2019 Super League season

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Following a vote of RFL clubs in 2018, Super League has implemented a number of changes to the format for Super League XXIV. The Qualifiers were scrapped and the play-offs for the Super League Grand Final changed from a top four to top five play-offs system for the first time in 18 years as it was last used in 2001.{{cite web|url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/how-the-new-super-league-play-off-system-will-work/|title=How the new Super League play-off system will work|date=14 September 2018|publisher=Love Rugby League|access-date=12 November 2018}}{{cite web|author=Gavin Willacy |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/no-helmets-required/2018/sep/21/enjoy-tortuous-qualifiers-super-league-revamped-world-cup |title=Enjoy the tortuous Qualifiers one last time before Super League is revamped |publisher=The Guardian |access-date=11 October 2018}} For relegation, the Rugby League Super 8s were also scrapped so that the team that finishes bottom of the Super League will be relegated and replaced by the winner of the Championship Grand Final.{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12228/11506055/widnes-apologise-after-super-league-relegation |title=Widnes apologise after Super League relegation |publisher=Sky Sports |date=22 September 2018 |access-date=11 October 2018}} The Magic Weekend was held on 25 and 26 May at Anfield in Liverpool. 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's Camp Nou stadium 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.

Super League XXIV featured twelve teams.{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12204/11553495/liverpools-anfield-stadium-to-host-super-leagues-2019-magic-weekend|title=Liverpool's Anfield stadium to host Super League's 2019 Magic Weekend|date=13 November 2018|publisher=Sky Sports|access-date=18 November 2018}} This is also the fourth year since promotion and relegation was reintroduced into the competition.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/28285307 |title=Joey Grima: London Broncos' Super League relegation expected |publisher=BBC Sport |date=13 July 2014 |access-date=11 October 2018}} London Broncos were promoted from the Championship after defeating Toronto Wolfpack in the final Million Pound Game to compete in Super League for the first time since 2014.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/rugby/toronto-wolfpack-london-broncos-1.4853964 |title=Wolfpack fall short of Super League promotion after loss to Broncos |publisher=CBC |access-date=11 October 2018}} They also received special dispensation from the RFL to play their home Super League matches at their Trailfinders Sports Ground, which they share with rugby union's Ealing Trailfinders, even though it is smaller than the RFL's minimum seating requirements.{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12212/11521368/danny-ward-to-keep-faith-with-london-broncos-promotion-heroes |title=Danny Ward to keep faith with London Broncos' promotion heroes |publisher=Sky Sports |date=8 October 2018 |access-date=11 October 2018}} London replaced Widnes Vikings who were relegated last season.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/45784706 |title=Harrison Hansen: Widnes Vikings forward signs one-year deal with relegated club |publisher=BBC Sport |date=1 January 1970 |access-date=11 October 2018}}

Just prior to the start of the season Wigan Warriors were fined and deducted two competition points for breaching the salary cap in 2017;

{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/47058989 |title=Wigan Warriors: Super League champions receive two-point deduction |work=BBC Sport |date=30 January 2019 |access-date=6 March 2019}} 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.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/47471484 |title=Wigan Warriors; Super League champions two-point deduction suspended for 12 months|work=BBC Sport |date=6 March 2019 |access-date=6 March 2019}}

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{{location map+ |France|float=right |width=350 |caption=Locations of Super League XXIV teams |places=

{{Location map~ |France |lat=42.7205 |long=2.88445 |label=

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Twelve teams were selected to play in the inaugural Super League season.

{{Main article|Super League XXIV results}}

Golden-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 adopting golden point during regular season for the first time as of the start of the 2019 season, bringing it in line with the NRL which has been using the system since 2003.{{cite web|author=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/46264032 |title=Super League: Golden-point extra time introduced for regular season from 2019 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=19 November 2018 |access-date=19 November 2018}}

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.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/46728551 |title=Super League law changes: Golden-point extra-time and shot clocks confirmed for 2019 |work=BBC Sport |date=1 January 2019 |access-date=1 January 2019}}

The 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.

