2004 Super League season
Super League IX | |
---|---|
League | 2005 → |
Tetley's
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 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points difference; 3) Number of points scored;
(C) Champions; (L) League Leaders' Shield Winners; (R) Relegated
Play-offs
Elimination play-offs | Qualifying / Elimination semifinal | Elimination final | Grand Final | |||||||||||||||
1 | Leeds Rhinos | 12 | Leeds Rhinos | 16 | ||||||||||||||
2 | Bradford Bulls | 26 | Bradford Bulls | 8 | ||||||||||||||
Leeds Rhinos | 40 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | Hull | 18 | ||||||||||||||||
Wigan Warriors | 12 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats | 28 | ||||||||||||||||
Wigan Warriors | 18 | |||||||||||||||||
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats | 14 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | Wigan Warriors | 18 | ||||||||||||||||
5 | St. Helens | 12 | ||||||||||||||||
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
- ^ a b c d e Telegraph (2004-02-03). "More money for League from TV deal". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-07-24.
- ^ a b Andy Wilson (2004-02-04). "New Sky deal gives League £53m boost". Guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-07-25.
- ^ a b c d e f Christopher Irvine (2004-02-04). "BBC seals terrestrial broadcasting deal". Times Online. Retrieved 2009-07-25.
- ^ a b c Dave Hadfield (2004-02-04). "RFL secures £53m five-year television contract". Independent.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-07-25.[dead link]