List of Super League seasons

Last updated

Super League
Current season, competition or edition:
Rugby football current event.svg 2024 Super League season
Sport Rugby league
Founded1996;28 years ago (1996)
No. of teams12
CountriesFlag of England.svg  England
Flag of France.svg  France
Most recent
champion(s)		 Wigancolours.svg Wigan Warriors
(6th title)
Most titles Saintscolours.svg St Helens
(10 titles)
Relegation to Championship
Domestic cup(s) Challenge Cup
International cup(s) World Club Challenge

The Super League is the top tier rugby league competition for teams in Great Britain. It was formed in 1996 replacing the Rugby Football League First Division which was the top tier in Britain from 1895 to 1996.

Contents

Since 1998, the winner of the Super League has been determined by a play-off series at the end of each season, culminating in a Grand Final at the Old Trafford. Four teams have won the Grand Final during the history of the Super League, with the Wigan Warriors being the current holders. St Helens are the most successful team in the Super League era, with ten titles. In the first two seasons of Super League, the champion was determined by league position at the end of the season.

The participants of the play-off series are determined by the league position of teams at the end of the regular season. The team at the top the Super League table at the end of the regular season are awarded with the League Leaders Shield. The Wigan Warriors are the current holders of the League Leaders Shield, while St Helens hold the record for most Shields with nine. [lower-alpha 1] The League Leaders have been recognised with their own trophy since 2003.

Seasons

Team Performances

Season Overview

YearChampionsLeague LeadersRelegatedPromoted
1996 Saintscolours.svg St Helens [lower-alpha 2] (1) Workingtoncolours.svg Workington Redscolours.svg Salford
1997 Bullscolours.svg Bradford [lower-alpha 2] (1) Oldhamcolours.svg Oldham
France colours.svg Paris St Germain [lower-alpha 3] 		Hullcolours.svg Hull F.C.
Giantscolours.svg Huddersfield
1998 Wigancolours.svg Wigan (1) Wigancolours.svg Wigan (1)None Gthundercolours.svg Gateshead [lower-alpha 3]
Wcatscolours.svg Wakefield
1999 Saintscolours.svg St Helens (2) Bullscolours.svg Bradford (1)None
2000 Saintscolours.svg St Helens (3) Wigancolours.svg Wigan (2)
2001 Bullscolours.svg Bradford (2) Bullscolours.svg Bradford (2) Giantscolours.svg Huddersfield Widnes colours.svg Widnes
2002 Saintscolours.svg St Helens (4) Saintscolours.svg St Helens (1) Redscolours.svg Salford Giantscolours.svg Huddersfield
2003 Bullscolours.svg Bradford (3) Bullscolours.svg Bradford (3) Faxcolours.svg Halifax Redscolours.svg Salford
2004 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds (1) Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds (1) Castleford colours.svg Castleford Leigh colours.svg Leigh
2005 Bullscolours.svg Bradford (4) Saintscolours.svg St Helens (2) Leigh colours.svg Leigh
Widnes colours.svg Widnes 		Castleford colours.svg Castleford
Catalanscolours.svg Catalans [lower-alpha 3]
2006 Saintscolours.svg St Helens (5) Saintscolours.svg St Helens (3) Castleford colours.svg Castleford HKRcolours.svg Hull Kingston Rovers
2007 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds (2) Saintscolours.svg St Helens (4) Redscolours.svg Salford Castleford colours.svg Castleford
2008 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds (3) Saintscolours.svg St Helens (5)None Cruscolours.svg Crusaders [lower-alpha 3]
Redscolours.svg Salford [lower-alpha 3]
2009 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds (4) Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds (2)None
2010 Wigancolours.svg Wigan (2) Wigancolours.svg Wigan (3)
2011 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds (5) Wolvescolours.svg Warrington (1) Cruscolours.svg Crusaders [lower-alpha 3] Widnes colours.svg Widnes [lower-alpha 3]
2012 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds (6) Wigancolours.svg Wigan (4)NoneNone
2013 Wigancolours.svg Wigan (3) Giantscolours.svg Huddersfield (1)
2014 Saintscolours.svg St Helens (6) Saintscolours.svg St Helens (6) Bullscolours.svg Bradford
Broncoscolours.png London
2015 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds (7) Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds (3)None
2016 Wigancolours.svg Wigan (4) Wolvescolours.svg Warrington (2) HKRcolours.svg Hull Kingston Rovers Leigh colours.svg Leigh
2017 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds (8) Castleford colours.svg Castleford (1) Leigh colours.svg Leigh HKRcolours.svg Hull Kingston Rovers
2018 Wigancolours.svg Wigan (5) Saintscolours.svg St Helens (7) Widnes colours.svg Widnes Broncoscolours.png London
2019 Saintscolours.svg St Helens (7) Saintscolours.svg St Helens (8) Broncoscolours.png London New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg Toronto
2020 Saintscolours.svg St Helens (8) Wigancolours.svg Wigan (5) New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg Toronto [lower-alpha 3] Leigh colours.svg Leigh [lower-alpha 3]
2021 Saintscolours.svg St Helens (9) Catalanscolours.svg Catalans (1) Leigh colours.svg Leigh ToulouseRLcolours.png Toulouse
2022 Saintscolours.svg St Helens (10) Saintscolours.svg St Helens (9) ToulouseRLcolours.png Toulouse Leigh colours.svg Leigh
2023 Wigancolours.svg Wigan (6) Wigancolours.svg Wigan (6) Wcatscolours.svg Wakefield Broncoscolours.png London
  1. ↑ This figure includes St Helens' first-placed finish in 2002 which took place before the League Leaders Shield trophy began being awarded.
  2. 1 2 Champions decided by league table
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Elected in/out of the league without promotion/relegation via league performance

