1998 Super League season

Season in rugby league Super League III Super League 90px The Super League competition logo 23 Rounds 12 19,188Bradford Bulls vs Leeds Rhinos (12 April) 2,014 London Broncos vs Huddersfield Giants (23 Aug) Sky Sports 1998 Season Wigan Warriors1st Super League title18th British title Champions Wigan Warriors League Leaders WAL Iestyn Harris Man of Steel AwardsMan of Steel WAL Iestyn Harris (255) ENG Anthony Sullivan (20) New franchise Gateshead Thunder Awarded to Hull Sharks Huddersfield Giants Division One Super League II 1997 Super League IV 1999 JJB Sports Super League III was the official name for the year 1998's Super League championship season, the 104th season of top-level professional rugby league football in Britain, and the third season played in summer. The League format changed in 1998, with a playoff series being used to determine the Super League Champions for the first time since the 1972–73 season. The team which finished on the top of the table were, from this season, awarded the League Leaders' Shield, with the inaugural honours going to Wigan. Huddersfield Giants, the league's bottom club was saved from relegation in 1998 due to the expansion of the league to fourteen teams in Super League IV. The season culminated in the grand final between Leeds Rhinos and Wigan Warriors, which Wigan won, claiming the 1998 Championship. Notable events League affairs and broadcasting The 1998 pre-season marked the departure of Rugby Football League chief executive Maurice Lindsay, who was asked to resign by RFL president Rodney Walker in early January. He was succeeded by his right-hand man, former deputy chief executive Neil Tunnicliffe.Wilson Andy 5 July 1998 https://www.newspapers.com/image/258177714/ Rugby league: Who follows Sir Rodney? The Observer London 15 newspapers.com However, Lindsay immediately signed up for the position of managing director at Super League (Europe), the parent company of Super League.https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-league-lindsay-stirs-controversy-again-by-finding-himself-new-position-of-influence-1137624.html Rugby League: Lindsay stirs controversy again by finding himself new position of influence Hadfield Dave 9 January 1998 The Independent May 29, 2023 The deal brokered between the RFL and SLE for his transfer entailed the payment of Lindsay's salary by the RFL for two years, as well as the payment to SLE of about £500,000 previously earmarked for the defunct Paris Saint-Germain and Oldham clubs. 13 January 1998 https://www.newspapers.com/image/922383697/ Lindsay's £3/4m 'transfer' Manchester Evening News 63 newspapers.com Lindsay's move which quickly followed by another row over which organization would represent Super League clubs in their negotiations with Sky for the sport's next television contract. 20 January 1998 https://www.newspapers.com/image/260415353/ Goodway and McGinty return to Central Park The Guardian 23 newspapers.com The deal was eventually signed between Sky and Super League Europe, although it still required the approval of FASDA (the group representing the RFL's minor league clubs), who was offered the sum of £10.8 million by Sky in exchange for their approval.Wilson Andy 24 June 1999 https://www.newspapers.com/image/260775143/ Lesser lights set for £11 million pay-off in new Sky deal The Guardian London 9 (Sport) newspapers.com However, FASDA stalled deal in order to obtain assurances from SLE that the promotion system would be preserved, even as talks were underway with expansion teams in Gateshead and South Wales.Kirchin Andrew 25 June 1998 https://www.newspapers.com/image/798982388/ Sky deal runs into new hitch Liverpool Echo 84 newspapers.com Two weeks later, FASDA and SLE reached an agreement keeping promotion and relegation.Wilson Andy 12 July 1998 https://www.newspapers.com/image/258182565/ Hopes for an end to League TV row The Observer London 8 (Sport) newspapers.com This paved the way for the signing of the new TV deal on 15 July. 16 July 1998 https://www.newspapers.com/image/922396477 Super League delight as Sky deal secured Huddersfield Daily Examiner 21 newspapers.com The total amount was £44 million over four years, plus a £1 million signing bonus for the Super League itself, and another £1 million to the RFL for the rights to select international matches not covered by main broadcasting contracts. With the new agreement secured, Rodney Walker, who had previously hinted at his resignation from the RFL due to recurring tensions within the organization and possible scheduling conflicts with his new job as chairman of the UK Sports Council, announced that he would likely reconsider, which he did. Meanwhile, towards the end of 1998, reports that Lindsay had started investing in betting booths at several