2003 Super League season

Season in rugby league April 2025 November 2013 Super League VIII Super League 90px The Tetley's Super League competition logo 28 Rounds 12 21,784 Bradford Bulls vs Leeds Rhinos (23 May) 1,276 Halifax vs London Broncos (22 Aug) 1,336,374 (average 7,955) Sky Sports 2003 Season Bradford Bulls3rd Super League title5th British title Champions Bradford Bulls League Leaders ENG Jamie Peacock Man of Steel AwardsMan of Steel ENG Paul Deacon (286) AUS Dennis Moran (24) Salford City Reds National League One Halifax National League One Super League VII 2002 Super League IX 2004 Tetley's Super League VIII was the official name for the year 2003's Super League championship season, the 109th season of top-level professional rugby league held in Britain, and the eighth championship run by Super League. The season culminated in a replay of the 2001 Grand Final between Bradford Bulls and Wigan Warriors, and again Bradford won, claiming the 2003 Championship, their second in three years. Rule changes The knock-on rule was modified so that if in the referee's judgement a player did not play at the ball, a knock-on would not be given.BBC Sport 2003-02-20 Sculthorpe questions rule changes https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/super_league/2781243.stm live https://web.archive.org/web/20030227173634/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/2781243.stm 2003-02-27 2009-05-06 Super League coaches voted 12-0 for new interchange and substitution rules for the 2003 season.Ray French 2002-05-16 All change, please https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/bbc_pundits/1991167.stm live https://web.archive.org/web/20160313112319/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/bbc_pundits/1991167.stm 2016-03-13 2009-05-06 BBC The number of interchanges, which now included blood bins, increased from 6 to 12 using a pool of 4 substitutes. This change aimed to retain the element of wearing down a team's opponents during the game – which was considered part of the character of the sport. Stuart Cummings, the Rugby Football League's technical controller said the changes "bring us into line with the international rules" and ruled out future increases as well as declaring, "We will never see the unlimited interchange introduced into rugby league in Britain," a change that had caused controversy in Australia during its experiment there. Table main WDL BRA LEE WIG STH LON WAR HUL CAS WID HUD WAK HFX SF SF ESF ESF ESF ESF REL 22 0 6 878 529 12 1 15 612 633 11 1 16 628 715 13 3 12 701 577 19 3 6 751 555 14 2 12 643 696 1 0 27 372 1227 12 1 15 640 727 16 1 11 845 535 14 1 13 748 619 7 1 20 505 774 19 2 7 776 512 League Leaders' Shield Winners Q LC R bradford 16 Bradford Bulls castleford 16 Castleford Tigers halifax 16 Halifax leeds 16 Leeds Rhinos london 16 London Broncos huddersfield 16 Huddersfield Giants st helens 16 St Helens warrington 16 Warrington Wolves wigan 16 Wigan Warriors hull 16 Hull F.C. Widnes 16 Widnes Vikings wakefield 16 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats -2 St Helens deducted 2 points for salary cap breaches. -2 Hull FC deducted 2 points for salary cap breaches. -2 Halifax deducted 2 points for salary cap breaches. 1) Points; 2) Points difference; 3) Number of points scored; points complete Rugby League Project 2 1 0 green1 Semi Final yellow1 Elimination Semi Final red1 Relegation to National League One Play-offs Elimination play-offs Qualifying / Elimination semifinal Elimination final 165 25 Grand Final Wigan 12 Wigan Warriors 25 Warrington 12 Warrington Wolves 12 St Helens 12 St. Helens 24 London 12 London Broncos 6 Bradford 12 Bradford Bulls 30 Leeds 12 Leeds Rhinos 14 Wigan 12 Wigan Warriors 40 St Helens 12 St. Helens 24 Leeds 12 Leeds Rhinos 22 Wigan 12 Wigan Warriors 23 Bradford 12 Bradford Bulls 25 Wigan 12 Wigan Warriors 