Grand Finals

YearChampionsScoreRunner UpVenueAttendance
1998 Wigancolours.svg Wigan 10–4 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Old Trafford 43,533
1999 Saintscolours.svg St Helens 8–6 Bullscolours.svg Bradford Increase2.svg 50,717
2000 Saintscolours.svg St Helens 29–16 Wigancolours.svg Wigan Increase2.svg 58,132
2001 Bullscolours.svg Bradford 37–6 Wigancolours.svg Wigan Increase2.svg 60,164
2002 Saintscolours.svg St Helens 19–18 Bullscolours.svg Bradford Increase2.svg 61,138
2003 Bullscolours.svg Bradford 25–12 Wigancolours.svg Wigan Increase2.svg 65,537
2004 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds 16–8 Bullscolours.svg Bradford Increase2.svg 65,547
2005 Bullscolours.svg Bradford 15–6 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Increase2.svg 65,728
2006 Saintscolours.svg St Helens 26–4 Hullcolours.svg Hull F.C. Increase2.svg 72,575
2007 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds 33–6 Saintscolours.svg St Helens Decrease2.svg 71,352
2008 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds 24–16 Saintscolours.svg St Helens Decrease2.svg 68,810
2009 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds 18–10 Saintscolours.svg St Helens Decrease2.svg 63,259
2010 Wigancolours.svg Wigan 22–10 Saintscolours.svg St Helens Increase2.svg 71,526
2011 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds 32–16 Saintscolours.svg St Helens Decrease2.svg 69,107
2012 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds 26–18 Wolvescolours.svg Warrington Increase2.svg 70,676
2013 Wigancolours.svg Wigan 30–16 Wolvescolours.svg Warrington Decrease2.svg 66,281
2014 Saintscolours.svg St Helens 14–6 Wigancolours.svg Wigan Increase2.svg 70,102
2015 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds 22-20 Wigancolours.svg Wigan Increase2.svg 73,512
2016 Wigancolours.svg Wigan 12-6 Wolvescolours.svg Warrington Decrease2.svg 70,202
2017 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds 24-6 Castleford colours.svg Castleford Increase2.svg 72,827
2018 Wigancolours.svg Wigan 12-4 Wolvescolours.svg Warrington Decrease2.svg 64,892
2019 Saintscolours.svg St Helens 23-6 Redscolours.svg Salford Decrease2.svg 64,102
2020 Saintscolours.svg St Helens 8-4 Wigancolours.svg Wigan KCOM Stadium Decrease2.svg 0 [lower-alpha 1]
2021 Saintscolours.svg St Helens 12-10 Catalanscolours.svg Catalans Old Trafford Increase2.svg 45,177
2022 Saintscolours.svg St Helens 24-12 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Increase2.svg 60,783
2023 Wigancolours.svg Wigan 10-2 Catalanscolours.svg Catalans Decrease2.svg 58,137
  1. ↑ Behind closed doors due to COVID-19 restrictions

