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. 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.
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. 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. 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.
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". 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. 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."
The current Super League Play-off structure:
Week 1
Four matches will take place on Week One, effectively in two pools: the Qualifying Play-offs and the Elimination Play-offs
Qualifying Play-Offs
These matches involve the teams who finish in the top four. They are:
1st v 4th 2nd v 3rd
The winners of these two games will progress directly to Week 3. The highest ranked winning club will have Club Call, whereby they choose their opponents in Week 3
The losers of these two matches will have another chance in Week 2 when they will be at home to the winners of the Week 1 Elimination Play-Offs.
Elimination Play-Offs
5th v 8th 6th v 7th
• The winners of both matches will progress to Week 2, losers are eliminated.
Week 2
There are two matches in Week 2, called the Preliminary Semi-finals.
Preliminary Semi-Final One
Highest ranked Qualifying Play-off Loser (1st, 2nd, or 3rd) v Lowest ranked Elimination Play-off Winner (6th, 7th or 8th)
• Winners to Club Call • Loser eliminated
Preliminary Semi-Final Two
Lowest ranked Qualifying Play-off Loser (2nd, 3rd or 4th) v Highest ranked Elimination Play-off Winner (5th, 6th or 7th)
• Winners to Club Call • Loser eliminated
Club Call
Club Call will take place on the second weekend of the play-offs and will be hosted by the highest ranked winning club from Week 1. The host club will select who they play in Week 3 and can only select from the winners of the two Preliminary Semi-finals (Week 2) – they cannot choose the other Qualifying Play-offs winner.
The highest ranked club from the Qualifying Play-offs (Week one) must choose their opponents – they cannot cede the responsibility to the other Qualifying Play-offs winner.
The team with Club Call and the other Qualifying Play-off winner from Week 1 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.
Week 3
Two matches again, losers eliminated from each, winners go through to contest the Grand Final.
Qualifying Semi-Final One Highest ranked QPO Winner v Club Call selected PSF winner
Qualifying Semi-Final Two Second ranked QPO Winner v Club Call Non Selected PSF Winner
Week 4
Super League Grand Final
| 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. |
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Read more about this topic: Super League Play-offs
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