2023 Featherstone Rovers season explained

Year:2023
Team Colour:navy
Font Colour:white
League:Championship
League Rank:1st
Playoff Result:Lost in semi-finals
Cup:Challenge Cup
Cup Result:3rd round
Ceo Title:Chairman
Coach Title:Head Coach
List:yes
List Link:Featherstone Rovers#Seasons

In the 2023 rugby league season, Featherstone Rovers competed in the RFL Championship and the Challenge Cup. In the Championship, Featherstone won the League Leaders' Shield having lost only two regular season games, but suffered a 36-22 upset in the play-off semi-final against London Broncos.

Season review

In October 2022, Sean Long was appointed to succeed Brian McDermott as head coach.[1] Featherstone began their Championship campaign on 6 February with a 50-0 win over newly promoted Keighley Cougars.[2] Featherstone moved to the top of the league on 19 February following a 76-4 win over Whitehaven.[3] On 12 March, Featherstone were knocked out in the third round of the Challenge Cup when Halifax Panthers came from behind to win 22-18.[4] The following week Featherstone resumed their unbeaten run in the Championship with a 34-6 win over Swinton Lions in Round 6.[5]

On 16 May, it was announced that James Ford had been appointed as the first Director of Rugby at Featherstone. On 27 May, Featherstone faced one of Ford's former clubs, York Knights, at the Summer Bash where four tries by Gareth Gale sealed a 46-4 victory.[6] The run of league wins was extended to 13 games with a 64-6 win over Barrow Raiders in which Featherstone had ten different try scorers.[7] [8] On 10 June, Featherstone suffered their first league loss of the season when Toulouse Olympique defeated them 36–18 in Round 14.[9] Following the defeat, Featherstone announced several changes to their backroom structure which included the departure of assistant coach Leon Pryce.[10] A second league defeat for Featherstone came in Round 21 against Halifax.[11] The match, which was scheduled for 7 August, was moved to a day earlier as Halifax were playing in the final of the 1895 Cup the following weekend.[12] On 7 August, Sean Long was sacked from his role as head coach and succeeded by James Ford.[13]

Featherstone secured top place in the table at the start of September with a 16-8 win over Bradford Bulls at Odsal.[14] On 23 September, Featherstone defeated Widnes Vikings 62-10 in the final round of the regular season. After the game they were presented with the League Leaders' Shield having ended 12 points ahead of second-placed Toulouse.[15] As league leaders, Featherstone had a bye in the first round of the play-offs before facing London Broncos in the semi-finals. London had finished fifth in the table, 18 points below the Featherstone, but were in good form having won 42-0 against Sheffield Eagles in the eliminators and they ended Featherstone's season by defeating them 46-22[16] [17] before overcoming Toulouse in the Grand Final.[18]

Results

Pre-season friendlies

DateVersusH/AVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAttendanceReport+Pre-season results31 December Castleford TigersHPost Office Road26–10Gale (2), Day, Kopczak, LacansHankinson (3)[19] [20]
20 January Hull Kingston RoversHPost Office Road28–0 Briscoe (2), Kopczak, Gale, HankinsonHankinson (2), Hall (2)[21] [22]
29 January Wakefield TrinityABelle Vue12–24 Evans, TaylorHankinson (2)[23] [24]

RFL Championship

See main article: 2023 RFL Championship.

