Super League XXIV,known as theBetfredSuper League XXIV for sponsorship reasons, was the 2019 iteration of and the 24th season of theSuper Leagueand 125th season ofrugby league in Great Britain.
Super League XXIV | |
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League | Super League |
Duration | 29 rounds |
Teams | 12 |
Highest attendance | 20,044 Hull F.C.VsHull Kingston Rovers(19 April) |
Lowest attendance | 1,133 London BroncosvsSalford Red Devils(27 April) |
Average attendance | 8,441 |
Attendance | 1,468,823; as of 20 September 2019 (playoffs game 2) |
Broadcast partners | Sky Sports BBC Sport Fox League beIN Sports Fox Soccer Plus Sport Klub |
2019 season | |
Champions | St. Helens 7th Super League title 14th British title |
League Leaders Shield | St. Helens |
Runners-up | Salford Red Devils |
Biggest home win | St. Helens62–16Hull FC(22 April) |
Biggest away win | Hull F.C.12–63Warrington Wolves(29 March 2019) |
Man of Steel | ![]() |
Top point-scorer(s) | ![]() |
Top try-scorer(s) | ![]() |
Promotion and relegation | |
Promoted fromChampionship | Toronto Wolfpack |
Relegated toChampionship | London Broncos |
Twelve teams competed over 29 rounds, including theMagic Weekend,which took place atAnfield.After the regular rounds, the top five highest teams entered theSuper League play-offs,for a place in theSuper League Grand Final.
London Broncoswere immediately relegated to theChampionshipafter only being promoted last year, but a bad season saw them win just 10 games out of 29.[1]They will be replaced byToronto Wolfpack.[2]
Wigan Warriorswere the defending champions, but they were eliminated from the competition, after suffering back to back defeats in the semi-finals. First against St Helens in the semi final, and eventually losing out to Salford in the preliminary final.
Toronto Wolfpackwon theMillion Pound Gameby beatingFeatherstone Rovers24–6 and were promoted to the Super League, for the first time in the club's history.
St. Helenswere crowned champions on 12 October, after a 23–6 victory over Salford, which saw them claim their first championship in 5 years.
Format
editFollowing a vote of RFL clubs in 2018, Super League has implemented a number of changes to the format for Super League XXIV.The Qualifierswere scrapped and the play-offs for theSuper League Grand Finalchanged from a top four totop five play-offssystem for the first time in 18 years as it was last used in 2001.[3][4]For relegation, theRugby League Super 8swere also scrapped so that the team that finishes bottom of the Super League will be relegated and replaced by the winner of theChampionship Grand Final.[5]TheMagic Weekendwas held on 25 and 26 May atAnfieldinLiverpool.Each team will play each other home and away, with an extra game at the Magic Weekend, before a series of 6 "loop" fixtures are played to finish the regular season.
The Super League game between Catalans Dragons and Wigan Warriors, saw a new record crowd of 31,555 fans, and it was the first game to be played at Barcelona'sCamp Noustadium on 18 May 2019.
Catalan went on to win the match, 33–16, thus ending a 10-game losing streak against Wigan, and their first win over Wigan since 2015.
For the first time in Super League history, the Derby between St Helens and Wigan was not televised, as Sky Sports opted to televise the relegation battle between Leeds and Hull KR.
St Helens won the League Leaders Shield for the second season running on 3 August when Warrington Wolves were beaten 30-10 by Catalans Dragons, thus ensuring that 2nd placed Warrington, 12 points behind with 5 games left, could no longer catch the Saints.
