Wigan Warriors on brink of silverware after season rejigged again

The end to the current Super League season has been rejigged - meaning the Warriors can secure the league leaders shield if they beat Huddersfield.

The game against the Giants, originally scheduled for Thursday, has been put back 24 hours after clubs agreed to an extended play-offs series following further Covid-19 enforced disruptions.

Earlier today, Hull KR said they were unable to complete the rest of their fixtures, while Castleford also had to call off their next two games after more positive test results for coronavirus.

The season was supposed to run for three more rounds, ahead of a top-four play-offs and a Grand Final in Hull on Friday, November 27. Now, the season will finish after Friday and the play-offs will involve the top six teams.

Wigan moved to top of the Super League table, under this season's win percentage format, with an 18-6 derby victory against St Helens last Friday night.

And they can secure top spot - and the league leaders shield - with victory against the Giants.

Although the silverware is not seen as one of the major prizes, many fans dismiss it as the hubcap, it would represent Lam's first trophy since joining ahead of 2019.

The Super League and RFL Boards have agreed on a revised format and Operational Rules (respectively), which will see the regular season wrapped up within the next four days, after which the top six teams in the table will qualify for the play-offs. The club that finishes seventh – either Salford Red Devils or Huddersfield Giants – will remain on standby.

As a consequence of the change in the structure, the previous requirement for a club to complete a minimum number of games (15) has been removed - meaning Catalans' place in the play-offs is no longer under threat.

The two remaining Super League fixtures, both Round 20 matches to be played at Headingley on Friday 6 November, will see Wakefield Trinity and the Red Devils conclude their campaigns at 5.30pm on Sky Sports, which will be followed by the Warriors v Giants at 7.45pm, a fixture which will determine who wins the League Leaders’ Shield.

The St Helens and Catalans Dragons fixture, scheduled for Thursday 5 November in Perpignan, will be cancelled, with both teams having already qualified for the top six, and due to the imminent national lockdown and heightened concerns over international travel.

The Warriors hold top spot with a winning percentage of 75% after last Friday’s compelling derby victory at St Helens – but will face Giants knowing that defeat would hand the League Leaders’ Shield to Saints for a third consecutive season.

The top two teams will sit out the first round of the play-offs, while those finishing third to sixth in the table on win percentage move into the elimination matches. Those games will be played on November 12 and 13.

The winners will then face first and second in the semi-finals on November 19 and 20, at home venues, to determine who plays in the Betfred Super League Grand Final at the KCOM Stadium on Friday 27 November.

Remaining fixtures – all live on Sky Sports and available by the Our League app.

Friday 6 November (Emerald Headingley Stadium).

Wakefield Trinity v Salford Red Devils - 530pm

Wigan Warriors v Huddersfield Giants - 745pm

November 12 (Venue TBC) - Play-Offs Round 1 – 7:45pm.

3rd v 6th

November 13 (Venue TBC) – Play-Offs Round 1 – 7:45pm.

4th v 5th

November 19 – Semi-Finals (Venue of 1st)

1st v lowest-placed Play-Off winner

November 20 – Semi-Finals (Venue of 2nd)

2nd v highest-placed Play-Off winner

Friday 27 November

Betfred Super League Grand Final (KCOM Stadium, Hull)

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