Super League IX

Super League IX
League Super League
Duration 28 Rounds
Number 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)
Aggregate attendance 1,439,706 Increase
(average 8,570)
Broadcast partners United Kingdom Sky Sports
2004 Season
Champions Leeds Rhinos
1st Super League title
4th English title
League Leaders Leeds Rhinos
Man of Steel Andrew Farrell
Top point-scorer(s) Kevin Sinfield (277)
Top try-scorer(s) Lesley Vainikolo (36)
Promotion and relegation
Promoted from National League 1 Leigh Centurions
Relegated to National League 1 Castleford Tigers
< 2003 Seasons 2005 >

Tetley's Super League IX was the name of the 2004 Super League championship season due to sponsorship by Tetley's Bitter.[1] 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 and so far only team 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.

Table

    		 Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
    1 Leeds Rhinos 2824221037443+59450
    2 Bradford Bulls 282017918565+35341
    3 Hull 281927843478+36540
    4 Wigan Warriors 281747736558+17838
    5 St. Helens 2817110821662+15935
    6 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 2815013788662+12630
    7 Huddersfield Giants 2812016518757−23924
    8 Warrington Wolves 2810117700715−1521
    9 Salford City Reds 288020507828−32116
    10 London Broncos 287121561968−40715
    11 Widnes Vikings 287021466850−38414
    12 Castleford Tigers 286022515924−40912
      Teams qualifying for the Play-offs
      Relegated

    Source: Rugby League Project.
    Classification: 1st on competition points; 2nd on match points difference.
    Competition points: for win = 2; for draw = 1; for loss = 0.

    Play-offs

      Elimination play-offs   Qualifying / Elimination semi-finals   Elimination final   Grand Final
                                     
      QSF:  
    1   Leeds Rhinos 12  
    2   Bradford Bulls 26         GF:
            Leeds Rhinos 16
      EPO1:     EF:       Bradford Bulls 8
      3   Hull 18         Leeds Rhinos 40  
      6   Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 28   ESF:       Wigan Warriors 12
          Wigan Warriors 18  
    EPO2:       Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 14
      4   Wigan Warriors 18  
      5   St. Helens 12
       
    Key:         Losing team progressing     Winning team progressing

    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][3] 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][4] 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][3] 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][4] 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.[3] An RFL spokesman said: "To increase our overall take in a falling market is a major step forward for our game".[4] 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.[3] Previously, a deal with the BBC had seen a Sky highlights package shown in the BBC's northern regions.[3]

    See also

    References

    1. 1 2 3 4 5 Telegraph (2004-02-03). "More money for League from TV deal". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-07-24.
    2. 1 2 Andy Wilson (2004-02-04). "New Sky deal gives League £53m boost". Guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-07-25.
    3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Christopher Irvine (2004-02-04). "BBC seals terrestrial broadcasting deal". Times Online. Retrieved 2009-07-25.
    4. 1 2 3 Dave Hadfield (2004-02-04). "RFL secures £53m five-year television contract". Independent.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-07-25.
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