The League Leaders’ Shield has been something of an afterthought for those chasing Super League glory in the Grand Final in recent years. Many teams have tried to peak at the right time for a four-week play-off series. But the sport’s new structure has produced the closest race for top spot in the history of Super League, and all the teams involved in the race are taking it seriously.
In an attempt to make the trophy more appealing, the Rugby Football League has doubled the prize money for finishing first to £100,000 and guaranteed the victors a place in next year’s World Club Series.
The RFL has also attempted to ramp up the drama by revealing a helicopter will be on standby to deliver the trophy to the winners on Friday evening, with the destination either Huddersfield or Wigan. With St Helens’ mathematical chances ended by Thursday’s home defeat to Warrington, it is now a three-horse race to decide who finishes top, with Huddersfield, Wigan and the current league leaders Leeds all in the running.
For Leeds, the equation is fairly simple. The Rhinos, who have been top for most of the season, simply need to win at Huddersfield on Friday and their significant points difference will act as a firm buffer for what is happening elsewhere. But after three consecutive losses following their Challenge Cup success at Wembley last month, the once-overwhelming favourites to finish top are vulnerable, with the Leeds coach, Brian McDermott, acknowledging his side’s determination to hold on and finish top for the first time in six years.
“It’s interesting how it’s panned out and it’s completely fascinating that for the first time in Super League, four teams are at the top of the tree and they could all get to the Grand Final and win it – we’ve never had this competitiveness,” he said.
“You’d generally write the odd team off – sometimes wrongly – but if you ask most people they wouldn’t be able to split all four of these sides and it’s great for the game.
It’s now hard to get hold of the League Leaders’ Shield with this new system and a 30-round season. We value finishing top and we’d be very proud to get the trophy.”
Should Leeds slip up again, it would open the door for Wigan to claim the League Leaders’ Shield for the first time since 2012. All they would have to do in that scenario is beat Castleford at home but the Wigan coach, Shaun Wane, is focusing on making sure his side secure a top-two finish and a home semi-final with a win.
“It’s very exciting, it’s what the RFL wanted, every game matters this weekend,” said Wane. “We’re in control of getting a home semi-final and we’ve a chance of getting first, so we need to make sure we need to take advantage.
“Finishing top is important for obvious reasons but we’ve got to make sure we get that home semi-final first and foremost.”
Were Wigan to lose at home for the first time in over a year though, it would be Huddersfield, arguably the form side of the Super 8s, who would claim a second League Leaders’ Shield in three years by beating Leeds.
“When people talk about the big clubs out there, they don’t mention Huddersfield which I think is disrespectful to us,” said their coach, Paul Anderson.
“We’ve got an opportunity to go out there and show everybody what we’re about. If we win three games, it might be the stepping stone we need to push this club to the next level.”
There are plenty of permutations, and those watching on television on Friday evening are likely to see that helicopter on plenty of occasions, as another dramatic night could ensure its destination will not be certain until the very last minute.