Teams
editSuper League XXIV featured twelve teams.[6]This is also the fourth year since promotion and relegation was reintroduced into the competition.[7]London Broncoswere promoted from the Championship after defeatingToronto Wolfpackin the finalMillion Pound Gameto compete in Super League for the first time since2014.[8]They also received special dispensation from the RFL to play their home Super League matches at theirTrailfinders Sports Ground,which they share with rugby union'sEaling Trailfinders,even though it is smaller than the RFL's minimum seating requirements.[9]London replacedWidnes Vikingswho were relegated last season.[10]
Just prior to the start of the seasonWigan Warriorswere fined and deducted two competition points for breaching thesalary capin 2017; [11]however, on 6 March following an appeal, the points deduction was suspended, and Wigan were reinstated the 2 points, as long as the club do not breach the salary cap in the following 12 months.[12]
Twelve teams were selected to play in the inaugural Super League season.
Legend | |
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Reigning Champions | |
Previous season League Leaders | |
Promoted |
Results
editGolden Point Extra Time
editGolden-point extra-time, shot clocks and a reduced number of interchanges are among the law changes confirmed by Super League for the 2019 season.
On 19 November 2018, it was confirmed that Super League would be adoptinggolden pointduring regular season for the first time as of the start of the 2019 season, bringing it in line with theNRLwhich has been using the system since 2003.[13]
The 12 clubs announced the introduction of golden-point extra-time in November, with games level at full-time, to be decided in two additional five-minute periods. If it remains level after the extra 10 minutes, the match will end as a draw.[14]
Game 1 (Wigan v Hull FC)
editThe first game to go to golden-point, was the round 3 game between Wigan and Hull F.C. on 24 February 2019. Hull won 23–22, after the scores were tied at 22-all after 80 minutes. [15]
Game 2 (Leeds v Castleford)
editThe second game to go to golden-point, was the round 8 game between Leeds and Castleford, on 28 March 2019. Leeds won the match 21–20, after a 40mfield goalfromBrad Dwyerafter the scores were tied at 20-all after 80 minutes.[16]
Game 3 (Catalans v Hull FC)
editThe third game to go to golden-point, was the round 10 game between Catalans and Hull FC, on 12 April 2019. Hull won the match 31–30, thanks to aMarc Sneydfield goal,after the scores were tied at 30-all after 80 minutes. This is Hull's 2nd golden point victory so far this season, Sneyd has scored the decisive field goal in both.[17]
Game 4 (Castleford v Huddersfield)
editThe fourth game to go to golden-point, was the round 17 game between Castleford and Huddersfield Giants on 7 June 2019. Castleford won the match 27–26, thanks to aPeter Matautiafield goal,after the scores were tied at 26-all after 80 minutes.[18]
Game 5 (London v St Helens)
editThe fifth game to go to golden-point, was the round 17 game between London Broncos and St Helens on 9 June 2019. London won the match 23–22, thanks to aMorgan Smithfield goal,after the scores were tied at 22-all after 80 minutes.[19]
Game 6 (Hull KR v Castleford)
editThe sixth game to go to golden-point, was the round 24 game between Hull KR and Castleford on 4 August 2019. Hull KR won the match 27–26, thanks to aDanny McGuirefield goal,after the scores were tied at 26-all after 80 minutes.
This was the 3rd time that Castleford had forced extra time, winning just once
Game 7 (Salford v Hull KR)
editThe seventh game to go to golden-point, was the round 29 game between Salford and Hull KR on 13 September 2019. Salford won 17–16, after the scores were tied at 16-all after 80 minutes.
Table
editPos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | St. Helens(C, L) | 29 | 26 | 0 | 3 | 916 | 395 | +521 | 52 | Semi Final |
2 | Wigan Warriors | 29 | 18 | 0 | 11 | 699 | 539 | +160 | 36 | Qualifying Final |
3 | Salford Red Devils | 29 | 17 | 0 | 12 | 783 | 597 | +186 | 34 | |
4 | Warrington Wolves | 29 | 16 | 0 | 13 | 709 | 533 | +176 | 32 | Elimination Final |
5 | Castleford Tigers | 29 | 15 | 0 | 14 | 646 | 558 | +88 | 30 | |
6 | Hull F.C. | 29 | 15 | 0 | 14 | 645 | 768 | −123 | 30 | |
7 | Catalans Dragons | 29 | 13 | 0 | 16 | 553 | 745 | −192 | 26 | |
8 | Leeds Rhinos | 29 | 12 | 0 | 17 | 650 | 644 | +6 | 24 | |
9 | Wakefield Trinity | 29 | 11 | 0 | 18 | 608 | 723 | −115 | 22 | |
10 | Huddersfield Giants | 29 | 11 | 0 | 18 | 571 | 776 | −205 | 22 | |
11 | Hull KR | 29 | 10 | 0 | 19 | 548 | 768 | −220 | 20 | |
12 | London Broncos(R) | 29 | 10 | 0 | 19 | 505 | 787 | −282 | 20 | Relegated toChampionship |
Playoffs
editThe play-off system in use for 2019 was also previously used between 1998 and 2001.
