2011 in rugby league

January

• 18: Queensland, Australia – Australian prop forward of the century (1908–2008), Duncan Hall dies age 85.{{Cite news
• 27: Parramatta, Australia – The 2011 Legends of Origin charity match is won by Queensland Legends who beat New South Wales Legends 20–16 to raise over $380,000 for 2010–2011 Queensland flood victims before a crowd of around 20,000.

February

• 5: The International 9's tournament is played at New Era Stadium, Cabramatta. Plate Grand Final: Macarthur Brothers 28 def Japan 12. Trophy Grand Final: Mounties 22 def Bankstown 10. Cup Grand Final: Balmain Ryde-Eastwood Tigers 6 def Fiji 4.
• 5: Greymouth, New Zealand – A capacity crowd of 6,500 (almost a quarter of the West Coast population) watched the New Zealand Warriors draw 22 all with the Newcastle Knights in the Pike River Mine disaster Solidarity Cup charity game.
• 12: The NRL All Stars defeated the Indigenous All Stars 28–12 in front of 25,843 at Skilled Park, Gold Coast, Australia to square the new format at one win apiece.
• 27: Wigan, England - In the 2011 World Club Challenge St George Illawarra Dragons defeat the Wigan Warriors 21–15 at DW Stadium in front of 24,268 spectators.

March

• 11: Sydney, Australia – The first match of the NRL's 2011 Telstra Premiership is won by the Sydney Roosters, who defeated the South Sydney Rabbitohs 40–29 at the Sydney Football Stadium before a crowd of 28,703.
• 31: Leeds, England – The Rugby Football League announce the Widnes Vikings as their choice for a three-year Super League licence, allowing the club to return to the competition in 2012 after a six-year absence.

April

• 22: Hochspeyer, Germany – Serbia defeated Germany 90–6 in the friendly warm-up game for nations' international games this year, 2013 RLWC qualifiers and European Shield, respectively.

May

• 6: Gold Coast, Australia – In the 2011 ANZAC Test Australia defeat New Zealand 20–10 at Skilled Park before a crowd of 26,301.

June

• 10: Leeds, England – In the inaugural International Origin Match, the Exiles defeat England 16–12 at Headingley Stadium before a crowd of 14,174.

July

• 6: Brisbane, Australia – In the 3rd and deciding match of the 2011 State of Origin series Queensland defeat New South Wales 34–24 at Suncorp Stadium before a crowd of 52,498.
• 26: Wrexham, Wales – Super League club Crusaders announce their withdrawal from 2012's Super League XVII.

August

• 27: London, England – The 2011 Challenge Cup is won by the Wigan Warriors who defeated the Leeds Rhinos 28–18 in the final at Wembley Stadium before a crowd of 78,482.

September

• 6: Sydney, Australia - Melbourne fullback Billy Slater is awarded the Dally M Medal at the 2011 Dally M Awards held in The Entertainment Quarter
• 24: Lae, Papua New Guinea – The Australian Prime Minister's XIII defeat Papua New Guinea 36–22 before a crowd of around 25,000.

October

• 2: Sydney, Australia - The 2011 NRL season culminates in the 2011 NRL Grand Final in which the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles defeated the New Zealand Warriors 24 – 10 at ANZ Stadium before a crowd of 81,988.
• 4: Manchester, England - The 2011 Man of Steel Award for Super League player of the year goes to Castleford's stand-off half, Rangi Chase.
• 24: New Jersey, United States of America – The United States national rugby league team defeats Jamaica 40–4 to qualify for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup, their first ever.
• 30: Belgrade, Serbia – The Italy national rugby league team gain the 14th and final place in the 2013 World Cup by drawing with Lebanon 19-all.