racetracks all but confirmed the rumor that he was intent on leaving the sport of rugby league at the end of his two-year deal with SLE.https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-league-smart-money-on-lindsay-s-exit-1194086.html Rugby League: Smart money on Lindsay's exit Hadfield Dave 23 December 1998 The Independent May 29, 2023 Other Despite FASDA rejecting a proposal to officially recognize farm team agreements at the end of the previous season, player call-ups continued unabated amidst several Super League clubs' decision to shut down their reserve teams. As a result, FASDA demanded in January that the number of players concerned by such arrangements be capped to three. In July, a committee headed by technical director Joe Lydon proposed to abolish transfer fees for players above the age of twenty-four.Kirchin Andrew 24 June 1998 https://www.newspapers.com/image/798982168/ RL transfer fees set to be axed Liverpool Echo 33 newspapers.com Teams Legend  Reigning Champions  Challenge Cup Holders  Promoted TeamStadiumCapacityCity/Area bradford 16 Bradford BullsOdsal27,000Bradford, West Yorkshirecastleford 16 Castleford TigersWheldon Road11,750Castleford, West Yorkshirehalifax 16 Halifax Blue SoxThrum Hall9,832Halifax, West Yorkshire huddersfield 16 Huddersfield GiantsGalpharm Stadium24,500Huddersfield, West Yorkshire hull 16 Hull SharksThe Boulevard10,500Hull, East Riding of Yorkshireleeds 16 Leeds RhinosHeadingley21,500Leeds, West Yorkshirelondon 16 London BroncosThe Valley27,000Charlton, Greater Londonsalford city 16 Salford RedsThe Willows11,363Salford, Greater Manchestersheffield 16 Sheffield EaglesDon Valley Stadium25,000Sheffield, South Yorkshirest Helens 16 St HelensKnowsley Road17,500St Helens, Mersyside warrington 16 Warrington WolvesWilderspool9,200Warrington, Cheshirewigan 16 Wigan Warriors Central Park18,000Wigan, Greater Manchester Table main WDL WIG LEE HFX STH BRA CAS LON SHE HUL WAR SAL HUD SF QSF QSF ESF ESF 12 0 11 498 450 10 1 12 446 522 2 0 21 288 825 8 0 15 431 574 19 0 4 662 369 10 0 13 415 476 18 0 5 658 390 6 1 16 319 575 8 2 13 495 541 14 1 8 673 459 7 1 15 411 645 21 0 2 762 222 League Leaders LC bradford 16 Bradford Bulls castleford 16 Castleford Tigers halifax 16 Halifax Blue Sox leeds 16 Leeds Rhinos london 16 London Broncos salford city 16 Salford Reds st helens 16 St Helens sheffield 16 Sheffield Eagles warrington 16 Warrington Wolves wigan 16 Wigan Warriors hull 16 Hull Sharks huddersfield 16 Huddersfield Giants 1) Points; 2) Points difference; 3) Number of points scored; points complete 2 1 0 Q green1 Semi Final yellow1 Qualifying Semi Final blue1 Elimination Semi Final Play-offs The top five clubs at the end of the 23-round regular season entered the play-offs to decide the championship. The format was to have an elimination play off between the fourth and fifth teams (the fourth team gaining home advantage) and then have a qualifying play-off between the second and third placed teams (the second placed team gaining home advantage). The winner of the qualifier would play the team finishing first in the first semi final whilst the losing team got a second chance and played against the winner of the eliminating play off between fourth and fifth. The winner of the qualifying semi final would progress to the final of the Super League championship and the losing side would get another chance and play against the winning side of the elimination semi final. 150 Qualifying play-off4 October 1998 Elimination play-off2 October 1998 Qualifying semi-final11 October 1998 Elimination semi-final9 October 1998 Final eliminator18 October 1998 Grand Final24 October 1998 St Helens 12 St. Helens 46 Bradford 12 Bradford Bulls 24 Leeds 12 Leeds Rhinos 13 Halifax 12 Halifax Blue Sox 6 Wigan 12 Wigan Warriors 17 Leeds 12 Leeds Rhinos 4 Halifax 12 Halifax Blue Sox 30 St Helens 12 St. Helens 37 Leeds 12 Leeds Rhinos 44 St Helens 12 St. Helens 16 Wigan 12 Wigan Warriors 10 Leeds 12 Leeds Rhinos 4 Grand final 1998 Super League Grand final #eeeeee 24 October 1998 16px Wigan Warriors 10–4 Report 16px Leeds Rhinos Tries: Robinson Goals: Farrell (3) Tries: Blackmore Old Trafford, Manchester 43,533 Wonderful Wigan add Final chapter to illustrious history The Birmingham Post England 1998-10-26 https://web.archive.org/web/20200411102402/https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-60696444/rugby-league-wonderful-wigan-add-final-chapter-to https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-60696444/rugby-league-wonderful-wigan-add-final-chapter-to 2020-04-11 Questia subscription 2009-10-05 Russell Smith (Castleford) See also 1998 Super League Grand Final References External links Super League III at wigan.rlfans.com Super League III at rugbyleagueproject.com Category:1998 in English rugby league