# 2021 Super League season

Super League XXVI, known as the 2021 Betfred Super League XXVI for sponsorship reasons, was the 26th season of the Super League and 127th season of rugby league in Great Britain.
The 2021 season was originally scheduled to begin on 11 March 2021, however, on 14 January 2021, it was announced that all clubs had agreed to push the start date back by two weeks, to increase the chances of fans being able to attend matches.
St Helens were the reigning champions going into Super League XXVI, after successfully retaining their title against Wigan Warriors, in the Grand Final.
Super League XXVI also saw the return of the Magic Weekend, which took place at St James' Park in Newcastle, after it was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Upon the expulsion of Toronto Wolfpack the previous season, a vacancy was available for the 2021 season. Six eligible Championship clubs; Leigh Centurions, Bradford Bulls, York City Knights, London Broncos, Featherstone Rovers, and Toulouse Olympique all applied, with Leigh being promoted following a unanimous decision by an independent panel.
Catalans Dragons won the League Leaders Shield for the first time in the club's history and also became the first non English team to reach their first ever Grand Final.
St Helens won their 3rd Grand Final in a row, (9th title overall), after narrowly beating Catalans Dragons 12-10 at Old Trafford on 9 October 2021.

## Effects of the Covid-19 pandemic

The sport continued to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The first five rounds of matches were all played behind closed doors, and it was only from mid-May that spectators were allowed in the grounds, with attendances limited to 10,000 or 25% of the ground capacity. The Rugby Football League anticipated that COVID-19 would have an effect, and made two important changes to the organisation of the season.
Firstly, the league table would be decided by win percentage rather than competition points. Secondly, a set of protocols were introduced, allowing for matches to be postponed, if a team had seven or more players from the senior squad unavailable, due to either close contact or a positive COVID-19 test.

## Rule changes

As in 2020, scrums will not be formed and instead, minor ruck infringements by the defending team, will result in a repeat set of six tackles for the attacking team. Dual registration will not be allowed, but loans will be, with the minimum load period reduced to fourteen days.

## Teams

Legend :
* Reigning Champions
* Previous season League Leaders
* Promoted
| Team | 2020 position | Stadium | Capacity | City/Area |
| Castleford Tigers (2021 season) | 8th | The Mend-A-Hose Jungle | 12,000 | Castleford, West Yorkshire |
| Catalans Dragons (2021 season) | 4th | Stade Gilbert Brutus | 13,000 | Perpignan, Pyrénées-Orientales, France |
| Huddersfield Giants (2021 season) | 7th | John Smith's Stadium | 24,121 | Huddersfield, West Yorkshire |
| Hull FC (2021 season) | 6th | KCOM Stadium | 25,400 | Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire |
| Hull KR (2021 season) | 11th | Hull College Craven Park Stadium | 12,225 | Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire |
| Leeds Rhinos (2021 season) | 5th | Emerald Headingley | 21,062 | Leeds, West Yorkshire |
| Leigh Centurions (2021 season) | 4th (2019 Championship) | Leigh Sports Village | 12,000 | Leigh, Greater Manchester |
| Salford Red Devils (2021 season) | 9th | AJ Bell Stadium | 12,000 | Salford, Greater Manchester |
| St Helens (2021 season) | 2nd (Champions) | Totally Wicked Stadium | 18,000 | St Helens, Merseyside |
| Wakefield Trinity (2021 season) | 10th | Beaumont Legal Stadium | 9,333 | Wakefield, West Yorkshire |
| Warrington Wolves (2021 season) | 3rd | Halliwell Jones Stadium | 15,200 | Warrington, Cheshire |
| Wigan Warriors (2021 season) | 1st (runners up) | DW Stadium | 25,133 | Wigan, Greater Manchester |

## Fixtures and results

Super League Europe announced in February 2021 that the matches in round 2 would be played to support retired player Mose Masoe in his rehabilitation from a serious back injury suffered during a game in 2020.
In the round 3 game on 16 April 2021 between Hull KR and Huddersfield, Ben Crooks of Hull KR, scored a try after only seven seconds, a new record, after Sam Wood missed the ball from the kick off allowing Crooks to score. Hull KR went on to win 25–24. This achievement beat not only beat the previous fastest score in Super League (St Helens' Tim Jonkers scored after 14 seconds against Wakefield Trinity during the 2002 season) but also the fastest try scored in the NRL, which was set in 2017 (Kirisome Auva'a scored after 11 seconds for Parramatta Eels against Brisbane Broncos).

