FIXTURES for the next phase of Super League are set to be released this week with the top four and bottom four facing each other in what will be an intense second half of the season.
The first seven-round half of the season concluded over the weekend and there will now be a three-week break before the second half of the campaign gets underway on the weekend of Sunday, August 9.
Once the fixtures do resume, it will see the top four sides – Wigan Warriors, Leeds Rhinos, St Helens and York Valkyrie – face each other both home and away in the hope of making the Grand Final.
The team that finishes top after this group of fixtures will not only claim the League Leaders’ Shield, but will also automatically qualify for the Grand Final on Sunday, September 27.
The teams that finish second and third will face a one-off play-off game to claim the second final spot.
Alongside this set of fixtures the bottom four sides – Huddersfield Giants, Leigh Leopards, Featherstone Rovers and Barrow Raiders – will also play each other twice, and while there will be no prize for finishing at the top of this pile, they will all be keen to avoid the relegation and promotion play-off against the eventual winner of the Championship competition.
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Diff | PTS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wigan Warriors | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 350 | 82 | 268 | 14 |
| Leeds Rhinos | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 302 | 62 | 240 | 12 |
| St Helens | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 232 | 106 | 126 | 10 |
| York Valkyrie | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 208 | 92 | 116 | 8 |
| Huddersfield Giants | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 136 | 210 | -74 | 6 |
| Leigh Leopards | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 64 | 292 | -228 | 4 |
| Featherstone Rovers | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 44 | 302 | -258 | 2 |
| Barrow Raiders | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 82 | 272 | -190 | 0 |