Qualifying play-off DW Stadium | Qualifying semi-final Totally Wicked Stadium | Preliminary final | Grand Final Old Trafford | |||||||||||||||
1 | St. Helens | 40 | St. Helens | 23 | ||||||||||||||
Wigan Warriors | 10 | Salford Red Devils | 6 | |||||||||||||||
2 | Wigan Warriors | 18 | Wigan Warriors | 4 | ||||||||||||||
3 | Salford Red Devils | 12 | Elimination semi-final AJ Bell Stadium | Salford Red Devils | 28 | |||||||||||||
Salford Red Devils | 22 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | Warrington Wolves | 12 | Castleford Tigers | 0 | ||||||||||||||
5 | Castleford Tigers | 14 | ||||||||||||||||
Week 1: Elimination and qualifying finals
editHome | Score | Away | Match Information | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance | ||||||||
Elimination final | |||||||||||
Warrington Wolves | 12–14 | Castleford Tigers | 19 September 2019, 19:45 | Halliwell Jones Stadium | Chris Kendall | 5,627 | |||||
Qualifying final | |||||||||||
Wigan Warriors | 18–12 | Salford Red Devils | 20 September 2019, 19:45 | DW Stadium | Robert Hicks | 9,247 | |||||
Progress to semi-final 2:Castleford, Salford Progress to semi-final 1:Wigan Eliminated:Warrington | |||||||||||
Source: |
Week 2: Semi-finals
editHome | Score | Away | Match Information | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance | ||||||||
Semi-final 1 | |||||||||||
Salford | 22–0 | Castleford | 26 September 2019, 19:45 | AJ Bell Stadium | Ben Thaler | 6,000 | |||||
Semi-final 2 | |||||||||||
St. Helens | 40–10 | Wigan | 27 September 2019, 19:45 | Totally Wicked Stadium | Chris Kendall | 14,508 | |||||
Progress to Preliminary Final:Salford Red Devils, Wigan Warriors Progress toGrand Final:St Helens Eliminated:Castleford | |||||||||||
Source: |
Week 3: Preliminary final
editHome | Score | Away | Match Information | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance | ||||||||
Wigan | 4–28 | Salford | 4 October 2019, 19:45 | DW Stadium | Ben Thaler | 9,858 | |||||
Progress to Grand Final:Salford Eliminated:Wigan | |||||||||||
Source: |
Week 4: Grand final
editHome | Score | Away | Match Information | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance | ||||||||
St Helens | 23 – 6 | Salford | 12 October 2019, 18:00 | Old Trafford,Manchester | Chris Kendall | 64,102 | |||||
Source: |
Player statistics
editStatistics correct, as of 20 September 2019(Play off game 2)
Discipline
edit
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- ^Pauli Pauli has been sin binned once for Salford, and twice for Wakefield
Statistics correct as of 20 September 2019 (playoffs game 2)
Man of Steel contenders
edit(The 5 nominations for the man of steel awards were as follows)
Player | Club |
---|---|
Liam Watts | Castleford Tigers |
Jackson Hastings | Salford Red Devils |
Lachlan Coote | St. Helens |
Blake Austin | Warrington Wolves |
George Williams | Wigan Warriors |
Awards are presented for outstanding contributions and efforts to players and clubs in the week leading up to the Super League Grand Final
The format for choosing the winner of the Steve PrescottMan of Steelaward would also change Prior to this season. It was voted on by Super League players, but from this season onwards, it will adopt a similar system to theNRLequivalent the Dally M Medal. A 21-man panel of former players chose the three best players from each weekly round game. 6 points were split between 3 players, with 1st place getting 3 points, 2nd getting 2 points, and 3rd getting 1 point. The leaderboard was public until week 22 in mid-July, when it was then hidden until theSteve PrescottMan of Steel Awardsceremony in October.
