See main article: Super League.
| Super League | |
| Last Season: | 2024 Super League season |
| Sport: | Rugby league |
| Teams: | 12 |
| Countries: | |
| Champion: | Wigan Warriors (7th title) |
| Most Champs: | St Helens (10 titles) |
| Relegation: | Championship |
| Domestic Cup: | Challenge Cup |
| Confed Cup: | World Club Challenge |
The Super League is the top tier rugby league competition for teams in Great Britain. It was formed in 1996 replacing the Rugby Football League First Division which was the top tier in Britain from 1895 to 1996.
Since 1998, the winner of the Super League has been determined by a play-off series at the end of each season, culminating in a Grand Final at the Old Trafford. Four teams have won the Grand Final during the history of the Super League, with the Wigan Warriors being the current holders. St Helens are the most successful team in the Super League era, with ten titles. In the first two seasons of Super League, the champion was determined by league position at the end of the season.
The participants of the play-off series are determined by the league position of teams at the end of the regular season. The team at the top the Super League table at the end of the regular season are awarded with the League Leaders Shield. The Wigan Warriors are the current holders of the League Leaders Shield, while St Helens hold the record for most Shields with nine. The League Leaders have been recognised with their own trophy since 2003.
See main article: Super League Grand Final.
| Year | Champions | Score | Runner Up | Venue | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Wigan | 10–4 | Leeds | Old Trafford | 43,533 |
| 1999 | St Helens | 8–6 | Bradford | 50,717 | |
| 2000 | St Helens | 29–16 | Wigan | 58,132 | |
| 2001 | Bradford | 37–6 | Wigan | 60,164 | |
| 2002 | St Helens | 19–18 | Bradford | 61,138 | |
| 2003 | Bradford | 25–12 | Wigan | 65,537 | |
| 2004 | Leeds | 16–8 | Bradford | 65,547 | |
| 2005 | Bradford | 15–6 | Leeds | 65,728 | |
| 2006 | St Helens | 26–4 | Hull F.C. | 72,575 | |
| 2007 | Leeds | 33–6 | St Helens | 71,352 | |
| 2008 | Leeds | 24–16 | St Helens | 68,810 | |
| 2009 | Leeds | 18–10 | St Helens | 63,259 | |
| 2010 | Wigan | 22–10 | St Helens | 71,526 | |
| 2011 | Leeds | 32–16 | St Helens | 69,107 | |
| 2012 | Leeds | 26–18 | Warrington | 70,676 | |
| 2013 | Wigan | 30–16 | Warrington | 66,281 | |
| 2014 | St Helens | 14–6 | Wigan | 70,102 | |
| 2015 | Leeds | 22–20 | Wigan | 73,512 | |
| 2016 | Wigan | 12–6 | Warrington | 70,202 | |
| 2017 | Leeds | 24–6 | Castleford | 72,827 | |
| 2018 | Wigan | 12–4 | Warrington | 64,892 | |
| 2019 | St Helens | 23–6 | Salford | 64,102 | |
| 2020 | St Helens | 8–4 | Wigan | KCOM Stadium | 0 |
| 2021 | St Helens | 12–10 | Catalans | Old Trafford | 45,177 |
| 2022 | St Helens | 24–12 | Leeds | 60,783 | |
| 2023 | Wigan | 10–2 | Catalans | 58,137 | |
| 2024 | Wigan | 9–2 | Hull KR | 68,173 |
See main article: Man of Steel Awards. The Man of Steel Award is given to the Super League Player of the Season. Various methods of determining the seasons best player have been employed throughout the awards history. The current method involves points being designated to players by a select panel following each fixture. The award is also known as the Steve Prescott Man of Steel, posthumously named after the former St Helens player who established the Steve Prescott Foundation to raise money for cancer research whilst fighting his own battle with cancer, which he tragically lost in 2013.
See main article: Harry Sunderland Trophy and Rob Burrow Award. The Harry Sunderland Trophy was awarded to the Man of the Match of the Super League Grand Final. The award predated the Super League and was previously awarded to the Man of the Match of the Rugby League Premiership Final. From the 2024 season, the honour was renamed to the Rob Burrow Award in tribute to the former Leeds and Great Britain scrum-half who had raised awareness and funds for charity after being diagnosed with motor neuron disease.[4]
Throughout the history of Super League, the competition has been structured in various formats effecting awarding of championships, participation in play-off series, and inclusion in the league itself.
| Year | No. teams | Champions | Play-offs | Relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 12 | League position | None | League position: Bottom place relegated to First Division |
| 1997 | ||||
| 1998 | Grand Final | Top 5 | No relegation | |
| 1999 | 14 | |||
| 2000 | 12 | |||
| 2001 | League position: Bottom place relegated to National League One | |||
| 2002 | Top 6 | |||
| 2003 | ||||
| 2004 | ||||
| 2005 | League position: Bottom two relegated to National League One | |||
| 2006 | League position: Bottom place relegated to National League One | |||
| 2007 | ||||
| 2008 | Licensing Participating clubs decided by centrally awarded licenses | |||
| 2009 | 14 | Top 8 | ||
| 2010 | ||||
| 2011 | ||||
| 2012 | ||||
| 2013 | ||||
| 2014 | League position: Bottom two relegated to Championship | |||
| 2015 | 12 | Super 8s
| Super 8s Qualifiers Bottom three and Million Pound Game losers relegated to Championship | |
| 2016 | ||||
| 2017 | ||||
| 2018 | ||||
| 2019 | 12 | Top 5 | League position: Bottom place relegated to Championship | |
| 2020 | 12 | Top 6 | No relegation | |
| 2021 | 12 | Top 6 | League position: Bottom place relegated to Championship | |
| 2022 | ||||
| 2023 | ||||
| 2024 | IMG Grading Clubs graded and ranked annually with top 12 eligible for Super League |
