Tetley'sSuper LeagueIXwas the name of the 2004 Super League championship season due to sponsorship byTetley's Bitter.[1]This was the 110th season of top-level professionalrugby leagueheld in Britain, and the ninth championship decided by Super League. The season culminated in the grand final betweenLeeds RhinosandBradford Bulls,which Leeds won, claiming the 2004 title.
| Super League IX | |
|---|---|
| League | Super League |
| Duration | 28 Rounds |
| Teams | 12 |
| Highest attendance | 23,375 Bradford BullsvsLeeds Rhinos(2 July) |
| Lowest attendance | 2,198 London BroncosvsSalford City Reds(28 March) |
| Attendance | 1,439,706 (average 8,570) |
| Broadcast partners | Sky Sports |
| 2004 Season | |
| Champions | Leeds Rhinos 1stSuper Leaguetitle 4thBritish title |
| League Leaders | Leeds Rhinos |
| Man of Steel |  Andrew Farrell |
| Top point-scorer(s) | Kevin Sinfield(277) |
| Top try-scorer(s) |  Lesley Vainikolo(36) |
| Promotion and relegation | |
| Promoted fromNational League One | Leigh Centurions |
| Relegated toNational League One | Castleford Tigers |
Season summary
editDuring 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 placedBradford 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 Vainikoloscored more tries than anybody else that season with 37, beatingDanny McGuirewho finished on 36.
Table
edit| 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 toNational League One |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points difference; 3) Number of points scored;
(C)Champions;(L)League Leaders' ShieldWinners;(R)Relegated
Play-offs
edit| 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
editTelevision
editLive 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 the2008 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 byMaurice 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
editReferences
edit- ^abcdeTelegraph (2004-02-03)."More money for League from TV deal".Telegraph.co.uk.Retrieved2009-07-24.
- ^abAndy Wilson (2004-02-04)."New Sky deal gives League £53m boost".Guardian.co.uk.Retrieved2009-07-25.
- ^abcdefChristopher Irvine (2004-02-04)."BBC seals terrestrial broadcasting deal".Times Online.Retrieved2009-07-25.[dead link]
- ^abcDave Hadfield (2004-02-04)."RFL secures £53m five-year television contract".Independent.co.uk.Retrieved2009-07-25.[dead link]