League Leaders' Shield

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League Leaders' Shield
Bibby.jpg
Wigan player Jake Bibby holding the League Leaders' Shield and wearing the associated medal, 2020
CountryFlag of England.svg  England
Flag of France.svg  France
Presented by Super League
History
First award2003
Most wins Saintscolours.svg St. Helens
(8 titles)
Most recent 2023
Wigancolours.svg Wigan Warriors
(4th title)

The League Leaders' Shield [1] is a trophy awarded to the team finishing the season top of Super League in the sport of rugby league football.

Contents

The trophy was first awarded in 2003 in recognition of the regular season achievement. Due to the presence of playoff in Super League, teams winning the shield are not season champions.

History

From 1907 until 1973 the Championship was awarded to the team winning a top-four play-off (excluding the 2 seasons 1962–63 and 1963–64, when the championship was awarded to the top-placed team). From 1907 to 1962 no prize was awarded to the team finishing top. From 1965 to 1973 a 'League Leaders' Trophy' was introduced to reward the team finishing top. In 1996, Super League was formed but continued to use the league to decide the champions until 1998, when they adopted a play-off structure for the championship.

The League Leaders' Shield was first awarded in 2003. Between 1998 and 2002 the league leaders were not awarded a trophy. In 1996 and 1997 the League Leaders were declared champions as the Grand Final was not introduced until 1998.

From 2015 to 2017, League Leaders' Shield winners would participate in the short lived World Club Series.

2015 also saw the prize money inecrease from £50,000 to £100,000.

In 2016, the League Leaders were awarded medals for the first time.

Shield winners

YearLeague leadersPtsRunners upPts
2003 Bullscolours.svg Bradford Bulls 44 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos 41
2004 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos 50 Bullscolours.svg Bradford Bulls 41
2005 Saintscolours.svg St. Helens 47 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos 44
2006 Saintscolours.svg St. Helens 48 Hullcolours.svg Hull F.C. 40
2007 Saintscolours.svg St. Helens 38 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos 37
2008 Saintscolours.svg St. Helens 43 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos 42
2009 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos 42 Saintscolours.svg St Helens 38
2010 Wigancolours.svg Wigan Warriors 44 Saintscolours.svg St Helens 40
2011 Wolvescolours.svg Warrington Wolves 44 Wigancolours.svg Wigan Warriors 43
2012 Wigancolours.svg Wigan Warriors 42 Wolvescolours.svg Warrington Wolves 41
2013 Giantscolours.svg Huddersfield Giants 42 Wolvescolours.svg Warrington Wolves 41
2014 Saintscolours.svg St. Helens 38 Wigancolours.svg Wigan Warriors 37
2015 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos 41 Wigancolours.svg Wigan Warriors 41
2016 Wolvescolours.svg Warrington Wolves 43 Wigancolours.svg Wigan Warriors 42
2017 Castleford colours.svg Castleford Tigers 50 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos 40
2018 Saintscolours.svg St. Helens 42 Wigancolours.svg Wigan Warriors 32
2019 Saintscolours.svg St. Helens 52 Wigancolours.svg Wigan Warriors 36
2020 Wigancolours.svg Wigan Warriors 76.47a Saintscolours.svg St. Helens 70.59a
2021 Catalanscolours.svg Catalans Dragons 82.61a Saintscolours.svg St. Helens 76.19a
2022 Saintscolours.svg St. Helens 42 Wigancolours.svg Wigan Warriors 38
2023 Wigancolours.svg Wigan Warriors 40 Catalanscolours.svg Catalans Dragons 40

Winners

ClubWinsWinning years
Saintscolours.svg St. Helens 8 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2022
Wigancolours.svg Wigan Warriors 4 2010, 2012, 2020, 2023
Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos 3 2004, 2009, 2015
Wolvescolours.svg Warrington Wolves 2 2011, 2016
Bullscolours.svg Bradford Bulls 1 2003
Giantscolours.svg Huddersfield Giants 1 2013
Castleford colours.svg Castleford Tigers 1 2017
Catalanscolours.svg Catalans Dragons 1 2021

The Treble

The Treble refers to the team who wins all three domestic honours on offer during the season; Grand Final, League Leaders' Shield and Challenge Cup. To date six teams have won the treble, and only Bradford Bulls, St. Helens and Leeds Rhinos have won the treble in the Super League era.

Note: Includes teams prior to the formal awarding of a league leaders' shield.

ClubWinsWinning years
1 Wigancolours.svg Wigan Warriors 31991–92, 1993–94, 1994–95
2 Giantscolours.svg Huddersfield Giants 21912–13, 1914–15
3 Saintscolours.svg St. Helens 21965–66, 2006
4 Swintoncolours.svg Swinton Lions 11927–28
5 Bullscolours.svg Bradford Bulls 12003
6 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos 12015

The Quadruple

The Quadruple (not an official name) refers to winning the Super League, League Leaders' Shield, Challenge Cup, and World Club Challenge in one season.

Note: Includes teams prior to the formal awarding of a league leaders' shield.

Note: Since the switch to summer rugby, the Word Club Challenge can only be won the season after the treble.

ClubWinsWinning years
1 Wigancolours.svg Wigan 11994–95
2 Bullscolours.svg Bradford 12003–04
3 Saintscolours.svg St Helens 12006–07

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Wilson, Andy (July 16, 2009). "Battle for Super League play-offs can pull in the fans". The Guardian . Archived from the original on August 1, 2009. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
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