Rugby League 2009

On the surface it was predictable - the Rhinos claimed the Super League title for a third straight year, while Australia won the Four Nations title.

But this was also a year of surprises - Warrington winning the Challenge Cup to end a 35-year trophy drought, Catalans Dragons' thrilling run to the brink of Old Trafford and England's vastly-improved showing against the southern hemisphere teams.

For the first time Super League was played in five countries in 2009 - England , France, Spain, Scotland and Wales. The foray north to Murrayfield was considered a success, but the jury is very much still out on the Welsh experiment.

Celtic Crusaders had a largely disappointing first season in the big time, finishing bottom of the newly-expanded Super League with just three wins.

As for France and Spain, the Catalonia connection has been one of the game's major success stories in recent years and it would take a brave man to bet against the Dragons appearing at Old Trafford in years to come.

Check out skysports.com's highs and lows of 2009 and share your thoughts on the rugby league year using the feedback box below...

Team of the Season

The Dragons came close to getting the nod in this category after their superb run to the brink of the Grand Final, but it is impossible to argue that Leeds Rhinos were not once again the season's stand-out side.

Leeds have followed their fierce rivals Bradford in perfecting the art of peaking just when it matters and they once again hit their straps at the season's business end.

The Grand Final against St Helens was an attritional affair, but the Rhinos emerged victorious 18-10, the third year in a row in which they had beaten Saints in the game's showpiece occasion.

Player of the Season

Full-back, winger, centre or in the halves, whereever Kyle Eastmond plays he always seems to have an impact. The 20-year-old went from a squad member at St Helens to England's number six in 2009 having scored all Saints' points in their Grand Final defeat to Leeds playing at centre. Next year he will get the chance to establish himself at scrum-half with Sean Long moving on. Fleet of foot and always willing to attack the defensive line, Eastmond has drawn comparisons to dual-code legend Jason Robinson. Although he may have signed a new deal with St Helens, it seems inevitable that he will switch to the 15-man code at some stage in the future.

Most Improved Player

It may seem hard to understand how a man with 11 caps for Australia can be considered the most improved of 2009, but it wasn't until the second half of this year that Warrington - and Super League for that matter - finally got to see the best of Matt King. The centre struggled to adapt to life in England since moving to the Halliwell Jones Stadium from NRL club Melbourne Storm in 2008 but things seemed to change once Tony Smith took over. The former Leeds Rhinos boss began to utilise King's size and strength much more effectively and the Australian import was a key man in their sizzling cup run.

Moment of the Season

It wouldn't be a Super League season if Warrington weren't tipped to finally fulfill their potential and challenge for trophies. Well, in 2009 those predictions finally came true, as the Wolves lifted the Challenge Cup for the first time since 1974 with a 25-16 victory over Huddersfield Giants at Wembley. The piece of silverware was long overdue for a club that have spent big in the search for success. It was also a superb start for new coach Tony Smith, who took over at the start of March following a slow start to the campaign.

Lowlight - Four Nations final

There's little disgrace in losing to Australia but England's 46-16 defeat in the Gillette Four Nations final was still tough to take. After 50 minutes, Tony Smith's side were ahead in the contest and sensing the chance of a shock result. By full-time at Elland Road they had been blown away by the Kangaroos, who didn't spare their opponents by running in try-after-try. When the final hooter sounded, England fans could be forgiven for wondering where it had all gone and while the future looks bright with young talent coming through, it is still very much a case of so near but yet so far.

Best Performance - England beating New Zealand

England's hopes for the Four Nations final had been raised by their impressive 20-12 triumph over New Zealand - a side that had beaten them twice at the World Cup the previous year - in their final group game. Peter Fox grabbed two tries at the Galpharm Stadium but it was the pack that gained the plaudits having dominated their Kiwi rivals in a powerful display. Smith too played his part in the victory with a sneaky late change to his line-up - Kevin Sinfield selected to start at hooker to allow the selection of Sam Burgess at loose forward. The gamble paid off handsomely, England winning the war in the trenches to come out on top against the reigning world champions.

Year to remember

In the modern game where bigger seems to be better judging by the size of the players, Sam Tomkins is an exception to the norm, someone slight in frame but still capable of packing a punch with the ball in his hands. The half-back impressed so much with Wigan that he was named in Super League's Dream Team and then selected in England's Four Nations squad. With a clever footballing brain and a sidestep that can leave tacklers grasping at thin air, the 20-year-old is already one of the brightest stars in the domestic game.

Year to forget

Just three wins in front of small crowds in Bridgend was hardly the debut season the Celtic Crusaders had hoped for, though they were not helped by the fact that six of their overseas players had to leave the country midway through the campaign due to issues over their visas. The cure for the club's financial problems seemed to be a move to Newport but that fell through in the end and they eventually ended up shifting north to Wrexham - much to the disappointment of others. With little time for new coach Brian Noble to build a squad, it would seem to be a make or break year for the Welsh franchise.

Gone but not forgotten

Sam Burgess' two tries for England against Australia at Elland Road show just how much Burgess will be missed, not just by Bradford but in Super League in general. The 21-year-old will swap being a Bull to become a Rabbitoh in 2010 after deciding to make the move to the NRL sooner rather than later (particularly after Russell Crowe helped convince him). He should be a huge hit Down Under with his powerful running style and thirst for hard work.

Leon Walker,a promising forward prospect who had arrived from Salford, was playing for Wakefield's reserves against Celtic Crusaders' second string at Maesteg when he collapsed on the field. Despite being airlifted to a nearby hopsital, the 20-year-old was pronounced dead on arrival. It was the second tragedy to hit the Wildcats in quick succession after they had lost forward Adam Watene suddenly in October 2008.