It may just be one of the country’s best-kept sporting secrets. A jewel that shines in its own right. But one which is dimmed by the popularity of other sports. I’m talking about Super League Rugby.
It’s probably a bit unfortunate for the sport that the timing of the start of the new season puts it alongside the start of the RBS Six Nations over in the rival Union code. That certainly doesn’t help in trying to pull more support.
But this season, the powers-that-be are determined to raise the profile of the sport. To that end, they have shaken up the format of the Super League. There are also new rules to make it a little bit more exciting. Before I delve into the season preview, it’s worth taking a look at the changes. They could make this a defining season for this hidden jewel. After all, this is a sport which has Magic Weekend – what could be better than that?
The Shake Up
It’s a hard-hitting sport. It’s a sport where matches go through spells of high intensity. However, a lot of time wasting at things like the scrum and the dropouts have crept into the game. These are moments which players have exploited to knock seconds off the clock. No longer though, because a version of a ‘shot clock’ has been introduced to make sure the game is kept moving.
Also coming in for this season, and this could be pivotal for in-play betting, is that interchanges have been cut back from 10 to 8 per team per game. So the big hitting forwards, who generally get swapped around during a match to get a breather, won’t get as much opportunity to do so. That means there is more fatigue likely to set in. Which means mistakes. Which means more exciting climaxes, hopefully.
New Route to the Grand Final
There are two parts of a Super League season. There’s the regular season where the team who finishes top is awarded the League Leader Shield. Then a play off system has determined the Grand Final champions. That Super 8 play-off system has been kicked to the touchline. Even relegation was not a straightforward affair, but that’s all changed now.
At the end of the regular season, the top five in the league move through to a new playoff system. It’s a good play off system as well. The fifth-placed team has to work harder than the team who finished first in the standings to reach the Grand Final basically. Making a lot more sense is the new relegation. The bottom side will be dumped to the second tier at the end of the season. The winner of the second tier joins the top flight for the following season. Simple enough.
Super League XXIV Season Preview
Last season was a season of upsets. Leeds Rhinos were the reigning champions but had a stinker. At one point they were on a ten-match losing streak. Needless to say, they didn’t get through to even the Super 8’s. St Helens took the League Leaders Shield last season and were backed for more.
Because of the immense scoring power which they had produced over the course of the season, they were favourites to lift the Grand Final title. It didn’t pan out that way though. The favourites lost in the play offs against Warrington which was a huge upset.
But the Saints are expected to come back strongly, with the top bookmakers having them as 3/1 joint-favourites to win the regular season. They are the same price to lift the Grand Final crown too. The main challengers look to be Warrington, who made something of a surprise run to the final last season.
Warrriors to take extra step?
It was the Warriors who took out St Helens in the playoffs to make the Grand Final. They were stopped heavily in their tracks in that finale though by Wigan. But still, that was a strong campaign from the Warriors who have added key pieces this season to make a stronger assault on the title.
Wigan is one of the most famous and most successful sides in the history of Rugby League. Last season they were second best to old rivals St Helens in both the regular season and after the Super 8’s. But that didn’t matter in the end as they had the last laugh. Wigan picked up the title in the Grand Final. Wigan are 9/2 with leading bookmakers to defend that title, which would be a huge feat in the current climate. The last team to defend a Grand Final title was Leeds back in 2012.
Broncos join the top flight
Coming up to the top flight this season from the second tier are the London Broncos. This is not an easy transition though and it will be interesting to see just how they manage life in the top flight. The Broncos come up, despite only finishing second to the Toronto Wolfpack in the second tier. But it was the Broncos who edged the Canadians away from home in a tense 4-2 play-off victory to earn promotion.
With the new rules in place this season, the top side in the second tier automatically earns promotion. The London Broncos are the 1/4 favourites for relegation from the Super League. Wouldn’t it be something if they were replaced the following season by the Wolfpack, eh?
The Power Trio
Leeds Rhinos 7. Wigan Warriors 4. St Helens 2. That sums up the last thirteen seasons of the Super League in terms of where the title has ended up going. No-one else has had a look in since the Bradford Bulls won the 2005 edition. That’s the kind of thing where proven winning mentality at certain clubs keeps coming through. The elite factor. Even after their horrible season last term Leeds are joint second favourites to lift the Grand Final title this year, bookies having them at 13/2 odds.
The Magic Weekend
Oh yes, I mentioned this right at the start and it would be remiss of me to not divulge a little further. For one special weekend, which this year is in late May at Anfield, all teams play a match at that one venue. The point? Nothing more than a huge spectacle to try and raise the profile of the game and get it some extra attention. It works.
Plenty to look forward to
So this new Super League season starts with the big shakeup in place. Hopefully, all the plans that have been laid out to make the game more dynamic and to shake off some of the sluggishness that has crept into it actually happens. There looks to be some big battles ahead both at the top, the race for a place in the new Top 5 Play-Offs and with straight-up relegation on the line. Bring it on!
