Super League play-offs
2022 |
Since 1998, a play-off system has been used to determine the
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 | ||||||||||||
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3 | ||||||||||||||
6 | ||||||||||||||
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5 |
Grand final
Stadium | Location | Country | Highest attendance | Average attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|
Old Trafford | Trafford, Greater Manchester | England | 73,581 | 64,561 |
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
Super League 5 team play-off bracket | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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2002-2008: top six
From
A similar system was used by the
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
Super League 6 team play-off bracket | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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.
- Week 1
- Four matches took place on Week One, effectively in two pools: the Qualifying Play-Offs and the Elimination Play-Offs.
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- Week 1: Qualifying Play-Offs
- These matches involved the teams who finish in the top four.
- They were:
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- 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:
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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
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- 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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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. Club Call . Winners of Qualifying play-offs receive home ground advantage.
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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
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.
Name | Apps | Five Team Format 1998-2001, 2019 |
Six Team Format 2002-2008, 2020 onward |
Eight Team Format 2009-2014 |
Four Team Format 2015-2018 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | St. Helens | 26 | 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2019 | 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 | 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 | 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
2 | Leeds Rhinos | 22 | 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 | 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2020, 2021, 2022 | 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 | 2015, 2017 |
2 | Wigan Warriors | 23 | 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2019 | 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 | 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 | 2015, 2016, 2018 |
4 | Warrington Wolves | 15 | 2019 | 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2020, 2021, 2023 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 | 2016, 2018 |
5 | Hull F.C. | 13 | 2001 | 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2020 | 2010, 2011, 2012 | 2016, 2017 |
6 | Bradford Bulls | 11 | 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 | 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 | ||
7 | Catalans Dragons | 10 | 2008, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 | 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 | ||
8 | Huddersfield Giants | 9 | 2007, 2022 | 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 | 2015 | |
9 | Castleford Tigers | 8 | 1999, 2000, 2019 | 2002 | 2009, 2014 | 2017, 2018 |
10 | Hull Kingston Rovers | 6 | 2021, 2023 | 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013 | ||
11 | Salford Red Devils | 3 | 2019 | 2006, 2022 | ||
11 | Wakefield Trinity | 3 | 2004 | 2009, 2012 | ||
13 | London Broncos | 2 | 2003, 2005 | |||
14 | Halifax |
1 | 1998 | |||
14 | Crusaders | 1 | 2010 | |||
14 | Widnes Vikings | 1 | 2014 | |||
14 | Leigh Leopards | 1 | 2023 |
Bold – won the grand final
Play-off results
Name | Best Result | Apps | Years | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | St. Helens | Champions | 8 | 1999, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2014, 2019, 2020, 2021 |
1 | Leeds Rhinos | Champions | 8 | 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017 |
3 | Wigan Warriors | Champions | 5 | 1998, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2018 |
4 | Bradford Bulls | Champions | 3 | 2001, 2003, 2005 |
5 | Warrington Wolves | Grand Finalist | 4 | 2012, 2013, 2016, 2018 |
6 | Hull F.C. | Grand Finalist | 1 | 2006 |
6 | Castleford Tigers | Grand Finalist | 1 | 2017 |
6 | Salford Red Devils | Grand Finalist | 1 | 2019 |
6 | Catalans Dragons | Grand Finalist | 1 | 2021 |
10 | Huddersfield Giants | Semi-final | 2 | 2010, 2015 |
11 | Hull Kingston Rovers | Semi-final | 1 | 2021 |
12 | Halifax |
Semi-Final Eliminator | 1 | 1998 |
12 | Wakefield Trinity | Semi-Final Eliminator | 1 | 2004 |
14 | London Broncos | Elimination Play-off | 2 | 2003, 2005 |
15 | Crusaders | Elimination Play-off | 1 | 2010 |
15 | Widnes Vikings | Elimination Play-off | 1 | 2014 |
See also
References
- ^ a b "New top eight play-off format for engage Super League". Super League. Archived from the original on 2009-10-04. Retrieved 2009-09-19.