12 Source: Rugby League Project31 December 2012 Super League VIII 2003 http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/super-league-viii-2003/summary.html live https://web.archive.org/web/20121106111227/http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/super-league-viii-2003/summary.html 2012-11-06 10 September 2013 Rugby League Project Grand Final 2003 Super League Grand Final Media Television This season was the final year of Sky Sports' contract with the Rugby Football League allowing them to broadcast matches exclusively live, the deal ended in November 2003.2004-02-03 More money for League from TV deal https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2372400/More-money-for-League-from-TV-deal.html live https://web.archive.org/web/20121112034151/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2372400/More-money-for-League-from-TV-deal.html 2012-11-12 2009-07-24 The Telegraph Records On 2 March, Matt Crowther of Hull F.C. equalled the club record for goals in a match when he was successful 14 times against Sheffield Eagles.Hull F.C. History http://www.hullfc.com/hullfc/contents/?page_id=20 2009-10-23August 2016 yes 2003 Transfers Players Player2002 Club2003 Club Brandon Costin Bradford Bradford Bulls Huddersfield Huddersfield Giants Brian McDermott Bradford Bradford Bulls Retirement Richard Gay Castleford Castleford Tigers Retirement Barrie-Jon Mather Castleford Castleford Tigers Kubota Spears (Japanese rugby union) Gary Mercer Castleford Castleford Tigers Retirement Kyle Warren Castleford Castleford Tigers Retirement Jon Wells Castleford Castleford Tigers Wakefield Wakefield Trinity Wildcats Robbie Beckett Halifax Halifax Blue Sox Wests Tigers NRL: Wests Tigers Jamie Bloem Halifax Halifax Blue Sox Huddersfield Huddersfield Giants Gavin Clinch Halifax Halifax Blue Sox Salford City Salford City Reds (National League One) Andrew Dunemann Halifax Halifax Blue Sox Leeds Leeds Rhinos Jason Flowers Halifax Halifax Blue Sox Salford City Salford City Reds (National League One) Jim Gannon Halifax Halifax Blue Sox Huddersfield Huddersfield Giants Brett Goldspink Halifax Halifax Blue Sox Retirement Karle Hammond Halifax Halifax Blue Sox Retirement Jamie Thackray Halifax Halifax Blue Sox Castleford Castleford Tigers David Woods Halifax Halifax Blue Sox Retirement Lee Jackson Hull FC Hull F.C. York City Knights Graham Mackay Hull FC Hull F.C. Retirement Tonie Carroll Leeds Leeds Rhinos Brisbane NRL: Brisbane Broncos Darren Fleary Leeds Leeds Rhinos Huddersfield Huddersfield Giants Andy Hay Leeds Leeds Rhinos Widnes Widnes Vikings Karl Pratt Leeds Leeds Rhinos Bradford Bradford Bulls Ryan Sheridan Leeds Leeds Rhinos Widnes Widnes Vikings Marcus St Hilaire Leeds Leeds Rhinos Huddersfield Huddersfield Giants Adrian Vowles Leeds Leeds Rhinos Wakefield Wakefield Trinity Wildcats Ben Walker Leeds Leeds Rhinos Manly NRL: Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Richie Barnett London London Broncos Hull FC Hull F.C. Wayne Evans London London Broncos Retirement Michael Gillett London London Broncos Retirement Jason Hetherington London London Broncos Retirement Mark Corvo Salford City Salford City Reds Retirement Damian Gibson Salford City Salford City Reds Castleford Castleford Tigers Michael Hancock Salford City Salford City Reds Retirement Graham Holroyd Salford City Salford City Reds Huddersfield Huddersfield Giants Warren Jowitt Salford City Salford City Reds Hull FC Hull F.C. Francis Maloney Salford City Salford City Reds Castleford Castleford Tigers Jason Nicol Salford City Salford City Reds Retirement Nick Pinkney Salford City Salford City Reds Hull Kingston Rovers Hull Kingston Rovers (National League One) Darren Shaw Salford City Salford City Reds Oldham Oldham (National League One) Darren Treacy Salford City Salford City Reds Parramatta NRL: Parramatta Eels Mike Wainwright