Super League Play-offs Get Revamp

The Rugby Football League has announced a major revamp of the Super League play-offs for the 2009 season.

The most significant change sees the highest-placed team after the first round being able to choose their semi-final opponents in week three.

The four-week series, which ends with the Grand Final on 10th October, will now involve the top eight teams after the league’s expansion from 12 to 14 clubs.

The RFL says all 14 clubs have been consulted about the new format.

‘This new eight-team play-off series is a tremendous development for the sport and the competition,’ said RFL chief executive Nigel Wood.
 
‘The increase in play-off places will also add more interest to the regular season by giving more matches added significance as clubs battle through the weekly rounds to give themselves a shot at the title.

‘By introducing the element that allows the highest-placed qualifier to select their semi-final opponents in week three, rugby league has once again shown it is a highly innovative and progressive sport.’

All eight qualifying teams are involved on the opening weekend, with the League leaders facing the fourth-placed team, while second plays third, fifth taking on eighth and sixth meeting seventh.

The matches involving the top four teams will see the winners going straight through to the third week of the series and the qualifying semi-finals.

The losers in these two games will have another chance in the second week when they face the winners of the elimination play-offs.

In week three, the winners of the two qualifying play-offs in week one will meet the winners from week two, with the highest-placed team allowed to select their opponents from a choice of two.