Who will wear the Betfred Women’s Super League 2023 crown?

The Betfred Women’s Super League will come to a dramatic conclusion this Sunday (October 8) when League Leaders’ York Valkyrie take on reigning champions Leeds Rhinos at the LNER Community Stadium (KO 3pm) – live on Sky Sports. 

Sunday’s match-up is a repeat of last season’s thrilling finale at the Totally Wicked Stadium, where two tries from England’s Caitlin Beevers helped the Rhinos defeat the Valkyrie 12-4 and end a run of three years without silverware.  

The Rhinos find themselves in a fifth successive Grand Final – and after a difficult start to the season they’re looking to prove the doubters wrong. “We've had a bit of a rocky year”, skipper Hannah Butcher told the Yorkshire Evening Post. “Obviously we finished third and lost in the Challenge Cup final at Wembley. We had players go to the NRLW at the beginning of the season, have had injuries and picked up a couple of bans as well. People probably doubted us, but we've made it to the Grand Final. It does fuel you and motivate you.” 

It was through an extraordinary semi-final win in golden point extra time at St Helens that the Rhinos booked their final place and they are the only team to take points off the Valkyrie this season. Head Coach, Lois Forsell, is hoping for a repeat of that nail biting 12-a-piece draw, “Hopefully the game will be as difficult as the last one we played here - it’s going to be two tough teams up against one another and I’m sure going to be another cracker.

“We took confidence from that draw,” Forsell told BBC West Yorkshire Sport’s James Deighton. “We were disappointed not to get the win in the end, but it was all part of us getting back in that momentum.”

York’s Sinead Peach was promoted to captain at the beginning of this season and another impressive campaign sees her nominated for the Woman of Steel for a third successive year. The 24-year-old been blown away by her team’s response after last year’s Grand Final loss. Speaking to Sharon Shortle for BBC Yorkshire she said: “I’m really proud of the girls – we’ve had a great season this year going unbeaten and we’re ready, we’re preparing well and we’re at a home venue so what more can you want?

“I think we’ve matured a lot since last year and the group has come together and grown closer. It’s been a building block here at York. We sat down three years ago and made a plan and said that we wanted to be in Grand Finals – and we’ve made it.”

Head coach Lindsay Anfield is no stranger to big games through both her playing career and her role as Director of Rugby at York Valkyrie and she revealed to BBC York that she’s also relishing home advantage. “We’re really excited and the fact it’s at the LNER this time is great. We’ve played a lot of big games at Headingley and St Helens so the fact it’s on home soil feels like it’s our time. We’re comfortable here and we have a lot of experience in the ground so that’s changed the mood in camp.”

The Betfred Women’s Super League Grand Final will take place at the LNER Community Stadium on Sunday 8 October 8, with live and exclusive coverage on Sky Sports from 3pm. The Group Two promotion Final between Barrow Raiders and Leigh Leopards will take place at 12pm live on Our League.

Tickets – priced £10 Adults, £7.50 Concessions and £2.50 Under 16s – are on sale now at eticketing.co.uk/rugbyleague

York Valkyrie v Leeds Rhinos: Last ten meetings

York 12, Leeds 12 (SL-G1, 16/7/23)

Leeds 12, York 34 (SL-G1, 9/4/23)

York 4, Leeds 12 (SLG1-GF, 18/9/22)

(at Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens)

Leeds 14, York 22 (SL-G1, 28/8/22)

York 24, Leeds 10 (SL-G1, 5/6/22)

York 26, Leeds 28 (CCSF, 24/4/22)

(at Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington)

Leeds 22, York 18 (SL-SF, 26/9/21)

(at Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens)

York 4, Leeds 14 (SL-PO, 29/8/21)

Leeds 68, York 16 (SL, 18/4/21)

Leeds 28, York 0 (SL, 4/8/19)

Previous Women's Super League Grand Finals

2022 Leeds Rhinos 12 York City Knights 4 (at Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens)

2021 Leeds Rhinos 0 St Helens 28 (at Headingley, Leeds)

2019 Castleford Tigers 12 Leeds Rhinos 20 (at Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens)

2018 Leeds Rhinos 16 Wigan Warriors 18 (at Manchester Regional Arena)

2017 Bradford Bulls 36 Featherstone Rovers 6 (at Manchester Regional Arena)