Video - Step into unknown puts Super League in spotlight

That is the belief of enthused Leeds Rhinos chief executive Gary Hetherington following yesterday’s launch of the new competition.

The fixtures for the second phase of the First Utility Super League and Kingstone Press Championship campaigns were confirmed in Salford.

Under its bold new format, Super League’s top-eight now play another seven rounds against each other to jostle for the top-four and semi-final play-offs berths en route to Old Trafford.

Furthermore, in the Qualifiers, Super League’s bottom quartet are thrown in with the Championship’s leading four clubs over a seven game mini-division to help decide who will play in the top flight in 2016.

Hetherington, in charge of six-time champions Leeds, told The Yorkshire Post: “I think there’s going to be such a level of intensity and interest in these Super 8s.

“People will not only be interested in their own results but others as well and permutations of all that are fascinating.

“Fans will have a genuine interest in other games as it could affect their own team’s chances and it is a fascination we’ve never really had before.

“Likewise with what’s going on in the Championship – who might be coming up to Super League or out? We’ve never before had this level of drama and emotional attachment to all the fixtures and it is a new concept for the game, not only rugby league but sport in general.

“No other sports I’m aware of have this type of climax and the eyes of the sporting world will be on rugby league just to see how it does manage.”

The concept was originally conceived to bring added excitement to the competition and more competitive matches while re-introducing relegation and promotion in a sustainable way.

Leeds, who head the table by just a solitary point from second-placed St Helens, host Warrington Wolves in their first contest next Friday.

Hetherington feels the pressure is already on their rivals who finished sixth, four points adrift of the top-four.

For any of the top eight sides to reach the Grand Final they first have to make that leading quartet after seven more rounds but Hull FC are already six points behind Huddersfield Giants in fourth.

“The Super 8s concept in itself is a fascinating one because everyone’s trying to predict what might happen and no one knows,” admitted Hetherington.

“But we all know that the best eight teams coming together and playing each other every week, and where results are absolutely crucial, will bring out the best and, indeed, the worst in teams.

“Some I suspect will ultimately buckle and fold under the pressure and others may strive, carry on and come home with a real wet sail. To go into the semi-finals of the play-offs on the back of seven league games is going to be emotionally and physically a huge challenge not only for players and coaching staff but the fans, too.

“And it sets off like a handicap race; teams like Catalans and Hull are heavily handicapped as they have to have a flying start.

“And someone who many people would have fancied at the outset to win the comp’ – Warrington – they have a big handicap, too.

“When they come to Headingley next Friday they have to win. In many ways, for them, that’s a sudden-death game.

“They not only have to win that but the week after and the week after that, as do Catalans.”

Leeds second-row Stevie Ward, meanwhile, has lost his battle to be fit in time for tomorrow night’s Challenge Cup semi-final versus Saints at Warrington.

He has missed the last month with an ankle problem but hoped to be ready in time as the holders bid to reach Wembley for a fifth time in six years.

Australian centre Joel Moon is fit again, however, and included in Brian McDermott’s 19-man squad, while England hooker James Roby returns for Saints.

Wigan Warriors’ Super 8s home game against Catalans on September 5 will be held in London as part of a bid to strengthen their brand in the capital. The “on the road” fixture is at football club Millwall’s The Den, and Wigan chairman Ian Lenagan, a former majority shareholder of London Broncos, said: “We intend to leave our mark; it’s no half-hearted measure.

“It’s underpinned by a strong community programme, development of our London Business Club and opening of a Wigan office on Buckingham Palace Road.

“With a bigger fan base, more blue chip corporate support and access to a wider talent pool of players it will allow us to meet our mission to become the biggest club in the world.”