As the Betfred Women's Super League Grand Final draws closer, take a look at the team that the Rhinos will be facing on Sunday afternoon, York Valkyrie.

Season so far...

York Valkyrie continue to go from strength to strength in the Betfred Women's Super League as Lindsay Anfield's side looks to add a Grand Final title to their League Leaders title in 2023.

Having picked up the Leaders Shield for the first time last year, the Valkyrie added a second shield with a spotless, unbeaten record throughout this season. Anfield was able to bolster her ranks over the course of the season with the additions of New Zealander Sade Rihari, former Grand Final winners Aimee Staveley (formerly of Leeds) and Carrie Roberts, as well as young talents Chloe Smith from Castleford, Eva Izumi from Oulton, Kacey Davies from Wakefield and Jess Sharp from Hull KR, whilst the club's only major departure was England international Hollie-Mae Dodd to NRLW side Canberra Raiders.

Spearheaded by the reigning Woman of Steel Tara-Jane Stanley in attack, York led the league out of the traps from round one with a 34-12 win against the Rhinos at Headingley on the opening weekend, and a 26-6 result against St Helens to establish a lead in the league table that neither the Rhinos or Saints could recover. Despite falling out of the Challenge Cup to a Faye Gaskin drop goal, the Valkyrie continued to kick on in their league fixtures with three 40+ point wins over Warrington, Wigan and Huddersfield, and also welcomed back French international Elisa Akpa, who scored twice against the Giants. 

Their winning streak finally ended in round six when the Rhinos stole a point from the LNER Community Stadium in a 12-12 draw, but back-to-back League Leaders' titles were confirmed with another run of four straight wins. In the semi finals a fortnight ago, York met Wigan for the second successive season, but unlike 2022's 12-4 result,  it was not a low-scoring affair this time around as tries from Stanley, Lacey Owen, Olivia Gale and Olivia Whitehead sealed York's place back in the Grand Final with a 22-6 win.

2023 Results

Opening Round - Won 34-12 vs Leeds Rhinos 

Round 1 - Won 26-6 vs St Helens

Round 2 - Won 44-4 vs Warrington Wolves

Round 4 - Won 40-6 vs Wigan Warriors

Round 5 - Won 48-8 vs Huddersfield Giants

Round 6 - Drew 12-12 vs Leeds Rhinos

Round 7 - Won 18-8 vs St Helens

Round 8 - Won 58-10 vs Warrington Wolves

Round 9 - Won 36-4 vs Wigan Warriors

Round 10 - Won 60-4 vs Huddersfield Giants

Semi Finals - Won 22-6 vs Wigan Warriors

Previous Super League Finishes 

2023 - League Leaders' Shield Winners and Grand Finalist (19 points = nine wins and one draw)

2022 - League Leaders' Shield Winners and Grand Finalist (16 points = eight wins and one loss)

2021 - Third Place and Semi-Finalists (Ten points = five wins and two losses during regular season; Four points = two wins and two losses during Play Offs)

2019 - Seventh Place (Two points = one win and 12 losses)

2018 - Seventh Place (Two points = one win and 11 losses)

Squad

Ones to Watch

Tara-Jane Stanley

Age: 30

Position: Full back

2023 Super League Stats: 9 apps, 7 tries, 37 goals, 2 drop goals, 104 points

Since her move from Castleford at the start of the 2021 season, Tara-Jane Stanley has been a key catalyst to the success of York under Lindsey Anfield. The former Tiger and Thatto Heath player has been the side's top points scorer as the club lifted the League Leaders' Shield in 2022 and 2023 and has been nominated for a second successive Woman of Steel award last month. 

Sinead Peach

Age: 25

Position: Hooker

2023 Super League Stats: 11 apps, 4 tries, 16 points

Captain Peach also made the switch from Castleford to the Valkyrie in 2021 and is in contention of being included in Stu Barrow's England squad for the Autumn internationals after another solid season. The Woman of Steel nominee hasn't missed the league game for York in 2023 and after scoring the Valkyrie's first Grand Final try in defeat to Leeds last year, she will be hoping to add a winners medal to her list of honours in 2023.

Carrie Roberts

Age: 34

Position: Centre/Back Row

2023 Super League Stats: 5 apps, 6 tries, 3 goals, 30 points

One of the newest faces around the LNER Community Stadium is international centre and treble winner Carrie Roberts, who joined the the Valkyrie mid-season. As part of the Saints side that won the Grand Final, Challenge Cup and League Leaders' Shield during the 2021 campaign, the British Army sergeant returned to the game with York and hit the ground running again with six tries in five games.

Previous League Meetings vs Leeds

2023 - York Valkyrie 12 Leeds Rhinos 12 (Round 6, 16th July)

2023 - Leeds Rhinos 12 York Valkyrie 34 (Opening Round, 9th April)

2022 - Leeds Rhinos 12 York Valkyrie 4 (Grand Final, 18th September)

2022 - Leeds Rhinos 14 York Valkyrie 22 (Round 10, 28th August)

2022 - York Valkyrie 24 Leeds Rhinos 10 (Round 2, 5th June)

2021 - Leeds Rhinos 22 York Valkyrie 18 (Semi Finals, 26th September)

2021 - York Valkyrie 4 Leeds Rhinos 14 (Play Offs, 29th August)

2021 - Leeds Rhinos 68 York Valkyrie 16 (Round 1, 18th April)

2019* - Leeds Rhinos 30 York Valkyrie 0 (Round 8, 4th August)

2019 - York Valkyrie 0 Leeds Rhinos 50 (Round 5, 2nd June)

2018 - York Valkyrie 6 Leeds Rhinos 50 (Round 12, 30th September)

2018 - Leeds Rhinos 80 York Valkyrie 0 (Round 6, 17th June)

Be at the Final!

Tickets and travel are still available to buy online at tickets.therhinos.co.uk  and over the phone on 0371 423 1315 and from Leeds Rhinos Club Shop (Opening Hours). As the East Stand allocation has now sold out, tickets in the South Stand are now available to buy.

Tickets are priced at £10 for adults, £7.50 for concessions and £2.50 for juniors aged 16 and under. The event also covers the Women's Promotion Play-Off Final between Barrow Ladies and Leigh Leopards Ladies, which kicks off at 12.30pm.

Leeds Rhinos Official Coach Travel will be available for this fixture, departing Headingley Stadium at 11am. Travel tickets are priced at £10 per person.