Championship results

DateRoundVersusH/AVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAttendanceReport+Championship results6 February1ACougar Park50-0Dean (2), Gale (2), Aekins, Day, Hardcastle, Lockwood, YeiHankinson (7)2,443RLP
12 February2 Halifax PanthersHPost Office Road46-22Aekins (2), Dean, Gale, Hankinson, Jones, Springer, WildieHankinson (7)3,974RLP
19 February3 WhitehavenHPost Office Road76-4Gale (2), Leilua, Aekins, Briscoe, Bussey, Davies, Dean, Jones, Kopczak, Lacans, YeiHall (10)2,248RLP
26 February4 Newcastle ThunderHPost Office Road56-6Bussey (2), Hardcastle (2), Leilua, Briscoe, Day, Jones, YeiDean (8)2,489RLP
6 March5 Bradford BullsHPost Office Road26-12Briscoe, Davies, Dean, Ford, GaleDean (3)4,809RLP
19 March6 Swinton LionsAHeywood Road34-6Evans (2), Aekins, Gale, Hardcastle, Jones, LacansDean (3)1,090RLP
26 March7 York KnightsHPost Office Road46-4Gale (3), Cozza, Evans, Jones, Leilua, TaylorHall (7)2,892RLP
7 April8 Batley BulldogsAMount Pleasant26-18Hardcastle (2), Briscoe, Jones, LeiluaHall (3)2,287RLP
16 April9 London BroncosAPlough Lane40-10Jones (3), Aekins (2), Day (2)Dean (6)977RLP
7 May10 Sheffield EaglesHPost Office Road28-20Briscoe (2), Aekins, Bussey, HardcastleDean (3), Bussey3,187RLP
14 May11 Widnes VikingsAHalton Stadium30-0Gale (3), Bussey, Hall, JonesHall (3)2,832RLP
27 May12 York KnightsNYork Community Stadium46-4Gale (4), Cozza, Evans, Jones, Leilua, TaylorHall (7)3,793RLP
4 June13 Barrow RaidersHPost Office Road64-6Jones (2), Aekins, Briscoe, Bussey, Gale, Hall, Hankinson, Hau, Lacans, YeiHall (10)2,756RLP
10 June14 Toulouse OlympiqueHPost Office Road18-36Briscoe, Davies, Hall, HankinsonHall (1)3,489RLP
18 June15 London BroncosHPost Office Road50-6Aekins (2), Day, Gale, Jones, Kheirallah, Lacans, Leilua, WildieKheirallah (7)2,255RLP
25 June16 York KnightsAYork Community Stadium24-8Leilua (2), Jones, KheirallahKheirallah (4)2,554RLP, [25]
2 July17 WhitehavenARecreation Ground60-0Leilua (2), Jones, Kheirallah (4), Aekins (2), Briscoe, Hau, Jones, Leilua, SpringerKheirallah (8)841RLP, [26]
9 July18 Swinton LionsHPost Office Road52-6Hall (2), Hau (2), Briscoe, Jones, Kheirallah, Lacans, SpringerKheirallah (8)2,845RLP, BBC
16 July19 Barrow RaidersACraven Park20-10Briscoe, Gale, Hall, HauKheirallah (2)2,361RLP, Barrow
29 July20 Batley BulldogsHPost Office Road28-8Hau (2), Smith, Taylor, WildieHankinson (4)3,145RLP
6 August21 Halifax PanthersAShay Stadium22-25Briscoe, Kheirallah, Kopczak, SpringerKheirallah (3)1,609RLP
18 August22 Sheffield EaglesAOlympic Legacy Park38-10Hau (2), Aekins, Chisholm, Gale, Hankinson, MoorsKheirallah (5)1,709RLP
27 August23 Keighley CougarsHPost Office Road36-6Gale (2), Jones (2), Kheirallah (2), LeiluaKheirallah (4)3,235RLP
3 September24 Bradford BullsAOdsal Stadium16-8Aekins, Day, GaleKheirallah (2)4,567RLP
8 September25 Newcastle ThunderAKingston Park56-22Gale (3), Hall (2), Cozza, Day, Longstff, Taylor, WildieHall (8)747RLP
16 September26 Toulouse OlympiqueAStade des Minimes29-16Hall Jones, Kheirallah, Lacans, LeiluaKheirallah (4), Lacans (FG)2,603RLP
23 September27 Widnes VikingsHPost Office Road62-10Leilua (3), Aekins (2), Gale (2), Hall, Hankinson, Jones, MoorsKheirallah (9)3,874RLP

Play-offs

DateRoundVersusH/AVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAttendanceReport+Play-off results8 OctoberSemi-finalH Post Office Road26-36Hankinson (2), Leilua (2), BriscoeKheirallah (3)RFL
Team bracket

Sources:

Challenge Cup

DateRoundVersusH/AVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAttendanceReport+Challenge Cup results12 March3H Post Office Road18-22Hardcastle, Lacans, SpringerHall (3)RFL

Players

Transfers

Gains

Player ! scope="col" style="background:navy; color:white; border:solid white 1px"
Club ContractDate
Chris Hankinson Toulouse Olympique 1 Year October 2022[27]
Mathieu Cozza Catalans Dragons 1 Year October 2022[28]
Thomas Lacans Newcastle Thunder
Elijah Taylor Salford Red Devils
Riley Dean Warrington Wolves
Caleb Aekins Leigh Leopards 2 Years November 2022[29]
McKenzie Yei Queensland Capras 1 Year December 2022[30]
Kyle Evans Wakefield Trinity 1 Year January 2023[31]
Brad Day Newcastle Thunder

