | Club | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Pts for | Pts agst | Points |
| 1 | St. Helens | 27 | 19 | 0 | 8 | 796 | 563 | 38 |
| 2 | Wigan Warriors | 27 | 18 | 1 | 8 | 834 | 429 | 37 |
| 3 | Huddersfield Giants | 27 | 17 | 3 | 7 | 785 | 626 | 37 |
| 4 | Castleford Tigers | 27 | 17 | 2 | 8 | 814 | 583 | 36 |
| 5 | Warrington Wolves | 27 | 17 | 1 | 9 | 793 | 515 | 35 |
| 6 | Leeds Rhinos | 27 | 15 | 2 | 10 | 685 | 421 | 32 |
| 7 | Catalans Dragons | 27 | 14 | 1 | 12 | 733 | 667 | 29 |
| 8 | Widnes Vikings | 27 | 13 | 1 | 13 | 611 | 725 | 27 |
| 9 | Hull Kingston Rovers | 27 | 10 | 3 | 14 | 627 | 665 | 23 |
| 10 | Salford Red Devils | 27 | 11 | 1 | 15 | 608 | 695 | 23 |
| 11 | Hull F.C. | 27 | 10 | 2 | 15 | 653 | 586 | 22 |
| 12 | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats | 27 | 10 | 1 | 16 | 557 | 750 | 21 |
| 13 | Bradford Bulls | 27 | 8 | 0 | 19 | 512 | 984 | *10 |
| 14 | London Broncos | 27 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 438 | 1237 | 2 |
(* – Bradford Bulls deducted 6 points on 25 February 2014 for entering administration)
* Teams in position to qualify for the Super League play-offs
* Teams in position to be relegated from the Super League to the Championship next season

#### Carnegie Challenge Cup

The Rugby League Challenge Cup is the most prestigious knock-out competition in the world of Rugby League. It features teams from across Europe including England, Scotland, Wales, France and Russia.
The final of the 2014 Cup is held at the prestigious Wembley Stadium in London on 23 August.

### Australia & Oceania

| Nations | Competition | Teams | Instituted | Last Season | Winner | Tier/Division |
| AUS/ NZL | National Youth Competition (NYC) | 16 | 2008 | 2014 | New Zealand Warriors | Youth |
| AUS/ NZL | New South Wales Cup (NSWRL) | 13 | 1908 | 2014 | Penrith Panthers | 2nd Tier |
| AUS/ PNG | Queensland Cup (QRL) | 13 | 1996 | 2014 | Northern Pride | 2nd Tier |
| AUS | Ron Massey Cup | 12 | 2003 | 2014 | The Entrance Tigers | 3rd Tier |
| AUS | FOGS Cup | 11 | 2001 | 2014 | Eastern Suburbs Tigers | 3rd Tier |
| COK | Cook Islands League | 6 | 1994 | 2012 | Titikaveka Bulldogs | 1st Tier |
| FIJ | Vodafone Cup | 14 | 2010 | 2014 | Saru Dragons | 1st Tier |
| NZL | Pirtek National Premiership (NZRL) | 7 | 2010 | 2014 | Canterbury Bulls | 1st Tier |
| PNG | PNG Digicel Cup | 10 | 1990 | 2014 | Hela Wigmen | 1st Tier |
| SAM | Samoa Rugby League | 6 | ? | 2014 | Apia Barracudas | 1st Tier |
| TON | Tongan National Rugby League | 12 | 1988 | ? | Lapaha Knights | 1st Tier |

