2024 Super League season explained

2024 Super League season
League:Super League
Pixels:200
Duration:27 rounds
No Of Teams:12
Highest Attendance:20,511
Lowest Attendance:1,900
Tv:
Biggest Away Win:Huddersfield Giants Warrington Wolves
Matches:166
League Leaders:Wigan Warriors
League Leaders Name:League Leaders Shield
Season:2024 Season
Season Champs:Wigan Warriors
(7th Super League title
24th British title
Season Champ Name:Champions
Second Place:Hull KR
Mvp: Mikey Lewis
Mvp Link:Man of Steel AwardsMan of Steel
Membership Type:Grading
Join:Wakefield Trinity
Join Method:Elevated
Leave:London Broncos
Leave Reason:Demoted
Prevseason Link:2023 Super League season
Prevseason Year:2023
Nextseason Link:2025 Super League season
Nextseason Year:2025

The 2024 Super League season, known as the 2024 Betfred Super League for sponsorship reasons, was the 29th season of the Super League and 130th season of rugby league in Great Britain.

Wigan Warriors were the defending champions, having beaten Catalans Dragons in the Grand Final, to win their sixth Super League title.[1] They retained their title by defeating Hull KR 9–2 in the Final, and by doing so, they become the first team in Super League history to win all 4 major trophies in the same year.

London Broncos were promoted from the Championship, having beaten Toulouse Olympique in the Championship Grand Final.[2]

Hull KR reached their first ever Grand Final, after a narrow 10–8 victory over Warrington Wolves in the semi finals.

Structure changes

At the end of the 2023 season, IMG and the Rugby Football League (RFL) released initial gradings, indicating which league clubs would likely be playing in from the 2025 system. This transition to the new gradings-based system means there will be no automatic relegation as a result of finishing 12th from 2024.

On 23 October, the RFL released the gradings for the 2025 season, which saw London Broncos relegated back to the Championship, with Wakefield Trinity being promoted.

Broadcasting

In a major change for the 2024 season, for the first time every fixture from the 27 regular rounds as well as the play-offs was broadcast live on Sky Sports, who had exclusive rights to two fixtures per round, with four being shown on a new streaming service, SuperLeague+.[3] The games televised by Sky Sports between round 1 and round 15 were confirmed prior to the start of the season.[4]

On 7 February, BBC Sport announced a three-year deal with the league, replacing Channel 4 as the league's free-to-air partner.[5] Ten games per season will be shown live on television, with a further five shown on iPlayer, the BBC's streaming platform. The deal ended the BBC's Super League Show after 25 years, with condensed highlights of all games being added to iPlayer within 24 hours.

Teams

The league comprises 12 teams. The regular season comprises 27 rounds.Wigan Warriors are the defending champions after winning the 2023 Grand Final. Wakefield Trinity finished bottom in 2023 and were relegated to the Championship for 2024, they were replaced by promoted London Broncos who won the 2023 Championship Grand Final after finishing 5th in the table.

width=150Team2023 positionGrading[6] Stadium
(Capacity)
City/Town
Castleford Tigers
11thBMend-A-Hose Jungle (12,000)[7] Castleford, West Yorkshire
Catalans Dragons
2nd (Runner-up)AStade Gilbert Brutus (13,000)[8] Perpignan, Pyrénées-Orientales, France
Huddersfield Giants
9thBJohn Smith's Stadium(24,121)[9] Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
Hull FC
10thAMKM Stadium (25,400)[10] Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire
Hull Kingston Rovers
(2024 season)
4th (Eliminated in Semi final)ASewell Group Craven Park (12,225)[11] Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire
Leeds Rhinos
8thAHeadingley Rugby Stadium(21,062)[12] Leeds, West Yorkshire
Leigh Leopards
5th (Eliminated in Eliminator play off)BLeigh Sports Village (11,000)Leigh, Greater Manchester
London Broncos
(2024 season)
5th in Championship, PromotedBCherry Red Records Stadium (9,215)Wimbledon, London
Salford Red Devils
7thBSalford Community Stadium (12,000)[13] Salford, Greater Manchester
St Helens
3rd (Eliminated in Semi final)ATotally Wicked Stadium (18,000)[14] St Helens, Merseyside
Warrington Wolves6th (Eliminated in Eliminator play off)AHalliwell Jones Stadium(15,200)[15] Warrington, Cheshire
  Wigan Warriors
(2024 season)
1st (Champions)ABrick Community Stadium(25,133)[16] Wigan, Greater Manchester

Fixtures and results

See main article: 2024 Super League season results.

