Super League play-offs

Last updated
Super League play-offs
Founded1998
RegionFlag of England.svg England
Flag of France.svg France
Teams6
Broadcaster(s) Sky Sports
BBC
Soccerball current event.svg 2022

Since 1998, a play-off system has been used to determine the Super League champions. The format has changed over the years, starting with a play-off involving first five, then six teams, eight, four and currently back to six. The play-off series culminates in the Super League Grand Final. Use of a play-off system to decide the Championship brought back a rugby league tradition that had previously fallen out of use. The Super League Premiership, which had previously taken place between the highest placed teams in the competition, was discontinued after the introduction of the Super League play-off series. This was because its purpose had been to take the place of the previous Championship-deciding play-off system.

Contents

Current play-off system

2021–present

Elimination play-offsSemi-finalsGrand final
1  
3   
6   
 
2  
4   
5  

Previous play-off systems

1998–2001, 2019: top five

The top-five play-off system was previously used between 1998 and 2005 and again in 2019. The same system was used in the NSWRL's Sydney Competition 1973–1994, the Australian Super League in its only season 1997, the VFL 1972–1990 and New Zealand's Lion Red Cup 1994–1996, and Bartercard Cup 2000–2006.

From week two on the top-five play-offs system reflected exactly the Page playoff system.

2002–2008: top six

From Super League VII in 2002 until Super League XIII in 2008, a play-off series involving the top six teams was used to determine the winners the Super League champions. Excluding the Grand Final, all matches were staged at the home ground of the team that finished higher in the final league table.

A similar system was used by the Australian National Soccer League and the A-League to decide its champions. From Week Two onwards, the top-six play-offs system reflects exactly the Page playoff system.

2009–2014: top eight

For the Super League XIV season in 2009, a top-eight play-off system was introduced to replace the previous top-six system. [1] This change coincided with an expansion of the competition from twelve to fourteen teams following the introduction of Super League licensing. The format was introduced following consultation and discussion with all 14 member clubs in Super League. The series lasted four weeks, culminating in the Grand Final [1] at Old Trafford during October.

Super League 8 team play-off bracket
Qualifying/Elimination playoffsPreliminary semifinalsQualifying semifinals Super League Grand Final
1
4
5
8
6
7
2
3

Week 1. Qualifying/Elimination play-offs: Fixtures decided by regular reason finishing positions. Higher ranked teams play lower ranked teams. Higher ranked teams receive home ground advantage.
Week 2. Preliminary semi-finals: Fixtures decided by regular season finishing positions. Higher ranked teams play lower ranked teams. Higher ranked teams receive home ground advantage.
Week 3. Qualifying semi-finals: Winners of Qualifying play-offs play winners of Qualifying semi-finals. Fixtures decided by Club Call. Winners of Qualifying play-offs receive home ground advantage.

FAQs:

No. The highest ranked winning club from Week 1 will have club call, whereby they choose their opponents in week 3. Only a team that ended the regular season in 1st, 2nd or 3rd can win club call.
No. The two highest rank teams after Week 1 (the team with club call and the other qualifying play-off winners) are guaranteed home advantage in week 3. For example, should the teams that ended the regular season in 1st and 2nd place lose their opening play-off match, they could still find themselves playing away to the 3rd or 4th placed teams in week 3.
The highest ranked club from the Qualifying Play-offs (Week 1) must choose their opponents – they cannot relinquish the responsibility to the other Qualifying Play-offs winner. In addition, they can only select from the winners of the two Preliminary Semi-finals (Week 2) – they cannot choose the other Qualifying Play-offs winner.

2015–2018: top four

The top-four play-off system was the most simple since their introduction in 1998. The top four teams qualify, the League Leaders play at home to 4th, 2nd then play at home to 3rd with the winners of both semi finals advancing to the Grand Final.

Semifinals Finals
      
1 1st
4 4th
Winner of semi-final 1
Winner of semi-final 2
2 2nd
3 3rd

The same system was used in the Championship Series of Indonesia's Liga 1 2023–24.

2020: modified top six

A different version of playoffs using the top six teams was introduced.

Elimination play-offsSemi-finalsGrand final
1  
3   
6   
 
2  
4   
5  

Play-off appearancess

Only St. Helens have competed in every play-off series since 1998.

NameAppsFive Team Format
1998-2001, 2019		Six Team Format
2002-2008, 2020 onward		Eight Team Format
2009-2014		Four Team Format
2015-2018
1 Saintscolours.svg St. Helens 281998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 20192002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 20252009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 20142015, 2016, 2017, 2018
2 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos 231998, 1999, 2000, 20012002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2020, 2021, 2022, 20252009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 20142015, 2017
2 Wigancolours.svg Wigan Warriors 251998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 20192002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 20252009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 20142015, 2016, 2018
4 Wolvescolours.svg Warrington Wolves 1620192003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2020, 2021, 2023, 20242010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 20142016, 2018
5 Hullcolours.svg Hull F.C. 1320012002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 20202010, 2011, 20122016, 2017
6 Bullscolours.svg Bradford Bulls 111998, 1999, 2000, 20012002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
7 Catalanscolours.svg Catalans Dragons 102008, 2020, 2021, 2022, 20232009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
8 Giantscolours.svg Huddersfield Giants 92007, 20222009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 20142015
9 Castleford colours.svg Castleford Tigers 81999, 2000, 201920022009, 20142017, 2018
10 HKRcolours.svg Hull Kingston Rovers 82021, 2023, 2024, 20252009, 2010, 2011, 2013
11 Redscolours.svg Salford Red Devils 420192006, 2022, 2024
11 Wcatscolours.svg Wakefield Trinity 42004, 20252009, 2012
13 Broncoscolours.png London Broncos 22003, 2005
13 Leigh colours.svg Leigh Leopards 22023, 2024, 2025
15 Faxcolours.svg Halifax 11998
15 Cruscolours.svg Crusaders 12010
15 Widnes colours.svg Widnes Vikings 12014

Bold – won the grand final

Play-off results

NameBest ResultAppsYears
1 Saintscolours.svg St. Helens Champions91999, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2014, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
1 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos Champions82004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017
3 Wigancolours.svg Wigan Warriors Champions71998, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2023, 2024
4 Bullscolours.svg Bradford Bulls Champions32001, 2003, 2005
5 Wolvescolours.svg Warrington Wolves Grand Finalist42012, 2013, 2016, 2018
6 Catalanscolours.svg Catalans Dragons Grand Finalist22021, 2023
7 Hullcolours.svg Hull F.C. Grand Finalist12006
7 Castleford colours.svg Castleford Tigers Grand Finalist12017
7 Redscolours.svg Salford Red Devils Grand Finalist12019
7 HKRcolours.svg Hull Kingston Rovers Grand Finalist12024
11 Giantscolours.svg Huddersfield Giants Semi-final22010, 2015
12 Faxcolours.svg Halifax Semi-Final Eliminator11998
12 Wcatscolours.svg Wakefield Trinity Semi-Final Eliminator12004
14 Broncoscolours.png London Broncos Elimination Play-off22003, 2005
15 Cruscolours.svg Crusaders Elimination Play-off12010
15 Widnes colours.svg Widnes Vikings Elimination Play-off12014

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "New top eight play-off format for engage Super League". Super League. Archived from the original on 2009-10-04. Retrieved 2009-09-19.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.