2004 Super League season explained

Super League IX
League:Super League
Pixels:90px
Duration:28 Rounds
No Of Teams:12
Highest Attendance:23,375
Bradford Bulls vs Leeds Rhinos (2 July)
Lowest Attendance:2,198
London Broncos vs Salford City Reds (28 March)
Attendance:1,439,706
(average 8,570)
Tv:Sky Sports
Season:2004 Season
Season Champs:Leeds Rhinos
1st Super League title
4th British title
Season Champ Name:Champions
League Leaders:Leeds Rhinos
League Leaders Name:League Leaders
Mvp Link:Man of Steel AwardsMan of Steel
Top Scorer: Kevin Sinfield (277)
Top Try Scorer: Lesley Vainikolo (36)
Promote:Leigh Centurions
Promote From:National League One
Relegate:Castleford Tigers
Relegate To:National League One
Prevseason Link:Super League VIII
Prevseason Year:2003
Nextseason Link:Super League X
Nextseason Year:2005

Tetley's Super League IX was the name of the 2004 Super League championship season due to sponsorship by Tetley's Bitter. This was the 110th season of top-level professional rugby league held in Britain, and the ninth championship decided by Super League. The season culminated in the grand final between Leeds Rhinos and Bradford Bulls, which Leeds won, claiming the 2004 title.

Season summary

During this season Leeds claimed a couple of records, they became the 1st team until Castleford in 2017 to accumulate 50 points from the regular rounds and finished a record 9 points clear of 2nd placed Bradford Bulls, they also became only the 2nd team in the Super League era to finish at home with a 100% record in the regular weekly rounds. Lesley Vainikolo scored more tries than anybody else that season with 37, beating Danny McGuire who finished on 36.

Media

Television

Live Super League IX matches were broadcast in the United Kingdom by Sky Sports in the first year of a new five-year television deal.[1] The contract was signed less than three weeks before the start of the season.[2] The deal, worth £53 million, represented a 15 percent, or £7 million, increase on the last contract.[1] The contract would run until the end of the 2008 season and also cover the international game minus the 2008 World Cup, which is worth £5 million of the total amount.[1] It was speculated in the media that clubs would receive around £700,000-£800,000 per year from the deal - less than the £1 million clubs received in 1995 when British rugby league agreed to switch to a summer season.[1] The clubs had received in initial offer of £55.5 million from Sky, one of two offers rejected; after that offer was declined the amount was reduced with the final figure agreed being settled later after an intervention by Maurice Lindsay.[3] Sky's offer took into account their dissatisfaction with the - BBC requested - proposed move of the Challenge Cup Final to between May and August in 2005, which they believed was too near to the October Grand Final. An RFL spokesman said: "To increase our overall take in a falling market is a major step forward for our game".[3] Vic Wakeling speaking for Sky said: "Our relationship with rugby league is one of the longest in the 12-year history of Sky Sports and we are delighted to be announcing the same again in terms of Super League and international rights.[2]

The BBC secured secondary broadcast rights to show the Super League play-offs and Grand Final nationally with a provision to show match highlights of regular season games.[4] Previously, a deal with the BBC had seen a Sky highlights package shown in the BBC's northern regions.[4]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: More money for League from TV deal . Telegraph.co.uk . Telegraph. 2004-02-03 . 2009-07-24.
  2. Web site: New Sky deal gives League £53m boost . Guardian.co.uk . Andy Wilson. 2004-02-04 . 2009-07-25.
  3. News: RFL secures £53m five-year television contract . Independent.co.uk . Dave Hadfield. 2004-02-04 . 2009-07-25.
  4. News: BBC seals terrestrial broadcasting deal . Times Online . Christopher Irvine. 2004-02-04 . 2009-07-25.