| 2022 Women's Super League | |
|---|---|
| Teams | 12 |
| Matches played | 92 |
| Points scored | 2,241 |
| Champions |  Leeds Rhinos |
| League Leaders Shield |  York City Knights |
| Runners-up | York City Knights |
| Biggest home win |  Warrington Wolves 86–0  Wakefield Trinity (22 May 2022) |
| Biggest away win | Wakefield Trinity 0–102 Warrington Wolves (31 July 2022) |
| Woman of Steel | |
| Promotion and relegation | |
| Promoted from Group 2 | Warrington Wolves |
The 2022 RFL Women's Super League (also known as the Betfred Women's Super League for sponsorship reasons) was the sixth season of the Rugby League Women's Super League, for female players in clubs affiliated to the Rugby Football League (RFL).
The title was won by Leeds Rhinos who beat York City Knights 12–4 in the grand final.[1] York had finished top of the table to win the league leader's shield.[2]
The defending champions were St Helens, who beat Leeds Rhinos 28–0 in the Grand Final at Headingley on 10 October 2021, in front of a record crowd of 4,235.[3]
The league increased the number of participating teams by 2, from 10 to 12, with Barrow Raiders and Leigh Miners Rangers being promoted to the Super League, after finishing first and second respectively in the 2021 Women's Championship.[4] However, the structure of the league has changed, with the league being split into two groups; a structure based on the play-off and shield structures used in the second half of the 2021 season. Group 1 comprises Huddersfield, Leeds, St Helens, Wigan and York. Group 2 comprises Barrow, Bradford, Castleford, Leigh Miners, Featherstone, Wakefield and Warrington. The RFL explained that the split structure as giving the player for clubs in group 1, challenging fixtures in the run-up to the World Cup; while allowing the clubs in group 2, the opportunity to develop by playing clubs in more competitive matches.[5] However, in April 2022, the RFL acceded to a request from Castleford, for the club to be placed in Group 2, thus changing the structure, with Group 1 containing of five clubs and group 2 of seven clubs.[6]
- ^ "Leeds beat York to win Women's Grand Final". BBC Sport. 18 September 2022.
- ^ "York City Knights claim Betfred Women's Super League Leaders' Shield". RFL. 28 August 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
- ^ "Saints win Women's Super League". BBC Sport. 10 October 2021.
- ^ Gordon, James (2 November 2021). "Women's Super League to expand to 12 teams from 2022". LoveRugbyLeague. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
- ^ "Women's Super League: Barrow Raiders and Leigh Miners Rangers join expanded 12-team competition for 2022". Sky Sports. 2 November 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
- ^ "Statement: Castleford Tigers Women". www.rugby-league.com. 21 April 2022. Retrieved 15 May 2022.