1982–83 Rugby Football League season
Introduction 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: FulhamHull 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.
League Tables ===Championship==='''Final Standings'''TeamPldWDLPFPAPDPts116x16px Hull302316572293+279'''47'''216x16px Hull Kingston Rovers302118496276+220'''43'''316x16px Wigan302037482270+212'''43'''416x16px St. Helens3019110516395+121'''39'''516x16px Widnes3018210534357+177'''38'''616x16px Leeds3018210480443+27'''38'''716x16px Castleford3018111629458+171'''37'''816x16px Oldham3015213346320+26'''32'''916x16px Bradford Northern  3014214381314+67'''30'''1016x16px Leigh3013314488374+114'''29'''1116x16px Warrington3013215423410+13'''28'''1216x16px Featherstone Rovers3010416350447-97'''24'''1316x16px Barrow3011118472505-33'''23'''1416x16px Workington Town306222318696-378'''14'''1516x16px Halifax305124221651-430'''11'''16Carlisle302028251751-500'''4'''===Second Division==='''Club''''''P''''''W''''''D''''''L''''''PF''''''PA''''''Pts'''1Fulham32 27  1  4  699  294      552Wakefield Trinity32 25  2  5  672  381       523Salford32 24  0  8  686  363       484Whitehaven32 20  3  9  464  298       435Bramley32 20  1 11  560  369       416Hunslet32 17  5 10  553  448       397Swinton32 19  1 12  549  454       398Cardiff32 17  2 13  572  444       369Keighley  32 15  5 12  470  423       3510York32 15  0 17  516  455       3011Blackpool Borough32 13  1 18  381  433       2712Huddersfield32 13  1 18  397  524       2713Rochdale Hornets32 10  5 17  361  469       2514Dewsbury32  8  1 23  325  507       1715Batley32  6  1 25 305  719       1316Huyton32  6  0 26  250  687       1217Doncaster32  2  1 29  307  799        5  Champions  Play-offs  Promoted  Relegated
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.
League Cup
Premiership
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 one county side (Cumbria).The 1982 Kangaroos were coached by 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.Souths Magpies 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 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  Attendance1  10 October   Australia def. Hull Kingston Rovers 30–10  Craven Park, Hull  10,7422  13 October   Australia def. Wigan 13–9  Central Park, Wigan  12,1583  15 October   Australia def. Barrow 29–2  Craven Park, Barrow  6,2824  17 October   Australia def. St Helens 32–0  Knowsley Road, St Helens  8,1905  20 October   Australia def. Leeds 31–4  Headingley, Leeds  11,5706  24 October   def. 37–7  Ninian Park, Cardiff  5,6177  30 October   def. 40–4  Boothferry Park, Hull  26,7718  3 November   Australia def. Leigh 44–4  Hilton Park, Leigh  7,6809  7 November   Australia def. Bradford Northern 13–6  Odsal, Bradford  10,50610  9 November   Australia def. Cumbria 41–2  Brunton Park, Carlisle  5,74811  14 November   Australia def. Fulham 22–5  Craven Cottage, London  10,43212  16 November   Australia def. Hull F.C. 13–7  The Boulevard, Hull  16,04913  20 November   def. 27–6  Central Park, Wigan  23,12614  23 November   Australia def. Widnes 19–6  Naughton Park, Widnes  9,79015  28 November   def. 32–8  Headingley, Leeds  17,318
References
Sources * 1982-83 Rugby Football League season at wigan.rlfans.com