Sky Sports takes a look at the highs, lows and key moments that have been making the headlines in an unforgettable year of rugby league.
Salford Takeover
Saga of the Year
At the start of the year Salford's future looked bleak. A £1.5m rescue package had been rejected by councillors in December, with Reds supporters staging a number of fundraising events and bucket collections before home games.
Neighbours Swinton Lions donated a large percentage of their share of the gate receipts from the pre-season friendly meeting between the two clubs on January 6 to aid the City Reds' survival bid.
Then, in mid-January, Salford were given another four weeks to settle their debts after long-serving chairman John Wilkinson revealed talks with a potential new investor - who at that stage was unnamed - were at an advanced stage.
The news the club's long-suffering fans were longing to hear finally arrived on January 31 after it was revealed millionaire racehorse owner Marwan Koukash had completed his takeover, bringing to an end months of uncertainty over Salford's future.
Koukash was not a man who would be happy with the club simply existing following an excellent track record in other sports. He immediately set about laying the foundations to help make his latest purchase a success in Super League.
He has brought charisma to the game. He is outspoken and forthright in his views. He wanted the salary cap increasing in order to bring more high-profile players to Super League, although he failed in attempts to lure Sam Tomkins and Sonny Bill Williams to the City Reds.
Brian Noble was brought in to help the existing core of players and while the club may not have lit the touch paper in 2013, next season promises to deliver much more.
Salford have recruited well, bringing in a number of seasoned campaigners to add experience to Noble's squad, while they have made players such as Rangi Chase and Harrison Hansen their marquee captures.
Super League seems a better place with Koukash and Salford in the mix. But can the now Red Devils as they are known challenge for honours in the coming years?
Ben Crooks
Young player of the Year
When you think of the name Crooks you think of rugby league. However, now it might be Ben that springs to mind and not his famous father, Lee.
The 20-year-old centre enjoyed a season to remember with an impressive 19 tries in 18 Super League appearances for the East Yorkshire club.
The youngster excelled mid-season, scoring four times against Castleford Tigers before then bagging a hat-trick of tries against the Wakefield Wildcats.
Crooks missed out on silverware after the Black and Whites were beaten at Wembley by Wigan in August, but that did not prevent him from landing the Super League Young Player of the Year award.
One of the centre's finest moments was a superb breakaway try in the first-half of Hull's 18-6 victory over then champions Leeds Rhinos in May.
2013 Rugby League World Cup
Success of the Year
The critics were sharpening their knives even before a ball was kicked in this year's tournament in England and Wales (as well as France and Ireland).
There were fears some of the game's unfamiliar venues would struggle to attract the crowds and that there would be a lop-sided scores with a number of international minnows involved.
However, as it transpired the tournament proved to be one of the most successful ever - in terms of both quality on the pitch, attendances and revenue for the
