League Leaders' Shield


The League Leaders' Shield is a trophy awarded to the team finishing the season top of Super League in the sport of rugby league football. This regular portion of the season precedes the playoffs for the eventual Super League Grand Final. The trophy was first awarded in Super League VIII in 2003.
Bradford Bulls won the first shield in 2003, but St. Helens have won it most, winning it on a total of 8 occasions.
Wigan Warriors became only the 2nd team, to retain the shield in 2024.

History

From 1907 until 1973 the Championship was awarded to the team winning a top-four play-off. From 1907 to 1962 no prize was awarded to the team finishing top. From 1965 to 1973 a 'League Leaders' Trophy' was introduced to reward the team finishing top. In 1996, Super League was formed but continued to use the league to decide the champions until 1998, when they adopted a play-off structure for the championship. Between 1998 and 2002 no trophy was awarded for coming top of the league in the regular season, and it would not be until the 2003 season when the League Leaders' Shield was first awarded.
From 2015 to 2017, League Leaders' Shield winners would participate in the short lived World Club Series. 2015 also saw the prize money increase from £50,000 to £100,000.
In 2016, the League Leaders were awarded medals for the first time.

Shield winners

YearLeague leadersPtsRunners upPts
2003 Bradford Bulls 44 Leeds Rhinos41
2004 Leeds Rhinos 50 Bradford Bulls41
2005 St. Helens47 Leeds Rhinos44
2006 St. Helens 48 Hull F.C.40
2007 St. Helens38 Leeds Rhinos '37
2008 St. Helens43 Leeds Rhinos '42
2009 Leeds Rhinos 42 St Helens38
2010 Wigan Warriors 44 St Helens40
2011 Warrington Wolves44 Wigan Warriors43
2012 Wigan Warriors42 Warrington Wolves41
2013 Huddersfield Giants42 Warrington Wolves41
2014 St. Helens 38 Wigan Warriors37
2015 Leeds Rhinos 41 Wigan Warriors41
2016 Warrington Wolves43 Wigan Warriors '42
2017 Castleford Tigers50 Leeds Rhinos '40
2018 St. Helens42 Wigan Warriors '32
2019 St. Helens 52 Wigan Warriors36
2020 Wigan Warriors76.47a St. Helens '70.59a
2021 Catalans Dragons82.61a St. Helens 76.19a
2022 St. Helens 42 Wigan Warriors38
2023 Wigan Warriors 40 Catalans Dragons40
2024 Wigan Warriors 44 Hull KR42
2025 Hull Kingston Rovers 44 Wigan Warriors42

- Team also won the Grand Final to be crowned champions.