Top-six play-offs explained

After a top-five play-off system was used, a play-off structure involving the top six teams was used to determine the winners of the Super League competition in British rugby league from 2002 through to 2008.

Apart from the grand final, all matches were staged at the home ground of the team placed higher in the final league table. A similar system was used by the Australian National Soccer League. The A-League uses the same system to determine its champions, but with a subtle difference outlined below.

From week two on, the top-six play-offs system reflects exactly the Page playoff system.

With the expansion of Super League from 12 teams to 14 for 2009, the number of teams making the play-offs increased from 6 to 8. For details of the new system, see Super League play-offs.

How it worked

Week one

Week two

Week three

Week Four

The A-League system

(System used in season 2009/10, 2010/11,2011/12)
Week one

Week two

Week three

Week four

(System used after season 2012/13, which is also adopted to World Curling Championships since 2018):
Week one

Week two

Week three

Competitions

In addition to the Super League, the top-six system is also used in the Championship and the Championship One, as well Rugby League Conference National. A modified method was used in the 2018 Australian domestic limited-overs cricket tournament.

See also