Matches decided by golden point

See also: golden point. If a match ends in a draw after 80 minutes, then a further 10 minutes of golden point extra time is played, to determine a winner (five minutes each way). The first team to score either a try, penalty goal or drop goal during this period, will win the match. However, if there are no further scores during the additional 10 minutes period, then the match will end in a draw.

Game 1 (Leigh Leopards v Castleford Tigers)

The round 10 game between Leigh Leopards and Castleford Tigers on 4 May 2024, finished 28–28 after 80 minutes, after Castleford scored a last minute try to level the scores. The game then went to extra time, with the only real chance coming in the 8th added minute, as Matt Moylan's drop goal attempt hit the post. Neither team could score any points, so the game ended as a draw.

Game 2 (Leeds Rhinos v London Broncos)

The round 16 game between Leeds Rhinos and London Broncos on 6 July 2024, finished 16–16 after 80 minutes, after Leeds scored a late try to level the scores. The game then went to extra time, with the only chance coming in the 4th added minute, as Brodie Croft kicked the winning drop goal to win the match for Leeds 17–16.

Game 3 (Hull KR v Catalans Dragons)

The round 16 fixture between Hull Kingston Rovers and Catalans Dragons on 6 July 2024, finished 14–14 after 80 minutes, as Rovers kicked a late penalty goal to level the scores.The game then went to extra time, but neither team could score any points during the first period. With less than 3 minutes of the second period remaining, Theo Fages kicked the winning drop goal to win the match for Catalans 15–14.

Game 4 (St Helens v Salford Red Devils)

The round 21 fixture between St Helens and Salford Red Devils on 8 August 2024, finished 16–16 after 80 minutes.The game then went to extra time, With Moses Mbye kicking the winning drop goal, to win the game for St Helens 17-16.

Game 5 (London Broncos v Leeds Rhinos)

The round 24 fixture between London Broncos and Leeds Rhinos on 1 September 2024, finished 20–20 after 80 minutes, after London scored a late try to level the scores. The game then went to extra time, and with less than a minute of the second half remaining, Brodie Croft kicked the winning drop goal once again, just as he did in the reverse fixture in round 16, to win the game for Leeds 21-20.

Game 6 (Warrington Wolves v St Helens)

The Elimination play off fixture between Warrington Wolves and St Helens on 28 September 2024, finished 22-22 after 80 minutes, after Jon Bennison scored a last minute try for St Helens to bring St Helens to within 2 points. Mark Percival then kicked the conversion from the touchline to level the scores. The game then went to extra time, with the only chance coming in the 85th minute, with George Williams kicking the winning drop goal for Warrington, after Percival had kicked the ball out on the full.

Play-offs

See also: 2024 Super League Grand Final.

Team bracket

Week 1: Eliminators

----This match was broadcast on BBC Two and set a new television audience record for a Super League playoff game at 385,000, beating the previous record of 330,000 set in 2022 with St Helens against Salford.[17]

Week 2: Semi-finals

Hull KR were without captain Elliot Minchella, after he was handed a 2 match suspension.[18] --------

Week 3: Grand Final

See main article: 2024 Super League Grand Final.

