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 and currently eight. The play-offs culminate in the Super League Grand Final.

Use of a play-off system to decide the Championship brought back a rugby league tradition. The Super League Premiership, which had previously taken place between the highest placed teams in the competition, was discontinued as the purpose of its original incarnation had been to take the place of the previous Championship-deciding play-off system.

Contents 1 Current play-off system 2 Previous play-off systems 2.1 Top five 2.2 Top six 3 References

[edit] Current play-off system

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 is being introduced following consultation and discussion with the 14 member clubs in Super League. The series lasts four weeks, ending with the Grand Final.^[1]

The new eight team structure was developed by the RFL and, in their words, "is not a direct copy of other eight team formats operating in other sporting competitions" making it unique.^[1] The most significant feature of this system is that the highest ranked team from the regular season table winning a match in the first week of the play-offs will be able to select their opponents for their next game in Week Three.^[1][2][3] This selection opportunity is known as "Club Call" and is only possible for teams finishing in the top three during the regular season to achieve.^[3] With the exception of Club Call, though, this format follows exactly the AFL finals system, in use already since 2000 by the Australian Football League.

The RFL’s Chief Executive Nigel Wood stated that he believed the changes to show Rugby League as "innovative and progressive" and added that the "new feature will also create more opportunities for broadcasters and the media to generate exciting coverage".^[1] Leeds Rhinos Chief Executive Gary Hetherington praised the changes as reminiscent of the sport's innovation since 1895, noting that the new system rewards those teams that finish higher in the table.^[1] Huddersfield Giants Managing Director Richard Thewlis commented: "This is another ground breaking move from our sport which has our full backing. It is an innovative move that will bring high class, pressurised play-off Rugby League to more teams which can only help drive development of players and the competition."^[1]

The current engage Super League Play-off structure:^{[1] [2]}

Week One

• Qualifying Play Off 1: 1st vs 4th (winner receives a bye to week three)
• Qualifying Play Off 2: 2nd vs 3rd (winner receives a bye to week three)

• Elimination Play Off 1: 5th vs 8th (loser goes out)
• Elimination Play Off 2: 6th vs 7th (loser goes out)

Week Two

• Preliminary Semi Final 1: Higher-ranked QPO Loser vs lower-ranked EPO Winner
• Preliminary Semi Final 2: Lower-ranked QPO Loser vs higher-ranked EPO Winner

Week Three

• Qualifying Semi Final 1: Higher-ranked QPO Winner vs PSF Winner of their choice*
• Qualifying Semi Final 2: Lower-ranked QPO Winner vs other PSF Winner *

Week Four

• Grand Final: QSF1 Winner vs QSF2 Winner

*Highest placed winner in week one have the right to choose their opponent from the two winners in week 2.

Super League 8 team play-off bracket

Qualifying / Elimination play-offs Preliminary semi-finals Qualifying semi-finals Super League Grand Final                                             QPO1:     1        4          PSF1:                          EPO1:                    QSF1:   5                       8                         GF:                  EPO2:       QSF2:            6                     7          PSF2:                               QPO2:                  2          3              Key:          Losing team progressing      Winning team progressing      Winning team's progression chosen 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.

[edit] Previous play-off systems

[edit] Top five

From Super League III in 1998 until 2001 a play-off structure involving the top five teams was used to determine the winners of Super League. Apart from the Grand Final all matches are staged at the home ground of the team placed higher in the final league table.

The same system was used in the NSWRL's Sydney Competition 1973-1994, the Super League|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.

Top Five play-off schedule:

Week One

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

Week Two

• Minor Semi Final: Winners of Elimination Final vs Losers of Qualification Final
• Major Semi Final: 1st vs Winners of Qualification Final

Week Three

• Preliminary Final: Winners of Minor Semi Final vs Losers of Major 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

Qualifying / Elimination play-offs Qualifying / Elimination semi-finals Final eliminator Super League Grand Final                                     QSF:     1                           GF:                        QPO:           FE:              2                       3          ESF:                           EPO:              4          5          Key:         Losing team progressing     Winning team progressing

[edit] Top six

From 2002 to 2008 a play-off structure involving the top six teams has been used to determine the winners of the Super League competition. Apart from 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 to decide its champions. From Week Two onwards, the Top Six play-offs system reflects exactly the Page playoff system.

Top Six play-off schedule:

Week One

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

Week Two

• Elimination Final: Winners of Elimination Semi-final A vs Winners of Elimination Semi-final B
• Qualification Match: 1st vs 2nd

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
Elimination play-offs   Qualifying / Elimination semi-finals   Elimination final   Super League Grand Final                                     QSF:     1        2              GF:                EPO1:       EF:              3                     6        ESF:                       EPO2:              4          5          Key:         Losing team progressing     Winning team progressing

[edit] References

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