Losses

Player ! scope="col" style="background:navy; color:white; border:solid white 1px"
Club ContractDate
Ben Hellewell Salford Red Devils
Adam Cuthbertson Retired
Jesse Sene-Lefao Sheffield Eagles
Callum Field Widnes Vikings
Jacob Doyle Dewsbury Rams
Morgan Smith Wakefield Trinity 2 Year October 2022[32]
Brett Ferres Doncaster
Loui McConnell Doncaster
Ryley Jacks Released November 2022[33]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Featherstone appoint Sean Long to guide Rovers to Super League . Love Rugby League . 5 October 2022 . 17 January 2024.
  2. Web site: Betfred Championship Round-Up Round One . RFL . 6 February 2023 . 17 January 2024.
  3. Web site: Betfred Championship Round-Up Round Three . RFL . 19 February 2023 . 17 January 2024.
  4. Web site: Betfred Challenge Cup Round Three Round-Up . RFL . 13 March 2023 . 17 January 2024.
  5. Web site: Betfred Championship Round-Up Round Six . RFL . 21 March 2023 . 17 January 2024.
  6. Web site: Summer Bash Round-Up . RFL . 30 May 2023 . 17 January 2024.
  7. Web site: Betfred Championship Preview Round 14 . RFL . 8 June 2023 . 17 January 2024.
  8. Web site: Betfred Championship Round-Up Round 13 . RFL . 5 June 2023 . 17 January 2024.
  9. Web site: Betfred Championship Round-Up Round 14 . RFL . 12 June 2023 . 17 January 2024.
  10. Web site: Featherstone Rovers confirm departure of Super League legend amid aims for full-time model . Love Rugby League . 15 June 2023 . 17 January 2024.
  11. News: Sean Long left frustrated as Featherstone Rovers suffer only their second league defeat of the season at Halifax Panthers . Wakefield Express . 6 August 2023 . 17 January 2024.
  12. Web site: Halifax Panthers vs Featherstone Rovers fixture rescheduled . RFL . 28 July 2023 . 17 January 2024.
  13. Web site: Featherstone Rovers sack Sean Long; James Ford to lead promotion charge . Love Rugby League . 7 August 2023 . 17 January 2024.
  14. Web site: Betfred Championship Preview Round 25 . RFL . 7 September 2023 . 17 January 2024.
  15. Web site: Betfred Championship Round-Up Round 27 . RFL . 25 September 2023 . 17 January 2024.
  16. Web site: Betfred Championship Preview Featherstone Rovers v London Broncos . RFL . 6 October 2023 . 17 January 2024.
  17. Web site: London Broncos stun promotion favourites Featherstone Rovers to set up all-expansion play-off final . Love Rugby league . 8 October 2023 . 17 January 2024.
  18. Web site: London Broncos defeat Toulouse in Betfred Championship Grand Final . RFL . 16 October 2023 . 17 January 2024.
  19. Web site: 2023 Betfred Championship Preview Featherstone Rovers . RFL . 21 January 2023 . 17 January 2024.
  20. Web site: Rovers see out 2022 in style . Featherstone Rovers . 31 December 2022 . 17 January 2024.
  21. Web site: Friendly Matches Round-Up . RFL . 22 January 2023 . 17 January 2024.
  22. Web site: Match Report; Featherstone Vs Hull KR . Featherstone Rovers . 21 January 2022 . 17 January 2024.
  23. Web site: Friendly Matches Round-Up . RFL . 29 January 2023 . 17 January 2024.
  24. Web site: Rovers take learning points from friendly defeat . Featherstone Rovers . 30 January 2022 . 17 January 2024.
  25. News: York City Knights v Featherstone Rovers – Rugby League . 10 July 2023 . BBC Sport .
  26. News: Whitehaven v Featherstone Rovers – Rugby League . 10 July 2023 . BBC Sport .
  27. Web site: Chris Hankinson departs Toulouse for Championship rivals . 17 October 2022 . 17 January 2024.
  28. Web site: Featherstone Rovers snap up Catalans Dragons forward . Love Rugby League . 19 October 2022 . 17 January 2024.
  29. Web site: Former Leigh full-back Caleb Aekins joins Championship rivals . Love Rugby League . 29 November 2022 . 17 January 2024.
  30. Web site: Featherstone Rovers sign McKenzie Yei and James Lockwood . RFL . 19 December 2022 . 17 January 2024.
  31. Web site: Former Wakefield winger Kyle Evans finds new club for 2023 . Love Rugby League . 1 January 2023 . 17 January 2024.
  32. Web site: Morgan Smith: Wakefield Trinity sign Featherstone Rovers half-back . BBC Sport . 7 October 2022 . 17 January 2024.
  33. Web site: Featherstone half-back released to return to Australia . Love Rugby League . 10 November 2022 . 17 January 2024.

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