2008 Super League playoffs

The 2008 Super League playoffs took place in September and October 2008. They decided which two teams played in the Grand Final on October 4 2008.

Format

The teams that finished in the top half of the Super League XIII table play off against each other to determine the two finalists. The third placed team plays the team that finished sixth, while fourth plays fifth. The winners go forward to a second weekend, where they will play each other and the victor goes through to the next round. They will face the loser out of the teams that finished first and second. The winner of that game goes through to the final to play the winner of 1st v 2nd. Home field advantage is given by place at the end of regular rounds in the Super League XIII season, the lower of the two teams playing at the higher team's ground.

Following the final round of matches on the weekend of 5-7 September, all six playoff teams were set (in order of finishing place):

*St Helens
*Leeds
*Catalans Dragons
*Wigan
*Bradford
*Warrington

Matches

Play Off Weekend 1

Weekend 12-14 September 2008

Elimination Quarter-Final A: Catalans Dragons 46-8 Warrington Wolves

rugbyleaguebox
bg = #eeeeee
date = September 13, 2008
team1 =
score = 46 - 8
report = [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7606067.stm (Report)]
team2 =
points1 = Try: Murphy (4)
Bosc
Pelo
Casey McGuire
Mounis
Greenshields
Goal: Bosc (5)
points2 = Try: Grix
Goal: Hicks (1 con./1 pen.)
stadium = Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan
attendance =
referee= S Ganson

Elimination Quarter-Final B: Wigan Warriors 30–14 Bradford Bulls

rugbyleaguebox
bg = #eeeeee
date = September 12, 2008
team1 =
score = 30 - 14
report = [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7605926.stm (Report)]
team2 =
points1 = Try: Leuluai
Harris
Calderwood
Tomkins
Hock
Goal: Richards (5)
points2 = Try: Lynch
Finnigan
Goal: Deacon (2)
Harris
stadium = Stobart Stadium Halton, Widnes
attendance =
referee= A Klein

* Game played at Stobart Stadium Halton due to the JJB Stadium being unavailable due to a football fixture taking place the following day.

Play-off Weekend 2

Weekend 19-21 September 2008

Qualifying Semi-Final: St Helens v Leeds
*The winner automatically reaches the final

rugbyleaguebox
bg = #eeeeee
date = September 19, 2008
team1 =
score = 38 - 10
report = [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/7620838.stm (Report) ]
team2 =
points1 = Try: Gardner
Gidley
Meli
Roby (2)
Wilkin (2)
Goal: Long (5)
points2 = Try: McGuire
Ellis
Goal: Sinfield
stadium = The GPW Recruitment Stadium, St. Helens
attendance = 11,407
referee= A Klein

Elimination Semi-Final: Catalans v Wigan
*The winner goes through to face the runner-up from the qualifying semi-final

rugbyleaguebox
bg = #eeeeee
date = September 20, 2008
team1 =
score = 26 - 50
report = [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/7616976.stm (Report) ]
team2 =
points1 = Try: Pelo (2)
Elima
Murphy
Wilson
Goal: Bosc (3)
points2 = Try: Carmont
Barrett (2)
Mathers
Richards (2)
Calderwood (2)
Hock
Goal: Richards (7)
stadium = Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan
attendance = 9,985
referee= S Ganson

Play-off Weekend 3

Weekend 26-28 September 2008

Final Eliminator: Leeds v Wigan
*The winner goes through to the final.

rugbyleaguebox
bg = #eeeeee
date = 26 September 2008
team1 =
score = 18 - 14
report = [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/7629521.stm (Report)]
team2 =
points1 = Try: Smith (2)
Senior
Goal: Sinfield (3)
points2 = Try: Hansen
Paleaaesina
Goal: Richards (3)
stadium = Headingley Carnegie Stadium, Leeds
attendance = 13,112
referee= S Ganson

=Grand Final=

Saturday 4 October 2008

Grand Final: St Helens v Leeds
rugbyleaguebox
bg = #eeeeee
date = October 4, 2008
team1 =
score = 16 - 24
report = [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/7642170.stm Report]
team2 =
points1 = Try: Graham
Gidley
Gardner
Goal: Long (2)
points2 = Try: Smith
Hall
McGuire (2)
Goal: Sinfield (4)
stadium = Old Trafford, Manchester
attendance = 68,810
referee= A Klein

ee also

*Super League XIII
*Super League

External Links

* [http://www.engagesuperleague.co.uk/article.php?id=11134 Super League official website]