League Leaders' Shield

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League Leaders Shield
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League Leaders' Shield

(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.

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

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

Year League leaders Pts Runners up Pts
2003
Bradford Bulls 44 Leeds Rhinos 41
2004
Leeds Rhinos 50 Bradford Bulls 41
2005
St. Helens 47 Leeds Rhinos 44
2006
St. Helens 48 Hull F.C. 40
2007
St. Helens 38 Leeds Rhinos 37
2008
St. Helens 43 Leeds Rhinos 42
2009
Leeds Rhinos 42 St Helens 38
2010
Wigan Warriors 44 St Helens 40
2011
Warrington Wolves 44 Wigan Warriors 43
2012
Wigan Warriors 42 Warrington Wolves 41
2013
Huddersfield Giants 42 Warrington Wolves 41
2014
St. Helens 38 Wigan Warriors 37
2015
Leeds Rhinos 41 Wigan Warriors 41
2016
Warrington Wolves 43 Wigan Warriors 42
2017
Castleford Tigers 50 Leeds Rhinos 40
2018
St. Helens 42 Wigan Warriors 32
2019
St. Helens 52 Wigan Warriors 36
2020
Wigan Warriors 76.47a St. Helens 70.59a
2021
Catalans Dragons 82.61a St. Helens 76.19a
2022
St. Helens 42 Wigan Warriors 38
2023
Wigan Warriors 40 Catalans Dragons 40
  • a: Shield winners decided by win percentage rather than points

Winners

Club Wins Winning years
St. Helens 8
2022
Wigan Warriors 4
2023
Leeds Rhinos 3
2015
Warrington Wolves 2
2016
Bradford Bulls 1
2003
Huddersfield Giants 1
2013
Castleford Tigers 1
2017
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.

Club Wins Winning years
1 Wigan Warriors 3 1991–92, 1993–94, 1994–95
2 Huddersfield Giants 2 1912–13, 1914–15
3 St. Helens 2 1965–66, 2006
4 Swinton Lions 1 1927–28
5 Bradford Bulls 1 2003
6 Leeds Rhinos 1 2015

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.

Club Wins Winning years
1 Wigan 1 1994–95
2 Bradford 1 2003–04
3 St Helens 1 2006–07

See also

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.