Play-Offs

• The Super League Play-offs will begin during September (Dates TBC).
• The clubs finishing in the top eight places at the end of 27 rounds will participate in the Play-offs.
• In a system unique to any sport, the winning team from week one with the highest league placing at the end of the regular season will be allowed to select their Qualifying Semi-final opponents from the two lowest-ranked winners in week two.
• The winners of the Grand Final are crowned Super League Champions.
• The Grand Final will be staged at Old Trafford, Manchester, on Saturday October 6.
• Rather than receiving medals for their victory, the players of the winning Grand Final team each receive solid gold ‘Championship’ rings.

WEEK ONE (September 15,16,17)

Four matches will take place on Week One, effectively in two pools: the Qualifying Play-offs and the Elimination Play-offs

Qualifying Play-offs

These matches involve the teams who finish in the top four. They are:

1st v 4th
2nd v 3rd

The winners of these two games will progress directly to Week Three. The highest-ranked winning club will have Clubcall, whereby they choose who they play in Week Three.

The losers of these two matches will have another chance in Week Two, when they will be at home to the winners of the Week One Elimination Play-offs.

Elimination Play-offs

These matches involve the teams who finish fifth to eighth. They are:

5th v 8th
6th v 7th

The winners of both these matches will progress to Week Two. The losers are eliminated.

WEEK TWO (September 21,22,23)

There are two matches in Week Two, called the Preliminary Semi-finals.

Preliminary Semi-Final 1

Highest ranked Qualifying Play-off losing team (1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th) v Lowest ranked Elimination Play-off winning team (5th, 6th, 7th or 8th)

• Winners to Clubcall
• Loser eliminated

Preliminary Semi-Final 2

Lowest ranked Qualifying Play-off losing team (1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th) v Highest ranked Elimination Play-off winning team (5th, 6th, 7th or 8th)

• Winners to Clubcall
• Loser eliminated

Clubcall (Sunday, September 23)

Clubcall will take place in September (approx the second weekend of the Play-offs) and will be hosted by the highest ranked winning club from Week One.

• The host club will select who they play in Week Three and can only select from the winners of the two Preliminary Semi-finals (Week Two) – they cannot choose the other Qualifying Play-offs winner.
• The highest ranked club from the Qualifying Play-offs (Week One) must choose their opponents – they cannot cede the responsibility to the other Qualifying Play-offs winner.
• The team with Clubcall and the other Qualifying Play-off winners from Week One are guaranteed home advantage in Week Three. For example, should the teams that ended the regular season in 1st and 2nd place lose their opening play-off match, they could still find themselves playing away to the 3rd or 4th placed teams in Week Three.

WEEK THREE (September 28,29,30)

Two matches again, losers eliminated from each, winners go through to contest the Super League Grand Final.

Qualifying Semi-Final One
Highest ranked QPO Winner v Clubcall selected club

Qualifying Semi-Final Two
Second ranked QPO Winner v Club not selected for Clubcall

WEEK FOUR (Saturday, October 6 2012)

Stobart Super League Grand Final, Old Trafford, Manchester: KO 18:00

Can any team have Clubcall?
No. The highest ranked winning club from Week One will have Clubcall, whereby they choose their opponents in Week Three. Only a team that ended the regular season in 1st, 2nd or 3rd can win Clubcall.

Will the teams who finished 1st or 2nd at the end of the regular season be guaranteed home advantage in Week Three should they progress?
No. The two highest rank teams after Week One (the team with Clubcall and the other Qualifying Play-off winners) are guaranteed home advantage in Week Three. For example, should the teams that ended the regular season in 1st and 2nd place lose their opening play-off match, they could still find themselves playing away to the 3rd or 4th placed teams in Week Three.

Does the Clubcall team have to choose their opponents or can they relinquish the responsibility to the other Qualifying Play-offs winner?
The highest ranked club from the Qualifying Play-offs (Week One) must choose their opponents – they cannot relinquish the responsibility to the other Qualifying Play-offs winner. In addition, they can only select from the winners of the two Preliminary Semi-finals (Week Two) – they cannot choose the other Qualifying Play-offs winner.