2004 Super League season

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Tetley's

Tetley's Bitter.[1] This was the 110th season of top-level professional rugby league held in Britain, and the ninth championship decided by Super League. The season culminated in the grand final between Leeds Rhinos and Bradford Bulls
, which Leeds won, claiming the 2004 title.

Season summary

During this season Leeds claimed a couple of records, they became the 1st team until Castleford in 2017 to accumulate 50 points from the regular rounds and finished a record 9 points clear of 2nd placed Bradford Bulls, they also became only the 2nd team in the Super League era to finish at home with a 100% record in the regular weekly rounds. Lesley Vainikolo scored more tries than anybody else that season with 37, beating Danny McGuire who finished on 36.

Table

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 Leeds Rhinos (L, C) 28 24 2 2 1037 443 +594 50 Semi Final
2 Bradford Bulls 28 20 1 7 918 565 +353 41
3 Hull F.C. 28 19 2 7 843 478 +365 40 Elimination Semi Final
4 Wigan Warriors 28 17 4 7 736 558 +178 38
5
St Helens
28 17 1 10 821 662 +159 35
6 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 28 15 0 13 788 662 +126 30
7 Huddersfield Giants 28 12 0 16 518 757 −239 24
8 Warrington Wolves 28 10 1 17 700 715 −15 21
9 Salford City Reds 28 8 0 20 507 828 −321 16
10 London Broncos 28 7 1 20 561 968 −407 15
11 Widnes Vikings 28 7 0 21 466 850 −384 14
12 Castleford Tigers (R) 28 6 0 22 515 924 −409 12 Relegation to National League One
Source: Rugby League Project
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points difference; 3) Number of points scored;
(C) Champions; (L) League Leaders' Shield Winners; (R) Relegated

Play-offs

Media

Television

Live Super League IX matches were broadcast in the United Kingdom by Sky Sports in the first year of a new five-year television deal.[1] The contract was signed less than three weeks before the start of the season.[2] The deal, worth £53 million, represented a 15 percent, or £7 million, increase on the last contract.[1][3] The contract would run until the end of the 2008 season and also cover the international game minus the 2008 World Cup, which is worth £5 million of the total amount.[1][4] It was speculated in the media that clubs would receive around £700,000-£800,000 per year from the deal - less than the £1 million clubs received in 1995 when British rugby league agreed to switch to a summer season.[1][3] The clubs had received in initial offer of £55.5 million from Sky, one of two offers rejected; after that offer was declined the amount was reduced with the final figure agreed being settled later after an intervention by Maurice Lindsay.[3][4] Sky's offer took into account their dissatisfaction with the - BBC requested - proposed move of the Challenge Cup Final to between May and August in 2005, which they believed was too near to the October Grand Final.[3] An RFL spokesman said: "To increase our overall take in a falling market is a major step forward for our game".[4] Vic Wakeling speaking for Sky said: "Our relationship with rugby league is one of the longest in the 12-year history of Sky Sports and we are delighted to be announcing the same again in terms of Super League and international rights.[2]

The BBC secured secondary broadcast rights to show the Super League play-offs and Grand Final nationally with a provision to show match highlights of regular season games.[3] Previously, a deal with the BBC had seen a Sky highlights package shown in the BBC's northern regions.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Telegraph (2004-02-03). "More money for League from TV deal". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-07-24.
  2. ^ a b Andy Wilson (2004-02-04). "New Sky deal gives League £53m boost". Guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-07-25.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Christopher Irvine (2004-02-04). "BBC seals terrestrial broadcasting deal". Times Online. Retrieved 2009-07-25.
  4. ^ a b c Dave Hadfield (2004-02-04). "RFL secures £53m five-year television contract". Independent.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-07-25.[dead link]

External links