### Europe

| Nations | Competition | Teams | Instituted | Latest Year | Winner | Tier/Division |
| BIH | Bosnia & Herzegovina Championship | 3 | 2013 | 2014 | RLC Bjeli Zecevi | 1st Tier |
| CZE | CZRLA First Division | 7 | 2011 | 2014 | Lokomotiva Beroun | 1st Tier |
| CZE | CZRLA Second Division | 4 | 2011 | 2014 | Chrudim Rabbitohs | 2nd Tier |
| ENG/ WAL | Championship | 12 | 2003 | 2014 | Leigh Centurions | 2nd Tier |
| ENG/ WAL | Championship 1 | 14 | 2003 | 2014 | Hunslet Hawks | 3rd Tier |
| DEN/ SWE | Pan-Scandinavian Cup | 3 | 2013 | 2014 | Skåne Crusaders | / 1st Tier |
| DEN | Danish Rugby League Championship | 2 | 2013 | 2014 | Copenhagen RLFC | 1st Tier |
| FRA | Elite One Championship | 8 | 1931 | 2013–14 | Toulouse Olympique | 1st Tier |
| FRA | Elite Two Championship | 13 | 1982 | 2013–14 | RC Baho XIII | 2nd Tier |
| FRA | National Division 1 | 21 | 1976 | 2013–14 | Realmont XIII | 3rd Tier |
| FRA | National Division 2 | 34 | 1978 | 2013–14 | Val de Dagne XIII | 4th Tier |
| GRE | Hellenic Championship | ? | 2014 | 2014 | Rhodes Knights | 1st Tier |
| GRE | Hellenic Championship B Division | ? | 2014 | 2014 | Neapoli Lakonia | 2nd Tier |
| IRE | All-Ireland Championship | 10 | 2001 | 2014 | Barnhall Butchers | 1st Tier |
| LAT | Latvian Rugby League Crown | 4 | | 2013 | Valmieras Fēnikss | 1st Tier |
| MLT | MRL Dove Men+Care Championship | ? | ? | 2013 | Malta Origin RL | 1st Tier |
| NED | NRLB Nationale Kampioenschap | 2 | 2014 | | | 1st Tier |
| NOR | Norge National Championship | 5 | 2010 | 2013 | Oslo Capitals | 1st Tier |
| RUS | Russian Championship | 6 | 1991 | 2014 | Vereya Bears | 1st Tier |
| SCO | Deuchars IPA National League | 4 | 1997 | 2014 | Aberdeen Warriors | 1st Tier |
| SER | Serbian Championship | 6 | 2002 | 2014 | Red Star RLC | 1st Tier |
| SPA | Campeonato Nacional de Liga | 4 | 2014 | 2014 | Irreductibles Edetans | 1st Tier |
| SPA | Copa España | 6 | 2014 | 2014 | Ciencias Valencia | 1st Tier |
| SWE | Sweden Super League | 4 | 2011 | 2013 | Spartacus Reds | 1st Tier |
| UKR | Ukrainian Championship | 8 | 2012 | 2014 | Legion XIII | 1st Tier |
| WAL | South Wales Premiership | 8 | 2003 | 2014 | Torfaen Tigers | 1st Tier |
| WAL | North Wales Conference | 4 | 2012 | 2014 | Conwy Celts | 1st Tier |

### Africa

| Nations | Competition | Teams | Instituted | Latest Year | Winner | Tier/Division |
| GHA | Ghana Championship | 6 | 2014 | 2014 | no final played | 1st Tier |
| RSA | Protea Cup | 8 | 2013 | 2013–14 | TUKS Blues | 1st Tier |
| RSA | Rhino Cup | 4 | 2011 | 2014 | TUKS Reds | 2nd Tier |

### Asia & the Middle East

| Nations | Competition | Teams | Instituted | Latest Year | Winner | Tier/Division |
| LIB | Lebanon Championship | 5 | 2002 | 2013–14 | Jounieh Al-Galacticos | 1st Tier |
| PHI | Philippines National Rugby League (PNRL) | 9 | 2013 | 2013 | MAAP Warriors | 1st Tier |
| THA | Thailand Rugby League Premiership | 6 | 2014 | 2014 | TBC | 1st Tier |
| UAE | Emirates Rugby League (ENRL) | ? | 2013 | 2014 | Abu Dhabi Harlequins | 1st Tier |

### The Americas

| Nations | Competition | Teams | Instituted | Latest Year | Winner | Tier/Division |
| CAN | British Columbia Rugby League (BCRLC) | 6 | 2012 | 2014 | Surrey Beavers | 1st Tier |
| CAN | Ontario Rugby League (ORL) | 4 | 2010 | 2014 | Toronto Centruions | 1st Tier |
| JAM | Jamaican Club Championship | 5 | 2005 | 2014 | GC Foster College | 1st Tier |
| USA | USA Rugby League (USARL) | 8 | 2011 | 2014 | Philadelphia Fight | 1st Tier |