League Leaders' Shield

Summary

The League Leaders' Shield[1] is a trophy awarded to the team finishing the season top of Super League in the sport of rugby league football.

League Leaders' Shield
Wigan player Jake Bibby holding the League Leaders' Shield and wearing the associated medal, 2020
Country England
 France
Presented bySuper League
History
First award2003
Most wins St. Helens
(8 titles)
Most recent2023
Wigan Warriors
(4th title)

The trophy was first awarded in 2003 in recognition of the regular season achievement. Due to the presence of playoff in Super League, teams winning the shield are not season champions.

History edit

From 1907 until 1973 the Championship was awarded to the team winning a top-four play-off (excluding the 2 seasons 1962–63 and 1963–64, when the championship was awarded to the top-placed team). From 1907 to 1962 no prize was awarded to the team finishing top. From 1965 to 1973 a 'League Leaders' Trophy' was introduced to reward the team finishing top. In 1996, Super League was formed but continued to use the league to decide the champions until 1998, when they adopted a play-off structure for the championship.

The League Leaders' Shield was first awarded in 2003. Between 1998 and 2002 the league leaders were not awarded a trophy. In 1996 and 1997 the League Leaders were declared champions as the Grand Final was not introduced until 1998.

From 2015 to 2017, League Leaders' Shield winners would participate in the short lived World Club Series.

2015 also saw the prize money inecrease from £50,000 to £100,000.

In 2016, the League Leaders were awarded medals for the first time.

Shield winners edit

Year League leaders Pts Runners up Pts
2003   Bradford Bulls 44   Leeds Rhinos 41
2004   Leeds Rhinos 50   Bradford Bulls 41
2005   St. Helens 47   Leeds Rhinos 44
2006   St. Helens 48   Hull F.C. 40
2007   St. Helens 38   Leeds Rhinos 37
2008   St. Helens 43   Leeds Rhinos 42
2009   Leeds Rhinos 42   St Helens 38
2010   Wigan Warriors 44   St Helens 40
2011   Warrington Wolves 44   Wigan Warriors 43
2012   Wigan Warriors 42   Warrington Wolves 41
2013   Huddersfield Giants 42   Warrington Wolves 41
2014   St. Helens 38   Wigan Warriors 37
2015   Leeds Rhinos 41   Wigan Warriors 41
2016   Warrington Wolves 43   Wigan Warriors 42
2017   Castleford Tigers 50   Leeds Rhinos 40
2018   St. Helens 42   Wigan Warriors 32
2019   St. Helens 52   Wigan Warriors 36
2020   Wigan Warriors 76.47a   St. Helens 70.59a
2021   Catalans Dragons 82.61a   St. Helens 76.19a
2022   St. Helens 42   Wigan Warriors 38
2023   Wigan Warriors 40   Catalans Dragons 40
  • a: Shield winners decided by win percentage rather than points

Winners edit

Club Wins Winning years
  St. Helens 8 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2022
  Wigan Warriors 4 2010, 2012, 2020, 2023
  Leeds Rhinos 3 2004, 2009, 2015
  Warrington Wolves 2 2011, 2016
  Bradford Bulls 1 2003
  Huddersfield Giants 1 2013
  Castleford Tigers 1 2017
  Catalans Dragons 1 2021

The Treble edit

The Treble refers to the team who wins all three domestic honours on offer during the season; Grand Final, League Leaders' Shield and Challenge Cup. To date six teams have won the treble, and only Bradford Bulls, St. Helens and Leeds Rhinos have won the treble in the Super League era.

Note: Includes teams prior to the formal awarding of a league leaders' shield.

Club Wins Winning years
1   Wigan Warriors 3 1991–92, 1993–94, 1994–95
2   Huddersfield Giants 2 1912–13, 1914–15
3   St. Helens 2 1965–66, 2006
4   Swinton Lions 1 1927–28
5   Bradford Bulls 1 2003
6   Leeds Rhinos 1 2015

The Quadruple edit

The Quadruple (not an official name) refers to winning the Super League, League Leaders' Shield, Challenge Cup, and World Club Challenge in one season.

Note: Includes teams prior to the formal awarding of a league leaders' shield.

Note: Since the switch to summer rugby, the Word Club Challenge can only be won the season after the treble.

Club Wins Winning years
1   Wigan 1 1994–95
2   Bradford 1 2003–04
3   St Helens 1 2006–07

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Wilson, Andy (July 16, 2009). "Battle for Super League play-offs can pull in the fans". The Guardian. Archived from the original on August 1, 2009. Retrieved July 12, 2010.