League Leaders' Shield

The League Leaders' Shield is a trophy awarded to the team finishing the season top of Super League in the sport of rugby league football. This regular portion of the season precedes the playoffs for the eventual Super League Grand Final. The trophy was first awarded in Super League VIII in 2003.

Bradford Bulls won the first shield in 2003, but St. Helens have won it most, winning it on a total of 8 occasions.

Wigan Warriors became only the 2nd team (along with St Helens), to retain the shield in 2024.

History From 1907 until 1973 the Championship was awarded to the team winning a top-four play-off (excluding the 2 seasons 1962–63 and 1963–64, when the championship was awarded to the top-placed team). From 1907 to 1962 no prize was awarded to the team finishing top. From 1965 to 1973 a 'League Leaders' Trophy' was introduced to reward the team finishing top. In 1996, Super League was formed but continued to use the league to decide the champions until 1998, when they adopted a play-off structure for the championship. Between 1998 and 2002 no trophy was awarded for coming top of the league in the regular season, and it would not be until the 2003 season when the League Leaders' Shield was first awarded.

From 2015 to 2017, League Leaders' Shield winners would participate in the short lived World Club Series. 2015 also saw the prize money increase from £50,000 to £100,000.

In 2016, the League Leaders were awarded medals for the first time.

Shield winners

YearLeague leadersPtsRunners upPts2003 Bradford Bulls (C)44 Leeds Rhinos412004 Leeds Rhinos (C)50 Bradford Bulls412005 St. Helens47 Leeds Rhinos442006 St. Helens (C)48 Hull F.C.402007 St. Helens38 Leeds Rhinos (C)372008 St. Helens43 Leeds Rhinos (C)422009 Leeds Rhinos (C)42 St Helens382010 Wigan Warriors (C)44 St Helens402011 Warrington Wolves44 Wigan Warriors432012 Wigan Warriors42 Warrington Wolves412013 Huddersfield Giants42 Warrington Wolves412014 St. Helens (C)38 Wigan Warriors372015 Leeds Rhinos (C)41 Wigan Warriors412016 Warrington Wolves43 Wigan Warriors (C)422017 Castleford Tigers50 Leeds Rhinos (C)402018 St. Helens42 Wigan Warriors (C)322019 St. Helens (C)52 Wigan Warriors362020 Wigan Warriors 76.47a St. Helens (C) 70.59a2021 Catalans Dragons 82.61a St. Helens (C) 76.19a2022 St. Helens (C)42 Wigan Warriors382023 Wigan Warriors (C)40 Catalans Dragons402024 Wigan Warriors (C)44 Hull KR422025 Hull Kingston Rovers (C)44 Wigan Warriors422026 Wigan Warriors44 Leeds Rhinos40 a: Shield winners decided by win percentage rather than points (C) - Team also won the Grand Final to be crowned champions.

Winners ClubWinsWinning years St. Helens8 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2022 Wigan Warriors6 2010, 2012, 2020, 2023, 2024, 2026 Leeds Rhinos3 2004, 2009, 2015 Warrington Wolves22011, 2016 Bradford Bulls1 2003 Huddersfield Giants12013 Castleford Tigers12017 Catalans Dragons12021 Hull Kingston Rovers12025

The Treble

The Quadruple

League Leaders' Shield

Bron en licentie