Salford's Jackson Hastingswas eventually crownedMan of Steelon 6 October 2019.
End-of-season awards
edit- Coach of the year:Justin Holbrook
- Foundation of the year:Warrington Wolves
- Hit Man:Danny Houghton(1259 tackles)
- Man of Steel:Jackson Hastings
- Metre-maker:Tommy Makinson(3,803 metres)
- Fans' Entertainer:Jackson Hastings(Salford Red Devils)
- Spirit of Super League Award:Jamie Jones-Buchanan(Leeds Rhinos)
- Top Try Scorer:Tommy Makinson(23)
- Young player of the year:Matty Lees
Attendances
edit
Average attendances
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Top 10 attendances
|
* As of 12 October 2019
References
edit- ^Bower, Aaron."Super League decides to scrap controversial Super 8 format".The Guardian.Retrieved11 October2018.
- ^"Million Pound Game: RFL pick 19:00 kick-off to suit England, France or Canada".BBC Sport. 19 September 2018.Retrieved11 October2018.
- ^"How the new Super League play-off system will work".Love Rugby League. 14 September 2018.Retrieved12 November2018.
- ^Gavin Willacy."Enjoy the tortuous Qualifiers one last time before Super League is revamped".The Guardian.Retrieved11 October2018.
- ^"Widnes apologise after Super League relegation".Sky Sports. 22 September 2018.Retrieved11 October2018.
- ^"Liverpool's Anfield stadium to host Super League's 2019 Magic Weekend".Sky Sports. 13 November 2018.Retrieved18 November2018.
- ^"Joey Grima: London Broncos' Super League relegation expected".BBC Sport. 13 July 2014.Retrieved11 October2018.
- ^"Wolfpack fall short of Super League promotion after loss to Broncos".CBC.Retrieved11 October2018.
- ^"Danny Ward to keep faith with London Broncos' promotion heroes".Sky Sports. 8 October 2018.Retrieved11 October2018.
- ^"Harrison Hansen: Widnes Vikings forward signs one-year deal with relegated club".BBC Sport. 1 January 1970.Retrieved11 October2018.
- ^"Wigan Warriors: Super League champions receive two-point deduction".BBC Sport.30 January 2019.Retrieved6 March2019.
- ^"Wigan Warriors; Super League champions two-point deduction suspended for 12 months".BBC Sport.6 March 2019.Retrieved6 March2019.
- ^BBC Sport (19 November 2018)."Super League: Golden-point extra time introduced for regular season from 2019".BBC Sport.Retrieved19 November2018.
- ^"Super League law changes: Golden-point extra-time and shot clocks confirmed for 2019".BBC Sport.1 January 2019.Retrieved1 January2019.
- ^"Super League: Wigan Warriors 22–23 Hull FC".BBC Sport.24 February 2019.Retrieved24 February2019.
- ^"Super League: Dwyer kicks 40m golden point drop goal, to seal Leeds win".BBC Sport.28 March 2019.
- ^"Super League: Sneyd kicks golden point drop goal, to seal Hull a second golden point Extra time win".BBC Sport.12 April 2019.
- ^"Super League: Mata'utia golden point drop goal, seals Tigers victory".BBC Sport.7 June 2019.
- ^"Super League: Broncos stun St Helens with golden-point win".BBC Sport.9 June 2019.