Individual Performances

Top Scorers

YearTriesPoints
PlayerClubTriesPlayerClubPoints
1996 Paul Newlove Saintscolours.svg St. Helens 28 Bobbie Goulding Saintscolours.svg St. Helens 257
1997 Nigel Vagana Wolvescolours.svg Warrington 17 Andrew Farrell Wigancolours.svg Wigan 243
1998 Anthony Sullivan Saintscolours.svg St. Helens 20 Iestyn Harris Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds 255
1999 Toa Kohe-Love Wolvescolours.svg Warrington 25 Iestyn Harris Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds 325
2000 Sean Long
Tommy Martyn 		Saintscolours.svg St. Helens

Saintscolours.svg St. Helens

22 Sean Long Saintscolours.svg St. Helens 352
2001 Kris Radlinski Wigancolours.svg Wigan 27 Andrew Farrell Wigancolours.svg Wigan 388
2002 Dennis Moran Broncoscolours.png London 22 Paul Deacon Bullscolours.svg Bradford 301
2003 Dennis Moran Broncoscolours.png London 24 Paul Deacon Bullscolours.svg Bradford 286
2004 Lesley Vainikolo Bullscolours.svg Bradford 36 Kevin Sinfield Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds 277
2005 Mark Calderwood Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds 27 Paul Deacon Bullscolours.svg Bradford 322
2006 Justin Murphy Catalanscolours.svg Catalans 25 Jamie Lyon Saintscolours.svg St. Helens 316
2007 Henry Fa'afili Wolvescolours.svg Warrington 21 Pat Richards Wigancolours.svg Wigan 248
2008 Ade Gardner Saintscolours.svg St. Helens 26 Pat Richards Wigancolours.svg Wigan 269
2009 Ryan Hall Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds 29 Pat Richards Wigancolours.svg Wigan 252
2010 Pat Richards Wigancolours.svg Wigan 29 Pat Richards Wigancolours.svg Wigan 388
2011 Ryan Hall Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds 28 Jamie Foster Saintscolours.svg St. Helens 330
2012 Josh Charnley Wigancolours.svg Wigan 31 Scott Dureau Catalanscolours.svg Catalans 281
2013 Josh Charnley Wigancolours.svg Wigan 33 Danny Brough Giantscolours.svg Huddersfield 281
2014 Joel Monaghan Wolvescolours.svg Warrington 28 Marc Sneyd Castleford colours.svg Castleford 224
2015 Jermaine McGillvary Giantscolours.svg Huddersfield 27 Luke Gale Castleford colours.svg Castleford 247
2016 Denny Solomona Castleford colours.svg Castleford 40 Luke Gale Castleford colours.svg Castleford 262
2017 Greg Eden Castleford colours.svg Castleford 38 Luke Gale Castleford colours.svg Castleford 317
2018 Ben Barba Saintscolours.svg St. Helens 28 Danny Richardson Saintscolours.svg St. Helens 296
2019 Tommy Makinson Saintscolours.svg St. Helens 23 Lachlan Coote Saintscolours.svg St. Helens 247
2020 Ash Handley Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds 15 Lachlan Coote Saintscolours.svg St. Helens 152

Man of Steel

The Man of Steel Award is given to the Super League Player of the Season. Various methods of determining the seasons best player have been employed throughout the awards history. The current method involves points being designated to players by a select panel following each fixture. The award is also known as the Steve Prescott Man of Steel, posthumously named after the former St Helens player who established the Steve Prescott Foundation to raise money for cancer research whilst fighting his own battle with cancer, which he tragically lost in 2013.

YearNatPlayerClub
1996 Flag of England.svg Andy Farrell Wigancolours.svg Wigan
1997 Flag of England.svg James Lowes Bullscolours.svg Bradford
1998 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Iestyn Harris Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds
1999 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Adrian Vowles Cascolours.png Castleford
2000 Flag of England.svg Sean Long Saintscolours.svg St. Helens
2001 Flag of England.svg Paul Sculthorpe Saintscolours.svg St. Helens
2002 Flag of England.svg Paul Sculthorpe Saintscolours.svg St. Helens
2003 Flag of England.svg Jamie Peacock Bullscolours.svg Bradford
2004 Flag of England.svg Andy Farrell Wigancolours.svg Wigan
2005 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jamie Lyon Saintscolours.svg St. Helens
2006 Flag of England.svg Paul Wellens Saintscolours.svg St. Helens
2007 Flag of England.svg James Roby Saintscolours.svg St. Helens
2008 Flag of England.svg James Graham Saintscolours.svg St. Helens
2009 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brett Hodgson Giantscolours.svg Huddersfield
2010 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Pat Richards Wigancolours.svg Wigan
2011 Flag of New Zealand.svg Rangi Chase Cascolours.png Castleford
2012 Flag of England.svg Sam Tomkins Wigancolours.svg Wigan
2013 Flag of Scotland.svg Danny Brough Giantscolours.svg Huddersfield
2014 Flag of England.svg Daryl Clark Cascolours.png Castleford
2015 Flag of England.svg Zak Hardaker Rhinoscolours.png Leeds
2016 Flag of England.svg Danny Houghton Hullcolours.svg Hull
2017 Flag of England.svg Luke Gale Cascolours.png Castleford
2018 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ben Barba Saintscolours.svg St. Helens
2019 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jackson Hastings Redscolours.svg Salford
2020 Flag of England.svg Paul McShane Castleford colours.svg Castleford
2021 Flag of England.svg Sam Tomkins Catalanscolours.svg Catalans [1]
2022 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brodie Croft Redscolours.svg Salford [2]
2023 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bevan French Wigancolours.svg Wigan [3]

