1977–78 Northern Rugby Football League season
# 1977–78 Northern Rugby Football League season

The 1977–78 Northern Rugby Football League season was the 83rd season of rugby league football. Sixteen English clubs competed for the Northern Rugby Football League Championship with Widnes claiming the title by finishing the season on top of the League.

## Season summary

In June 1977, the International Rugby League Board imposed a four-year ban on international transfers. The ban was primarily put in place as a response to the growing number of English players being recruited by Australian clubs.

The League champions were Widnes for the first time. Bradford Northern's last game was cancelled as Featherstone Rovers were on strike, consequently Bradford Northern finished 2nd on percentages.

Hull FC, New Hunslet, Bramley and Dewsbury were demoted to the Second Division.

Leeds were 14-12 Challenge Cup Winners over St. Helens.

John Player Trophy Winners were Warrington beating Widnes 9-4 in the final

Rugby League Premiership Trophy Winners were Bradford Northern beating Widnes 17-8 in the final.

BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Winners were Hull Kingston Rovers beating St. Helens 26-11 in the final.

2nd Division Champions were Leigh, and they, Barrow, Rochdale Hornets and Huddersfield were promoted to the First Division.

Workington Town (from Cumbria) beat Wigan 16–13 to win the Lancashire County Cup, and Castleford beat Featherstone Rovers 17–7 to win the Yorkshire County Cup.

## Challenge Cup

Leeds beat St Helens 14-12 in the final played at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 13 May 1978 before a crowd of 96,000.

This was Leeds’ eleventh Cup Final win in fifteen appearances and their second in successive years.

## Statistics

The following are the top points scorers in the 1977–78 season.

| Player | Team | Tries |
| - | - | - |
| Stuart Wright | Widnes | 33 |
| Keith Fielding | Salford | 31 |
| Eddie Cunningham | St. Helens | 30 |
| John Bevan | Warrington | 30 |
| Steve Fenton | Castleford | 30 |
| Green Vigo | Wigan | 29 |
| Peter Glynn | St. Helens | 28 |
| David Smith | Leeds | 28 |
| Terry Morgan | York | 27 |
| Bruce Burton | Castleford | 27 |
| Player | Team | Goals |
| Geoff Pimblett | St. Helens | 178 |
| Steve Hesford | Warrington | 158 |
| John Woods | Leigh | 149 |
| Iain McCorquodale | Workington Town | 138 |
| Paul Woods | Widnes | 122 |
| David Watkins | Salford | 110 |
| Keith Mumby | Bradford Northern | 107 |
| Sammy Lloyd | Castleford | 104 |
| Neil Fox | Bradford Northern | 95 |
| Willie Oulton | Leeds | 80 |
