# 1980–81 Rugby Football League season

The 1980–81 Rugby Football League season was the 86th season of professional rugby league football in Britain. Sixteen teams competed from August 1980 until May 1981 for the Slalom Lager Championship.

## Season summary

* Slalom Lager League Champions: Bradford Northern
* Challenge Cup Winners: Widnes (18-9 v Hull Kingston Rovers)
* Slalom Lager Premiership Trophy Winners: Hull Kingston Rovers (11-7 v Hull)
* John Player Special Trophy Winners: Warrington (12-5 v Barrow)
* 2nd Division Champions: York
For the only time in their history, Wigan competed outside the top flight of Rugby League in this season. Fulham RLFC joined the competition in Division Two, later becoming the London Crusaders, London Broncos (twice), and Harlequins Rugby League.
Bradford Northern finished on top of the First Division table to claim their second championship, and Hull Kingston Rovers won the Rugby League Premiership competition.

## Cups
### Challenge Cup

The 1980–81 State Express Challenge Cup was won by Widnes after defeating Hull Kingston Rovers 18–9 in the final.
The Final was played at Wembley before a crowd of 92,496.

### John Player Trophy

Warrington won the John Player Trophy for the third time in their history, beating Barrow 12–5 at Central Park, Wigan.

### County cups

Warrington beat Wigan 26–10 to win the Lancashire County Cup, and Leeds beat Hull Kingston Rovers 8–7 to win the Yorkshire County Cup.

### Premiership

Hull Kingston Rovers won the Premiership competition for the first time, defeating local rivals Hull 11–7 at Headingley, Leeds.

## New Zealand Kiwis Tour

September until November also saw the appearance of the New Zealand team in England on their 1980 tour. Other than the three test series against Great Britain, The Kiwis played matches club and county sides.
The 1980 Kiwis were coached by Ces Mountford and were captained by Mark Graham.
Dane O'Hara, who would join Hull F.C. following the tour was the leading try scorer with 6. Scrum half Gordon Smith (who would join Hull Kingston Rovers in 1982) was the tours leading point scorer with 33 from 1 try and 15 goals.
| game | Date | Result | Venue | Attendance |
| 1 | 28 September | New Zealand def. Blackpool Borough 23–5 | Borough Park, Blackpool | 1,312 |
| 2 | 5 October | New Zealand def. Hull F.C. 33–10 | Boothferry Park, Kingston upon Hull | 15,945 |
| 3 | 8 October | Cumbria def. New Zealand 9–3 | Recreation Ground, Whitehaven | 4,070 |
| 4 | 12 October | St Helens def. New Zealand 11–6 | Knowsley Road, St Helens | 6,000 |
| 5 | 14 October | Bradford Northern def. New Zealand 15–10 | Odsal Stadium, Bradford | 4,553 |
| 6 | 18 October | Great Britain drew with New Zealand 14–14 | Central Park, Wigan | 7,031 |
| 7 | 22 October | New Zealand def. Hull Kingston Rovers 20–12 | Craven Park, Kingston upon Hull | 9,516 |
| 8 | 26 October | New Zealand def. Leeds 25–5 | Headingley, Leeds | 5,662 |
| 9 | 29 October | Warrington def. New Zealand 13–6 | Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington | 5,680 |
| 10 | 2 November | New Zealand def. Great Britain 12–8 | Odsal Stadium, Bradford | 10,946 |
| 11 | 5 November | New Zealand def. Great Britain U/24 18–14 | Craven Cottage, London | 2,397 |
| 12 | 9 November | Widnes def. New Zealand 13–7 | Naughton Park, Widnes | 6,416 |
| 13 | 11 November | New Zealand def. Leigh 22–5 | Hilton Park, Leigh | 3,166 |
| 14 | 15 November | Great Britain def. New Zealand 10–2 | Elland Road, Leeds | 8,210 |

## Statistics

The following are the top points scorers in all competitions in the 1980–81 season.
| Player | Team | Tries |
| John Crossley | York | 35 |
| Terry Richardson | Castleford | 28 |
| Steve Hubbard | Hull Kingston Rovers | 25 |
| Steve Hartley | Hull Kingston Rovers | 23 |
| Paul McDermott | York | 23 |
| Ian Slater | Huddersfield | 23 |
| Des Drummond | Leigh | 20 |
| Ian Ball | Barrow | 19 |
| John Bevan | Warrington | 19 |
| Peter Cramp | Huddersfield | 19 |
| Gary Hyde | Castleford | 19 |
| Dennis Ramsdale | Wigan | 19 |
| Player | Team | Goals |
| Steve Hesford | Warrington | 186 |
| Steve Quinn | Featherstone Rovers | 158 |
| Steve Diamond | Wakefield Trinity | 152 |
| Mick Burke | Widnes | 150 |
| Steve Hubbard | Hull Kingston Rovers | 144 |
| Ian Ball | Barrow | 142 |
| Jimmy Birts | Halifax | 135 |
| Graham Beale | Keighley | 131 |
| Mick Parrish | Oldham | 127 |
| George Fairbairn | Wigan | 126 |