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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.
| Most recent season or competition: 2024 Super League season | |
| Sport | Rugby league |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1996 |
| No. of teams | 12 |
| Countries |  England France |
| Most recent champion(s) |  Wigan Warriors (7th title) |
| Most titles |  St Helens (10 titles) |
| Relegation to | Championship |
| Domestic cup(s) | Challenge Cup |
| International cup(s) | World Club Challenge |
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.[a] The League Leaders have been recognised with their own trophy since 2003.
Seasons
editTeam performances
editSeason overview
edit
Grand Finals
edit| Year | Champions | Score | Runner Up | Venue | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Wigan
|
10–4 |  Leeds
|
Old Trafford | 43,533 |
| 1999 | St Helens
|
8–6 |  Bradford
|
 50,717
| |
| 2000 | St Helens
|
29–16 | Wigan
|
58,132
| |
| 2001 | Bradford
|
37–6 | Wigan
|
60,164
| |
| 2002 | St Helens
|
19–18 | Bradford
|
61,138
| |
| 2003 | Bradford
|
25–12 | Wigan
|
65,537
| |
| 2004 | Leeds
|
16–8 | Bradford
|
65,547
| |
| 2005 | Bradford
|
15–6 | Leeds
|
65,728
| |
| 2006 | St Helens
|
26–4 |  Hull F.C.
|
72,575
| |
| 2007 | Leeds
|
33–6 | St Helens
|
 71,352
| |
| 2008 | Leeds
|
24–16 | St Helens
|
68,810
| |
| 2009 | Leeds
|
18–10 | St Helens
|
63,259
| |
| 2010 | Wigan
|
22–10 | St Helens
|
71,526
| |
| 2011 | Leeds
|
32–16 | St Helens
|
69,107
| |
| 2012 | Leeds
|
26–18 |  Warrington
|
70,676
| |
| 2013 | Wigan
|
30–16 | Warrington
|
66,281
| |
| 2014 | St Helens
|
14–6 | Wigan
|
70,102
| |
| 2015 | Leeds
|
22–20 | Wigan
|
73,512
| |
| 2016 | Wigan
|
12–6 | Warrington
|
70,202
| |
| 2017 | Leeds
|
24–6 |  Castleford
|
72,827
| |
| 2018 | Wigan
|
12–4 | Warrington
|
64,892
| |
| 2019 | St Helens
|
23–6 |  Salford
|
64,102
| |
| 2020 | St Helens
|
8–4 | Wigan
|
KCOM Stadium | 0[a]
|
| 2021 | St Helens
|
12–10 |  Catalans
|
Old Trafford | 45,177
|
| 2022 | St Helens
|
24–12 | Leeds
|
60,783
| |
| 2023 | Wigan
|
10–2 | Catalans
|
58,137
| |
| 2024 | Wigan
|
9–2 |  Hull KR
|
68,173
|
Individual performances
editTop scorers
editMan of Steel
editThe 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.
Harry Sunderland Trophy / Rob Burrow Award winner
editThe Harry Sunderland Trophy was awarded to the Man of the Match of the Super League Grand Final. The award predated the Super League and was previously awarded to the Man of the Match of the Rugby League Premiership Final. From the 2024 season, the honour was renamed to the Rob Burrow Award in tribute to the former Leeds and Great Britain scrum-half who had raised awareness and funds for charity after being diagnosed with motor neuron disease.[4]
League structure
editThroughout 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.
| Year | No. teams | Champions | Play-offs | Relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 12 | League position | None | League position: Bottom place relegated to First Division |
| 1997 | ||||
| 1998 | Grand Final | Top 5 | No 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[a] | |||
| 2006 | League position: Bottom place relegated to National League One[b] | |||
| 2007 | ||||
| 2008 | Licensing: Participating clubs decided by centrally awarded licenses | |||
| 2009 | 14 | Top 8 | ||
| 2010 | ||||
| 2011 | ||||
| 2012 | ||||
| 2013 | ||||
| 2014 | League position: Bottom two relegated to Championship[c] | |||
| 2015 | 12[d] | Super 8s: Top 4 |
Super 8s Qualifiers: Bottom three and Million Pound Game losers relegated to Championship | |
| 2016 | ||||
| 2017 | ||||
| 2018 | ||||
| 2019 | 12 | Top 5 | League position: Bottom place relegated to Championship | |
| 2020 | 12[e] | Top 6[f] | No relegation[g] | |
| 2021 | 12 | Top 6 | League position: Bottom place relegated to Championship | |
| 2022 | ||||
| 2023 | ||||
| 2024 | IMG Grading: Clubs graded and ranked annually with top 12 eligible for Super League |
- ^ Two teams relegated rather than one to allow Catalans to join in 2006[8]
- ^ Catalans exempt from relegation for their first two seasons in Super League
- ^ Two teams relegated to transition to a 12-team league
- ^ Reducing to 8 teams in the Super League Super 8s partway through the season, with the bottom 4 competing in The Qualifiers
- ^ Reduced to 11 following the withdrawal of Toronto midseason
- ^ Play-off structure amended due to COVID-19 disruption
- ^ Relegation was cancelled due to significant financial and operational challenges caused by COVID-19 disruption[9]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ "Sam Tomkins named 2021's Super League Man of Steel; Steve McNamara Coach of Year; Jack Welsby Young Player of Year".
- ^ "Brodie Croft named 2022 Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel".
- ^ "Bevan French named 2023 Steve Prescott MBE Betfred Super League Man of Steel".
- ^ "Rob Burrow: Super League Grand Final award renamed after former player". BBC Sport. 7 February 2024. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
- ^ McLaughlin, Luke (9 October 2021). "St Helens beat Catalans Dragons to win third straight Super League – as it happened". The Guardian.
- ^ "REACTION: Harry Sunderland Winner Lomax and Try scorer Percival on historic win!". 24 September 2022.
- ^ "Harry Sunderland Trophy winner revealed as Wigan Warriors overcome Catalans Dragons". 14 October 2023.
- ^ "Two clubs face drop in 2005". BBC Sport. 16 July 2004. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
- ^ "No Super League relegation for 2020 season". Sky Sports. 21 July 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2024.