Salford City Salford City Reds Warrington Warrington Wolves Darren Britt St. Helens St. Helens Retirement Sean Hoppe St. Helens St. Helens Retirement Sonny Nickle St. Helens St. Helens Leigh Leigh Centurions (National League One) Peter Shiels St. Helens St. Helens Retirement Deon Bird Wakefield Wakefield Trinity Wildcats Widnes Widnes Vikings Paul Broadbent Wakefield Wakefield Trinity Wildcats York City Knights Chris Feather Wakefield Wakefield Trinity Wildcats Leeds Leeds Rhinos Andrew Frew Wakefield Wakefield Trinity Wildcats Halifax Halifax Phil Hassan Wakefield Wakefield Trinity Wildcats Swinton Lions Paul Jackson Wakefield Wakefield Trinity Wildcats Castleford Castleford Tigers Neil Law Wakefield Wakefield Trinity Wildcats York City Knights Martin Moana Wakefield Wakefield Trinity Wildcats Halifax Halifax Kris Tassell Wakefield Wakefield Trinity Wildcats Swinton Lions Nathan Wood Wakefield Wakefield Trinity Wildcats Warrington Warrington Wolves Dean Busby Warrington Warrington Wolves Hull Kingston Rovers Hull Kingston Rovers (National League One) Dale Laughton Warrington Warrington Wolves Retirement Paul Marquet Warrington Warrington Wolves Retirement Matthew Rodwell Warrington Warrington Wolves Retirement Steve Carter Widnes Widnes Vikings Retirement Troy Stone Widnes Widnes Vikings Retirement Craig Weston Widnes Widnes Vikings Hiatus Gary Connolly Wigan Wigan Warriors Leeds Leeds Rhinos David Furner Wigan Wigan Warriors Leeds Leeds Rhinos Harvey Howard Wigan Wigan Warriors Hull Kingston Rovers Hull Kingston Rovers (National League One) Marvin Golden Doncaster Doncaster Dragons (Northern Ford Premiership) Widnes Widnes Vikings Chris Thorman Huddersfield Huddersfield Giants (Northern Ford Premiership) London London Broncos Matt Calland Rochdale Rochdale Hornets (Northern Ford Premiership) Huddersfield Huddersfield Giants Darren Smith Canterbury NRL: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs St. Helens St. Helens Colin Best Cronulla NRL: Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Hull FC Hull F.C. Nick Graham Cronulla NRL: Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Wigan Wigan Warriors Chris McKenna Cronulla NRL: Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Leeds Leeds Rhinos Paul Mellor Cronulla NRL: Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Castleford Castleford Tigers Dean Treister Cronulla NRL: Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Hull FC Hull F.C. Ian Sibbit Melbourne NRL: Melbourne Storm Warrington Warrington Wolves Julian Bailey Newcastle NRL: Newcastle Knights Huddersfield Huddersfield Giants Clinton O'Brien Newcastle NRL: Newcastle Knights Wakefield Wakefield Trinity Wildcats Bill Peden Newcastle NRL: Newcastle Knights London London Broncos Shontayne Hape New Zealand Warriors old NRL: New Zealand Warriors Bradford Bradford Bulls Anthony Colella South Sydney NRL: South Sydney Rabbitohs Huddersfield Huddersfield Giants Brent Grose South Sydney NRL: South Sydney Rabbitohs Warrington Warrington Wolves Jason Hooper St. George NRL: St. George Illawarra Dragons St. Helens St. Helens Shane Millard St. George NRL: St. George Illawarra Dragons Widnes Widnes Vikings Dallas Hood Eastern Suburbs NRL: Sydney Roosters Wakefield Wakefield Trinity Wildcats Ben Jeffries Wests Tigers NRL: Wests Tigers Wakefield Wakefield Trinity Wildcats Matt Seers Wests Tigers NRL: Wests Tigers Wakefield Wakefield Trinity Wildcats Quentin Pongia Villeneuve Leopards (Elite One Championship) Wigan Wigan Warriors Neil Harmon N/A Halifax Halifax Damian Kennedy N/A London London Broncos See also 2003 Super League Grand Final 2003 World Club Challenge References External links Super League VIII at wigan.rlfans.com https://web.archive.org/web/20080222020631/http://wigan.rlfans.com/fusion_pages/index.php?page_id=154 22 February 2008 Super League VIII at rugbyleagueproject.com