Super League: Fear sets in as race for the big prizes commences

The regular season rounded off yesterday with Leeds Rhinos finishing top after a 36-22 win against Catalans Dragons.

Huddersfield Giants secured the all-important fourth place courtesy of a 34-24 victory over Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, while Castleford came fifth following a severe 44-6 home defeat to Warrington Wolves.

However, after completing their 23 fixtures, the 24 Super League and Championship clubs now split into three groups called the Super 8s as part of the RFL’s bold “new era” concept.

The top eight continue as Super League in a bid to reach the Grand Final, the middle eight –Super League’s bottom four plus the Championship’s top quartet – play in the Qualifiers to determine who plays in the elite in 2016, and the third eight is the Championship Shield.

Clubs now play seven fixtures in a league basis with points carried over in Super League as sides strive to finish in the top four and reach the play-offs semi-finals for a place at Old Trafford on October 10.

However, clubs start from scratch in the fascinating Qualifiers competition where lowly Widnes Vikings, Hull KR, Salford Red Devils and Wakefield face the Championship’s leading lights Leigh Centurions, Bradford Bulls, Sheffield Eagles and Halifax.

The top three after seven rounds here are promoted for 2016 before the fourth-placed team plays their fifth-placed rivals in the ‘Million Pound Game’ to determine the last remaining spot in Super League.

Before the season kicked off, many critics argued none of the second-tier clubs would stand much – if any – chance of being elevated to the top table.

However, as time has pressed on, and with ambitious Leigh in stellar form, Bradford making notable signings and part-timers Halifax on a nine-matching winning run, opinions are changing.

Speaking to The Yorkshire Post last night, Solly said: “I think it will really very much be sudden-death in the Qualifiers.

“I think all the teams going into that will consider themselves as a decent chance of finishing top four.

“We saw Leigh, in particular, with their Challenge Cup run that they are very much capable of competing with the best teams in Super League (they beat Salford and Wakefield) so they will fancy their chances, especially with an extra game at home.

“I think Halifax have been fantastic this season and against full-time opposition have played really well.

“Also, beating Bradford (20-16 yesterday) gives them another shot in the arm, too, so any Super League teams coming into the Qualifiers who take Halifax lightly will be in for a shock.

“Certainly the seven weeks will be very exciting and I don’t think the Super League clubs I have spoken to feel particularly comfortable going into them.

“They know it will be tough, and then the ‘Million Pound Game’ will be a really fantastic opportunity for the sport to show that every minute does matter and it all goes right through to the wire.”

At the top of Super League, Leeds lead Saints – who they also face in the Challenge Cup semi-final on Friday – by just a point and third-placed Wigan Warriors by only two.

Huddersfield, though, are three points adrift of Wigan which realistically suggests just fourth is up for grabs for the rest of the pack that includes Castleford, Warrington, Hull FC and Catalans.

Widnes, meanwhile, defeated Salford 21-20 yesterday to secure what is in its own right an important ninth place.

Solly said: “It’s been a wonderful regular season and the game at Widnes with Salford going down to the very last minute to decide who gets the extra home game between them in the Qualifiers shows that.

“There were 4,500 people at Halifax v Bradford [yesterday] which is just an excellent crowd so it has been great yet this is where it all now really counts – the Super 8s phase.

“I think the race for fourth is going to be amazing in Super League and that’s what we all want.

“The top three have put a bit of a break between them and everyone else but there’s a reason for that; they are desperate to get the home game in the play-off as history would suggest if you get that you go through to the Grand Final at Old Trafford.

“All three are very desperate to finish in the top two and get that home semi-final

“But there will also be a great race between fourth, fifth and sixth, too, I feel – and the Qualifiers, as I said, will speak for themselves.”

The new fixture list is announced on Wednesday with the competition starting a week on Thursday once the Challenge Cup semi-finals – Hull KR face Warrington Wolves on Saturday for the right to face Leeds or Saints at Wembley – are completed.

Weekend reports: Pages 6-7.