Harry Sunderland Trophy Winner

The Harry Sunderland Trophy is awarded to the Man of the Match of the Super League Grand Final. The award predates Super League and was previously awarded to the Man of the Match of the Rugby League Premiership Final.

YearNatPlayerClub
1996 Flag of England.svg Andrew Farrell[a] Wigancolours.svg Wigan
1997 Flag of England.svg Andrew Farrell[a] Wigancolours.svg Wigan
1998 Flag of England.svg Jason Robinson Wigancolours.svg Wigan
1999 Flag of New Zealand.svg Henry Paul† Bullscolours.svg Bradford
2000 Flag of England.svg Chris Joynt Saintscolours.svg St. Helens
2001 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Michael Withers Bullscolours.svg Bradford
2002 Flag of England.svg Paul Deacon† Bullscolours.svg Bradford
2003 Flag of England.svg Stuart Reardon Bullscolours.svg Bradford
2004 Flag of England.svg Matt Diskin Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds
2005 Flag of England.svg Leon Pryce Bullscolours.svg Bradford
2006 Flag of England.svg Paul Wellens Saintscolours.svg St. Helens
2007 Flag of England.svg Rob Burrow Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds
2008 Flag of England.svg Lee Smith Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds
2009 Flag of England.svg Kevin Sinfield Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds
2010 Flag of New Zealand.svg Thomas Leuluai Wigancolours.svg Wigan
2011 Flag of England.svg Rob Burrow Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds
2012 Flag of England.svg Kevin Sinfield Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds
2013 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Blake Green Wigancolours.svg Wigan
2014 Flag of England.svg James Roby Saintscolours.svg St. Helens
2015 Flag of England.svg Danny McGuire Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds
2016 Flag of England.svg Liam Farrell Wigancolours.svg Wigan
2017 Flag of England.svg Danny McGuire Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds
2018 Flag of England.svg Stefan Ratchford† Wolvescolours.svg Warrington
2019 Flag of England.svg Luke Thompson Saintscolours.svg St. Helens
2020 Flag of England.svg James Roby Saintscolours.svg St. Helens
2021 Flag of Fiji.svg Kevin Naiqama Saintscolours.svg St. Helens [4]
2022 Flag of England.svg Jonny Lomax Saintscolours.svg St. Helens [5]
2023 Flag of England.svg Jake Wardle Wigancolours.svg Wigan [6]

† = denotes a player who won the trophy but played on the losing team in the final.

a: Award won in Premiership Final inside Super League Era.

League Structure

Throughout the history of Super League, the competition has been structured in various formats effecting awarding of championships, participation in play-off series, and inclusion in the league itself.

YearNo. TeamChampionsPlay-OffsRelegation
1996 12League PositionNoneLeague Position: Bottom place relegated to First Division
1997
1998 Grand FinalTop 5No Relegation
1999 14
2000 12
2001 League Position: Bottom place relegated to National League One
2002 Top 6
2003
2004
2005 League Position: Bottom two relegated to National League One
2006 League Position: Bottom place relegated to National League One[a]
2007
2008 No Relegation
2009 14Top 8 Licensing
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015 12 Super 8's:

Top 4 of Top 8

 Super 8's:

Bottom 3 of Middle 8 and Million Pound Game Loser relegated to Championship

2016
2017
2018
2019 Top 5League Position: Bottom place relegated to Championship
2020 12[b]Top 6[c]No relegation[b]

See also

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References

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