End-of-season awards

The end of season awards took place on Tuesday 8 October. The winners were:

  • Man of Steel

Mikey Lewis

Player statistics

Top points scorer

Attendances

Club attendances

ClubHome GamesTotalAverageHighest Lowest
Castleford Tigers 13 10,117 6,965
Catalans Dragons 13 11,083 7,750
13 6,812 3,330
Hull FC 13 20,014 5,771
Hull KR 13 128,479  11,050 9,524
Leeds Rhinos 13 17,535 12,297
Leigh Leopards 13 10,308 6,677
London Broncos13 5,102 1,900
13 6,177 2,843
St Helens 13 17,980 9,808
13 12,181 8,471
Wigan Warriors 13 20,152 11,660

Top 10 attendances

Rank Home team Away team Stadium Attendance
1 30,810
2 22,293
3 20,152
4 20,014
5 17,980
6 17,535
7 16,719
8 16,053
9 15,764
10 15,589

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Wigan seal 6th super league title with win over Catalans. 14 October 2023. BBC Sport. 21 October 2023. 20 October 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231020100223/https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-league/67075882. live.
  2. Web site: London Broncos promoted to super league. 15 October 2023. BBC Sport. 21 October 2023. 20 October 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231020235036/https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-league/67105947. live.
  3. Web site: Launching SuperLeague+ . Super League . 25 January 2024 . 23 January 2024 . 25 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240125135946/https://www.superleague.co.uk/article/3915/launching-superleague+ . live .
  4. Web site: 2024 Fixtures Released . Super League . 25 January 2024 . 23 November 2023 . 25 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240125135946/https://www.superleague.co.uk/article/3915/launching-superleague%20 . live .
  5. News: Super League: BBC to show live games for first time after signing three-year broadcast deal . 7 February 2024 . 10 February 2024 . BBC Sport . 8 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240208203744/https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-league/68229917 . live .
  6. Web site: Seven Betfred Super League clubs awarded Grade A status . Rugby-League.com . 28 February 2024 . 25 October 2023 . 28 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240228110219/https://www.rugby-league.com/article/62264/seven-betfred-super-league-clubs-awarded-grade-a-status . live .
  7. Web site: The Jungle (Wheldon Road). castlefordtigers.com. 5 October 2023. 29 September 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220929071925/https://www.castlefordtigers.com/club.php?show=currentstadium. live.
  8. Web site: Stade Gilbert Brutus. catalan dragons.com. 5 October 2023. 30 September 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220930094918/http://www.catalansdragons.com/en/articles-129/131-16-gilbert-brutus-stadium/. live.
  9. Web site: Kirklees Stadium . johnsmithsstadium.com.
  10. Web site: KCOM Stadium. kcomstadium.com/. 5 October 2023. 14 October 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231014052620/http://kcomstadium.com/. live.
  11. Web site: Craven Park, Hull. hullkr.co.uk. 5 October 2023. 10 October 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231010160509/https://hullkr.co.uk/. live.
  12. Web site: Headingley Rugby Stadium. therhinos.co.uk. 14 December 2016. 5 October 2023. 5 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211005192918/https://www.therhinos.co.uk/emerald-headingley/history/headingley-carnegie-stadium/. live.
  13. Web site: AJ Bell Stadium. ajbellstadium.co.uk/. 5 October 2023. 13 October 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231013214135/https://www.ajbellstadium.co.uk/. live.
  14. Web site: Totally Wicked Stadium. saintsrlfc.com. 5 October 2023. 17 December 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191217142017/https://www.saintsrlfc.com/club/29/. live.
  15. Web site: Halliwell Jones Stadium . halliwelljonesstadium.co.uk/.
  16. Web site: DW Stadium. wiganwarriors.com. 6 October 2023. 5 October 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231005144807/https://wiganwarriors.com/club/facilities/dw-stadium. live.
  17. Web site: Warrington Wolves and St Helens set outrageous viewing figures record. 1 October 2024. Love Rugby League.
  18. Web site: Elliot Minchella: Hull KR captain's two-match ban upheld by panel. 24 September 2024. BBC Sport. 24 September 2024. 24 September 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240924192713/https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-league/articles/c93y404yx4do.amp. live.