# 1982–83 Rugby Football League season

The 1982–83 Rugby Football League season was the 88th ever season of professional rugby league football in Britain. Sixteen teams competed from August, 1982 until May, 1983 for the Slalom Lager Championship.

## Season summary

* Slalom Lager League Champions: Hull
* Challenge Cup Winners: Featherstone Rovers (14-12 v Hull)
* Slalom Lager Premiership Trophy Winners: Widnes (22-10 v Hull)
* John Player Special Trophy Winners: Wigan (15-4 v Leeds)
* 2nd Division Champions: Fulham
Hull finished on top of the First Division table to claim their sixth and, to date, last championship, but Widnes won the Rugby League Premiership competition. Fulham, Wakefield Trinity, Salford and Whitehaven were promoted to the First Division.
Warrington beat St. Helens 16–0 to win the Lancashire County Cup, and Hull F.C. beat Bradford Northern 18–7 to win the Yorkshire County Cup.

## Challenge Cup

The 1982-83 State Express Challenge Cup was won by underdogs Featherstone Rovers after defeating Hull F.C. 14-12 in the final.
The Final was played at Wembley before a crowd of 84,969.

## Kangaroo Tour

The months of October and November also saw the appearance of the Australian team in England on their 1982 Kangaroo Tour. Other than the three test Ashes series against Great Britain (won 3–0 by Australia), The Kangaroos played and won matches against 9 Championship teams (Hull KR, Wigan, Barrow, St Helens, Leeds, Leigh, Bradford Northern, Hull and Widnes), 1 Second Division side (Fulham) and 1 county side (Cumbria).
The 1982 Kangaroos were coached by Balmain Tigers head coach Frank Stanton who had previously toured as a player in 1963–64 and as coach of the 1978 Kangaroos. The team captain was veteran Manly-Warringah hooker Max Krilich who had also toured in 1978.
South Brisbane centre Mal Meninga, making the first of a record 4 Kangaroo Tours as a player, was the leading point scorer on the tour with 166 from 10 tries and 68 goals including 48 points in the three Tests against Great Britain (2 tries, 21 goals). Manly-Warringah's Queensland winger John Ribot was the leading try scorer on the tour with 25.
The 1982 Kangaroos became known as The Invincibles after becoming the first team to go undefeated on a Kangaroo Tour.
| game | Date | Result | Venue | Attendance |
| 1 | 10 October | Australia def. Hull Kingston Rovers 30–10 | Craven Park, Hull | 10,742 |
| 2 | 13 October | Australia def. Wigan 13–9 | Central Park, Wigan | 12,158 |
| 3 | 15 October | Australia def. Barrow 29–2 | Craven Park, Barrow | 6,282 |
| 4 | 17 October | Australia def. St Helens 32–0 | Knowsley Road, St Helens | 8,190 |
| 5 | 20 October | Australia def. Leeds 31–4 | Headingley, Leeds | 11,570 |
| 6 | 24 October | Australia def. Wales 37–7 | Ninian Park, Cardiff | 5,617 |
| 7 | 30 October | Australia def. Great Britain 40–4 | Boothferry Park, Hull | 26,771 |
| 8 | 3 November | Australia def. Leigh 44–4 | Hilton Park, Leigh | 7,680 |
| 9 | 7 November | Australia def. Bradford Northern 13–6 | Odsal, Bradford | 10,506 |
| 10 | 9 November | Australia def. Cumbria 41–2 | Brunton Park, Carlisle | 5,748 |
| 11 | 14 November | Australia def. Fulham 22–5 | Craven Cottage, London | 10,432 |
| 12 | 16 November | Australia def. Hull F.C. 13–7 | The Boulevard, Hull | 16,049 |
| 13 | 20 November | Australia def. Great Britain 27–6 | Central Park, Wigan | 23,126 |
| 14 | 23 November | Australia def. Widnes 19–6 | Naughton Park, Widnes | 9,790 |
| 15 | 28 November | Australia def. Great Britain 32–8 | Headingley, Leeds | 17,318 |