Since 1998, a play-off system has been used to determine the Super League champions. The format has changed over the years, starting with a play-off involving first five, then six teams, eight, four and currently back to six. The play-off series culminates in the Super League Grand Final. Use of a play-off system to decide the Championship brought back a rugby league tradition that had previously fallen out of use. The Super League Premiership, which had previously taken place between the highest placed teams in the competition, was discontinued after the introduction of the Super League play-off series. This was because its purpose had been to take the place of the previous Championship-deciding play-off system.
Current play-Off system
2020–present: modified top six
A different version of playoffs using the top six teams was introduced.
The top-six Super League play-off structure:
Week one
Elimination Semi-final A: 3rd vs 6th
Elimination Semi-final B: 4th vs 5th
Week two
Semi-final 1: 1st vs winner of ESFA
Semi-final 2: 2nd vs winner of ESFB
Week three
Grand final: winners of semi-final 1 vs winners of semi-final 2
Grand final
Previous play-off systems
1998–2001, 2019: top five
The top-five play-off system was previously used between 1998 and 2005 and again in 2019. The same system was used in the NSWRL's Sydney Competition 1973-1994, the Australian Super League in its only season 1997, the VFL, 1972–1990 and New Zealand's Lion Red Cup, 1994–1996, and Bartercard Cup, 2000-2006.
From week two on the top-five play-offs system reflected exactly the Page playoff system.
The top-five Super League play-off structure:
Week one
Qualification Final: 2nd vs 3rd
Elimination Final: 4th vs 5th
Bye: 1st
Week two
Major Semi-final: 1st vs winners of qualification final
Minor Semi-final: losers of qualification final vs winners of elimination final
Week three
Preliminary Final: losers of major semi-final vs winners of minor semi-final
Bye: Winners of major semi-final
Week four
Grand final: winners of major semi-final vs winners of preliminary final
2002-2008: top six
From Super League VII in 2002 until Super League XIII in 2008, a play-off series involving the top six teams was used to determine the winners the Super League champions. Excluding the Grand Final, all matches were staged at the home ground of the team that finished higher in the final league table.
A similar system was used by the Australian National Soccer League and the A-League to decide its champions. From Week Two onwards, the top-six play-offs system reflects exactly the Page playoff system.
The top-six Super League play-off structure:
Week one
Elimination semi-final A: 3rd vs 6th
Elimination semi-final B: 4th vs 5th
Week two
Qualification match: 1st vs 2nd
Elimination final: winners of elimination semi-final A vs winners of elimination semi-final B
Week three
Final qualifier: losers of qualification match vs winners of elimination final
Week four
Grand final: winners of qualification match vs winners of final qualifier
2009-2014: top eight
For the Super League XIV season in 2009, a top-eight play-off system was introduced to replace the previous top-six system. This change coincided with an expansion of the competition from twelve to fourteen teams following the introduction of Super League licensing. The format was introduced following consultation and discussion with all 14 member clubs in Super League. The series lasted four weeks, culminating in the Grand Final at Old Trafford during October.
Week 1
Four matches took place on Week One, effectively in two pools: the Qualifying Play-Offs and the Elimination Play-Offs.
Week 1: Qualifying Play-Offs
These matches involved the teams who finish in the top four. They were:
1st v 4th
2nd v 3rd
The winners of these two games progressed directly to Week 3. The highest ranked winning club earned Club Call, whereby they chose their opponents in Week 3.
The losers of these two matches received another chance in Week 2 when they were at home to the winners of the Week 1 Elimination Play-Offs.
Week 1: Elimination Play-Offs
These matches involved the teams who finish from fourth through eighth. They were:
5th v 8th
6th v 7th
The winners of both matches progressed to Week 2; losers were eliminated.