The Super League Dream Team is an annually-selected rugby league All Star Team consisting of the players deemed to have been the best in their respective positions in the Super League competition. The team is selected by a panel of journalists and broadcasters at the end of each season.
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The inaugural Dream Team was selected in 1996, the competition's first season. The team is traditionally selected following the completion of the regular season, and so does not take play-off matches into account.
Dream Teams
2009
The 2009 Super League Dream Team was announced on 14 September 2009.
2010
On 6 September 2010, the Dream Team of Super League XV was announced. The team boasted four players from league leaders Wigan Warriors; including first appearances for Pat Richards, Sean O'Loughlin and Joel Tomkins, with the latter's brother Sam appearing for the second successive year. Three players came from second and third placed St. Helens and Warrington Wolves; those being Paul Wellens, James Roby and James Graham (St Helens) and Matt King, Adrian Morley ad Ben Westwood (Warrington). Two players, left wing partnership Keith Senior and Ryan Hall, were selected from Leeds Rhinos, and the team was completed by Michael Dobson of Hull Kingston Rovers. Only three of the thirteen (Richards, King and Dobson) in 2010 were imports, one of whom (Richards) had switched his allegiance to Ireland in 2008. 2010 also proved to be the first time a set of brothers (the Tomkins') have appeared in the same Dream Team.
2012
On 10 September 2012, the Dream Team for Super League XVII was announced. The team consisted of six players from league leaders Wigan Warriors, three from league runners-up Warrington Wolves, two from Catalans Dragons and one each from St Helens R.F.C. and Super League XVI winners Leeds Rhinos. Six players (Ryan Atkins, Rémi Casty, Josh Charnley, Brett Finch, Chris Hill and Gareth Hock) make their debuts in the Dream Team, while three players (James Roby, Sam Tomkins and Ben Westwood) have been selected for the fourth time with Tomkins being selected four years in a row.
2013
On 9 September 2013, the Super League XVIII Dream Team was announced at Huddersfield's John Smith's Stadium. The team was virtually made up of English players with Danny Brough who now represents Scotland at international level, although was born in Dewsbury in West Yorkshire. Brough was also one of five Huddersfield Giants players in the Dream Team, which acknowledges the club winning the League Leader's Shield. The other Huddersfield players being Eorl Crabtree, Leroy Cudjoe, Brett Ferres and Shaun Lunt.
Wigan Warriors have four players, three of which, Josh Charnley, Sean O'Loughlin and Sam Tomkins, being the only members of the 2012 Dream Team to be selected in 2013 with Tomkins now selected in the Dream Team five years in a row. The other Wigan player selected was Matty Smith
The remainder of the Dream Team consists of two players from Hull F.C. (Ben Crooks and Tom Lineham) and one each from Leeds Rhinos (Jamie Peacock) and Wakefield Trinity Wildcats (Danny Kirmond), who are the only team to have a player in the Dream Team but not involved in the play-offs. Despite finishing second in the table, no players from Warrington Wolves were selected.
2014
The first Dream Team to be made up of entirely English players. This is the first time since 2010 that Sam Tomkins does not make an appearance and a debut for Zak Hardaker, Tommy Makinson, Michael Shenton, Kallum Watkins, Kevin Brown, Daryl Clark and Carl Ablett. Jamie Peacock makes a record tenth appearance.
2015
Jamie Peacock made a record and 11th and final appearance.
2016
The 2016 Dream Team featured nine players making their first appearance.
Appearances by country
To date, 13 different countries have seen players appear in the Dream Team. Italy are the latest country to see a player appear with Mark Minichiello making the team in 2016 for Hull F.C..