{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/47294114 |title=Super League: Wigan Warriors 22–23 Hull FC |work=BBC Sport |date=24 February 2019 |access-date=24 February 2019}}

The 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 40m field goal from Brad Dwyer after the scores were tied at 20-all after 80 minutes.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/47707608|title=Super League: Dwyer kicks 40m golden point drop goal, to seal Leeds win. |work=BBC Sport |date=28 March 2019}}

The 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 a Marc Sneyd field 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.{{cite news |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/47866699|title=Super League: Sneyd kicks golden point drop goal, to seal Hull a second golden point Extra time win. |work=BBC Sport |date=12 April 2019}}

The 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 a Peter Matautia field goal, after the scores were tied at 26-all after 80 minutes.{{cite news |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/48515239|title=Super League: Mata'utia golden point drop goal, seals Tigers victory. |work=BBC Sport |date=7 June 2019}}

The 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 a Morgan Smith field goal, after the scores were tied at 22-all after 80 minutes.{{cite news |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/48516194|title=Super League: Broncos stun St Helens with golden-point win. |work=BBC Sport |date=9 June 2019}}

The 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 a Danny McGuire field 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

The 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.

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{{Super League XXIV regular season table}}

The play-off system in use for 2019 was also previously used between 1998 and 2001.

{{5TeamBracket-2Elim-B

| team-width=150

| RD1 = Qualifying play-off
DW Stadium

| RD1b= Elimination play-off
Halliwell Jones Stadium

| RD2 = Qualifying semi-final
Totally Wicked Stadium

| RD2b= Elimination semi-final
AJ Bell Stadium

| RD3b= Preliminary final
DW Stadium

| RD4 = Grand Final
Old Trafford

| RD1-team1 = {{leagueicon|wigan|12px}} Wigan Warriors

| RD1-score1 = 18

| RD1-team2 = {{leagueicon|salford city|12px}} Salford Red Devils

| RD1-score2 = 12

| RD1-team3 = {{leagueicon|warrington|12px}} Warrington Wolves

| RD1-score3 = 12

| RD1-team4 = {{leagueicon|castleford|12px}} Castleford Tigers

| RD1-score4 = 14

| RD2-team1 = {{leagueicon|st Helens|12}} St. Helens

| RD2-score1 = 40

| RD2-team2 = {{leagueicon|wigan|12px}} Wigan Warriors

| RD2-score2 = 10

| RD2-team3 = {{leagueicon|salford city|12px}} Salford Red Devils

| RD2-score3 = 22

| RD2-team4 ={{leagueicon|castleford|12px}} Castleford Tigers

| RD2-score4 = 0

| RD3-team1 = {{leagueicon|wigan|12px}} Wigan Warriors

| RD3-score1 = 4

| RD3-team2 = {{leagueicon|salford city|12px}} Salford Red Devils

| RD3-score2 = 28

| RD4-team1 = {{leagueicon|st Helens|12}} St. Helens

| RD4-score1 = 23

| RD4-team2 = {{leagueicon|salford city|12px}} Salford Red Devils

| RD4-score2 = 6

}}

{{Main|2019 Super League Grand Final}}

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Statistics correct, as of 20 September 2019 (Play off game 2)

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Statistics correct as of 20 September 2019 (playoffs game 2)

(The 5 nominations for the man of steel awards were as follows)

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 Prescott Man of Steel award 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 the NRL equivalent 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 the Steve Prescott Man of Steel Awards ceremony in October.

Salford's

Jackson Hastings was eventually crowned Man of Steel on 6 October 2019.

• Coach of the year: {{flagicon|AUS}} Justin Holbrook
• Foundation of the year: {{leagueicon|Warrington|13}} Warrington Wolves
• Hit Man: {{flagicon|ENG}} Danny Houghton (1259 tackles)
• Man of Steel: {{flagicon|AUS}} Jackson Hastings
• Metre-maker: {{flagicon|ENG}} 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: {{flagicon|ENG}} Tommy Makinson (23)
• Young player of the year: {{flagicon|ENG}} Matty Lees

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Average attendances

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Top 10 attendances

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* As of 12 October 2019

{{reflist}}

{{2019 in rugby league}}

{{Super League}}