November

• 1: London, England - Harlequins Rugby League announce a change in name and playing kit, returning to the London Broncos brand.
• 3: London, England – The annual RLIF Awards dinner is held at the Tower of London. Winners were:
  • Player of the year: Billy Slater (Melbourne)
  • Rookie of the year: Jharal Yow Yeh (Brisbane)
  • Coach of the year: Des Hasler (Manly-Warringah)
  • Referee of the year: Tony Archer (Australia)
  • of the year: Billy Slater (Melbourne)
  • of the year: Akuila Uate (Newcastle)
  • of the year: Jamie Lyon (Manly-Warringah)
  • of the year: Benji Marshall (Wests)
  • of the year: Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly-Warringah)
  • of the year: Matt Scott (North Queensland)
  • of the year: Cameron Smith (Melbourne)
  • of the year: Sam Thaiday (Brisbane)
  • of the year: Paul Gallen (Cronulla-Sutherland)
  • Canada player of the year: Matt Wyles
  • Cook Islands player of the year: Tinirau Arona
  • Czech Republic player of the year: Jan Buben
  • Fiji player of the year: Wes Naiqama
  • France player of the year: Rémi Casty
  • Germany player of the year: Thomas Isaak
  • Ireland player of the year: Tim Bergin
  • Italy player of the year: Matteo Rossi
  • Jamaica player of the year: Tyronie Rowe
  • Japan player of the year: Keisuke Kinoshita
  • Malta player of the year: Clifford Debattista
  • Norway player of the year: Sonny Mellor
  • Lebanon player of the year: Walid Yassine
  • Russia player of the year: Eduard Ososkov
  • Samoa player of the year: George Carmont
  • Scotland player of the year: Dale Ferguson
  • Serbia player of the year: Dalibor Vukanovic
  • South Africa player of the year: Deon Kraemer
  • Sweden player of the year: Alexander Rappestad
  • Tonga player of the year: Feleti Mateo
  • Ukraine player of the year: Vladimir Mashkin
  • USA player of the year: Apple Pope
  • Wales player of the year: Lloyd White.
• 19: Leeds, England - The 2011 Four Nations tournament culminates in Australia's 30–8 victory over England in the final at Elland Road before a crowd of 34,174. This was the last game in the record-breaking career of Australian captain Darren Lockyer.

December

• 1: Paradise Point, Australia - Australian prop forward of the century (1908–2007), Arthur Beetson dies, aged 66.

References

References

1. "Rival Origin legends unite raising almost $400,000 - NRL.com".
2. link. (6 July 2011)
3. "Warriors-Knight draw in Solidarity Cup".
4. [http://www.abc.net.au/sport/rugbyleague/results/scorecard.htm?series=95&round=0&match=1&year=2011 NRL All Stars]
5. [https://web.archive.org/web/20110314191911/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/03/11/3162063.htm Roosters hand Rabbits horror start] at [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation. abc]].net.au
6. news.bbc.co.uk. (31 March 2011). "Widnes Vikings regain Super League place". [[BBC]] Sport.
7. [http://www.rlef.eu.com/other/report?RLE00000200 Germany 6–90 Serbia] {{Webarchive. link. (2 October 2011 at [[Rugby League European Federation). RLEF]] web-site
8. (26 July 2011). "Crusaders face uncertain future after Super League exit". BBC Sport.
9. Gaskin, Lee. (26 September 2011). "Bus crash, gunfire, rocks mar PNG tour". [[The Canberra Times]].
10. (4 October 2011). "Chase stunned to be Man of Steel". uk.eurosport.yahoo.com.
11. Press Association. (24 October 2011). "USA beat Jamaica to secure 2013 Rugby League World Cup berth". [[The Guardian]].
12. skysports.com. (29 October 2011). "Italy clinch World Cup place". [[Sky Sports]].
13. (1 November 2011). "London Broncos are reborn as Harlequins go back to the future". The Telegraph.
14. (3 November 2011). "Slater scoops player award". [[Sky Sports]].
15. Kogoy, Peter. (1 December 2011). "Rugby league legend Arthur Beetson dead at 66". [[The Australian]].