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Even though both codes have rugby in their name, they are vastly different sports requiring vastly different rules and vastly different tactics.
There are some obvious differences. Rugby has 15 players, league 13, there are lineouts and scrums in rugby but neither in league. Their ‘scrum’ is a lean-to to get 12 forwards out of the action to make more room for the backs to operate.
A tackle doesn’t stop rugby momentum, setting up a ruck-maul battle to retain possession, but a tackle stops play in league to play the ball.
It’s possible, yet highly improbable, one rugby side could own possession for 80 minutes, but league possession changes hands after six tackles.
So to answer the question posed in the headline, I’ve taken the eight Rugby World Cup finals as the base, and lined up the last eight Super Rugby finals, the last eight Origins, and last eight NRL grand finals.
Rugby World Cup captains in final, followed by their position in italics
1987
All Blacks – David Kirk halfback
France – Paul Dubroca hooker
1991
Wallabies – Nick Farr-Jones halfback
England – Will Carling centre
1995
Boks – Francois Pienaar flanker
All Blacks – Sean Fitzpatrick hooker
1999
Wallabies – John Eales lock
France – Raphael Ibanez hooker
2003
England – Martin Johnson lock
Wallabies – George Gregan halfback
2007
Boks – John Smit hooker
England – Phil Vickery prop
2011
All Blacks – Richie McCaw flanker
France – Thierry Dusautoir flanker
2015
All Blacks -Richie McCaw flanker
Wallabies – Stephen Moore hooker
Super Rugby captains in final with position in italics
2008
Crusaders – Richie McCaw flanker
Waratahs – Phil Waugh flanker
2009
Bulls – Victor Matfield lock
Chiefs – Mils Muliana fullback
2010
Bulls – Victor Matfield lock
Stormers – Schalk Burger flanker
2011
Reds – James Horwill lock
Crusaders – Richie McCaw flanker
2012
Chiefs – Craig Clarke lock
Sharks – Keegan Daniel flanker
2013
Chiefs – Craig Clarke lock
Brumbies – Ben Mowen No.8
2014
Waratahs – Michael Hooper flanker
Crusaders – Kieran Read No.8
2015
Highlanders – Ben Smith fullback
Hurricanes – Conrad Smith centre
Origin captains
2008
NSW – Danny Buderus hooker
Queensland – Cameron Smith hooker
2009
NSW – Kurt Gidley fullback
Queensland – Darren Lockyer five-eighth
2010
NSW – Kurt Gidley fullback
Queensland – Darren Lockyer five-eighth
2011
NSW – Paul Gallen lock
Queensland – Darren Lockyer five-eighth
2012
NSW – Paul Gallen prop
Queensland – Cameron Smith hooker
2013
NSW – Paul Gallen prop
Queensland – Cameron Smith hooker
2014
NSW – Paul Gallen lock
Queensland – Cameron Smith hooker
2015
NSW – Paul Gallen lock
Queensland – Cameron Smith hooker
NRL grand final captains with positions in italics
2008
Manly – Matt Orford halfback
Storm – Cooper Cronk halfback
2009
Parramatta – Nathan Cayless prop
Storm – Cameron Smith hooker
2010
Dragons – Ben Hornby halfback
Roosters – Braith Anasta lock
2011
Manly – Jamie Lyon centre
Warriors – Simon Mannering second row
2012
Dogs – Michael Ennis hooker
Storm – Cameron Smith hooker
2013
Roosters – Anthony Minichiello fullback
Manly – Jamie Lyon centre
2014
Rabbits – John Sutton second row
Dogs – Trent Hodkinson halfback
2015
Cowboys – Johnathan Thurston halfback, Matt Scott prop
Broncos – Justin Hodges centre
Rugby summaries
Flankers – RWC 4 – SR 6 – Total 10
Locks – 2 – 5 – 7
Hookers – 5 – 0 – 5
Halfbacks – 3 – 0 – 3
Centres – 1 – 1 – 2
Fullbacks – 0 – 2 – 2
No 8 – 0 – 2 – 2
Props – 1 – 0 – 1
Rugby league captains
Hookers – Origin 6 – NRL 3 – Total 9
Halfbacks – 0 – 5 – 5
Locks – 3 – 1 – 4
Props – 2 – 2 – 4
Fullbacks – 2 – 1 – 3
Five-eighths – 3 – 0 – 3
Centres – 0 – 3 – 3
Second row – 0 – 2 – 2
Interesting there’s eight positional captains in both codes, with hookers the leading position overall with 14.
Rugby flankers total ten, which is a commanding stat with no flankers in league.
Rugby locks (7), and league second rows (2) are the same positions, different names.
I thought halfbacks would be higher than eight overall, being so close to the forwards and the immediate link with the backs,
So there you have it Roarers, from the elite leaders of rugby and rugby league – flankers are the most captains in rugby, hookers in rugby league.