Super League play-offs

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.

Super League play-offs
Founded1998
Region England
 France
Number of teams6
Television broadcastersSky Sports
BBC
2022

Current play-Off system

2020–present: modified top six

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

The top-six Super League play-off structure:

Week one

  • Elimination Semi-final A: 3rd vs 6th
  • Elimination Semi-final B: 4th vs 5th

Week two

  • Semi-final 1: 1st vs winner of ESFA
  • Semi-final 2: 2nd vs winner of ESFB


Week three

  • Grand final: winners of semi-final 1 vs winners of semi-final 2


Elimination play-offs Semi-finals Grand final
1  
3    
6    
 
2  
4    
5  

Grand final

Stadium Location Country Highest attendance Average attendance
Old TraffordTrafford, Greater ManchesterEngland73,58164,561

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.

The top-five Super League play-off structure:

Week one

  • Qualification Final: 2nd vs 3rd
  • Elimination Final: 4th vs 5th
  • Bye: 1st

Week two

  • Major Semi-final: 1st vs winners of qualification final
  • Minor Semi-final: losers of qualification final vs winners of elimination final

Week three

  • Preliminary Final: losers of major semi-final vs winners of minor semi-final
  • Bye: Winners of major semi-final

Week four

  • Grand final: winners of major semi-final vs winners of preliminary final

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.

The top-six Super League play-off structure:

Week one

  • Elimination semi-final A: 3rd vs 6th
  • Elimination semi-final B: 4th vs 5th

Week two

  • Qualification match: 1st vs 2nd
  • Elimination final: winners of elimination semi-final A vs winners of elimination semi-final B

Week three

  • Final qualifier: losers of qualification match vs winners of elimination final

Week four

  • Grand final: winners of qualification match vs winners of final qualifier

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.

  • Week 1
Four matches took place on Week One, effectively in two pools: the Qualifying Play-Offs and the Elimination Play-Offs.
  • Week 1: Qualifying Play-Offs
These matches involved the teams who finish in the top four.
They were:
  • 1st v 4th
  • 2nd v 3rd
The winners of these two games progressed directly to Week 3. The highest ranked winning club earned Club Call, whereby they chose their opponents in Week 3.
The losers of these two matches received another chance in Week 2 when they were at home to the winners of the Week 1 Elimination Play-Offs.
  • Week 1: Elimination Play-Offs
These matches involved the teams who finish from fourth through eighth.
They were:
  • 5th v 8th
  • 6th v 7th
The winners of both matches progressed to Week 2; losers were eliminated.
  • Week 2: Preliminary Semi-Finals
There were two matches in Week 2; the winner of each match progressed to Week 3 and the loser was eliminated.
  • The first Preliminary Semi-Final featured the highest ranked Qualifying Play-Off loser (from Week 1) v the lowest ranked Elimination Play-Off Winner (also from Week 1).
  • The second Preliminary Semi-Final featured the lowest ranked Qualifying Play-Off loser (from Week 1) v the highest ranked Elimination Play-Off Winner (also from Week 1).
  • Week 3
Week 3 also featured two matches; the winner of each match progresses to the grand final and the loser is eliminated.
  • Week 3: club call
Club call took place following the second weekend of the play-offs and was hosted by the highest ranked winning club from Week 1.
The host club selected whom they would play in Week 3, and could only select from the winners of the two preliminary semi-finals (Week 2) – they could not choose the other qualifying play-offs winner.
The highest ranked club from the qualifying play-offs (Week one) were required to choose their opponents – they could not cede the responsibility to the other Qualifying Play-offs winner.
The team with club call and the other qualifying play-off winners from week 1 were guaranteed home advantage in week 3. For example, if the teams that ended the regular season in 1st and 2nd place lost their opening play-off matches, they could still find themselves playing away to the 3rd or 4th placed teams in week 3.
  • Week 3: qualifying semi-finals
  • The first qualifying semi-final featured the highest ranked Qualifying play-Off winner (from Week 1) v the team selected through Club Call.
  • The second qualifying semi-final featured the lowest ranked Qualifying play-Off winner (from Week 1) v the team not selected through club call.
  • Week 4: grand final
The two winning teams from week 3 contested the grand final to determine the First Utility Super League champions.
Super League 8 team play-off bracket
Qualifying/Elimination playoffsPreliminary semifinalsQualifying semifinalsSuper 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:

  • Can any team have club call?
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.
  • Will the teams who finished 1st or 2nd at the end of the regular season be guaranteed home advantage in Week 3 should they progress?
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.
  • Does the Club Call team have to choose their opponents or can they relinquish the responsibility to the other Qualifying Play-offs winner?
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

Play-off apps

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 St. Helens261998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 20192002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2020, 2021, 2022, 20232009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 20142015, 2016, 2017, 2018
2 Leeds Rhinos221998, 1999, 2000, 20012002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2020, 2021, 20222009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 20142015, 2017
2 Wigan Warriors231998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 20192002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2020, 2021, 2022, 20232009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 20142015, 2016, 2018
4 Warrington Wolves1520192003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2020, 2021, 20232010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 20142016, 2018
5 Hull F.C.1320012002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 20202010, 2011, 20122016, 2017
6 Bradford Bulls111998, 1999, 2000, 20012002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
7 Catalans Dragons102008, 2020, 2021, 2022, 20232009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
8 Huddersfield Giants92007, 20222009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 20142015
9 Castleford Tigers81999, 2000, 201920022009, 20142017, 2018
10 Hull Kingston Rovers62021, 20232009, 2010, 2011, 2013
11 Salford Red Devils320192006, 2022
11 Wakefield Trinity320042009, 2012
13 London Broncos22003, 2005
14 Halifax11998
14 Crusaders12010
14 Widnes Vikings12014
14 Leigh Leopards12023

Bold – won the grand final

Play-off results

NameBest ResultAppsYears
1 St. HelensChampions81999, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2014, 2019, 2020, 2021
1 Leeds RhinosChampions82004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017
3 Wigan WarriorsChampions51998, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2018
4 Bradford BullsChampions32001, 2003, 2005
5 Warrington WolvesGrand Finalist42012, 2013, 2016, 2018
6 Hull F.C.Grand Finalist12006
6 Castleford TigersGrand Finalist12017
6 Salford Red DevilsGrand Finalist12019
6 Catalans DragonsGrand Finalist12021
10 Huddersfield GiantsSemi-final22010, 2015
11 Hull Kingston RoversSemi-final12021
12 HalifaxSemi-Final Eliminator11998
12 Wakefield TrinitySemi-Final Eliminator12004
14 London BroncosElimination Play-off22003, 2005
15 CrusadersElimination Play-off12010
15 Widnes VikingsElimination Play-off12014

See also

References

  1. "New top eight play-off format for engage Super League". Super League. Archived from the original on 2009-10-04. Retrieved 2009-09-19.
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