### Golden point extra time

If a match ends in a draw after 80 minutes, then a further 10 minutes of golden point extra time is played, to determine a winner (5 minutes each way). The first team to score either a try, goal or drop goal during this period, will win the match. However, if there are no further scores during the additional 10 minutes period, then the match will end in a draw.

#### Game 1 (Catalans v Hull KR)

The first game to go to golden-point, was the round 1 game between Catalans and Hull KR on 27 March 2021. Catalans won the match 29–28, with a drop goal from James Maloney, after the scores were tied at 28-all after 80 minutes.

#### Game 2 (Hull FC v Warrington Wolves)

The round 3 game between Hull FC and Warrington on 18 April 2021, finished 14-all after 80 minutes. The game then went to extra time which saw numerous drop goal attempts by both teams. With neither team able to score any points during the extra 10 minutes, the match ended as a draw for the first time since golden point was introduced into Super League.

#### Game 3 (Leeds Rhinos v Wakefield Trinity)

The third game to go to golden-point, was the round 6 game between Leeds Rhinos and Wakefield Trinity on 14 May 2021. Leeds won the match 15–13, with a penalty goal from Rhyse Martin, after the scores were tied at 13-all after 80 minutes.

#### Game 4 (St Helens v Catalans)

The fourth game to go to golden-point, was the round 23 game between St Helens and Catalans Dragons on 4 September 2021, during the 2nd game of the day 1 fixtures, at the Magic Weekend. Catalans won the match 31–30, with a drop goal from James Maloney, after the scores were tied at 30-all after 80 minutes (Catalans scoring three tries in the final 4 minutes of the game to come back from 30-12 down). This was the first time in Super League history that a Magic Weekend game had gone to extra time (previous draws at Magic Weekend coming before the introduction of Golden Point to Super League).

#### Game 5 (Leeds v Hull FC)

The fifth game to go to golden-point, was the round 23 game between Leeds Rhinos and Hull FC on 4 September 2021, during the 3rd game of the day 1 fixtures, at the Magic Weekend. Leeds won the match 25–24, with a drop goal from Kruise Leeming, after the scores were tied at 24-all after 80 minutes. This was the second time in Super League that a magic weekend game had gone to extra time.

#### Game 6 (Warrington v Salford)

The sixth game to go to golden-point, was the round 24 game between Warrington Wolves and Salford Red Devils on 11 September 2021. Warrington won the match 20–19, with a drop goal from George Williams, after the scores were tied at 19-all after 80 minutes.

### Forfeited games

In June Castleford Tigers were forced to forfeit their round 12 match against St Helens. With only fourteen senior players available due to injury and COVID-19 precautions Castleford could not raise a team and forfeited the game. The RFL described it as "an unusual range of circumstances" but as less than seven of the absences were due to COVID-19 among the senior squad the match did not meet the criteria for postponement under the RFL's COVID-19 protocols. For statistical recording and league placing the match was recorded as a 24–0 victory to St Helens.
Huddersfield became the second Super League team to forfeit a game in 2021 when the round 13 match against Castleford was cancelled on 4 July. Huddersfield announced that they were missing 20+ players due to COVID-19 and injury but as the number unavailable due to COVID-19 was less than the minimum seven absences required for the game to be postponed under the RFL COVID-19 protocols, Huddersfield had to forfeit the match.

## Regular season table

When the season details were announced the original method was for the league to revert to the normal determination, (i.e. league points won). On 7 March 2021, the Rugby Football League (RFL) announced that, league positions would be determined as they were in 2020 with league position decided by win percentage (Win percentage = number of league points ÷ number of games played x 50). If two or more teams have equal win percentages, then position will be determined by points scored percentage (points scored ÷ points conceded x 100).
To qualify for the play-offs, a team had to complete 70% of their scheduled fixtures (18 matches out of 25) – unless they earned a position, in the top six through league points despite having played fewer than 18 matches.
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PP | Pts | PCT | Qualification |
| 1 | Catalans Dragons (L) | 23 | 19 | 0 | 4 | 688 | 398 | 172.9 | 38 | 82.61 | Semi-final |
| 2 | St. Helens (C) | 21 | 16 | 0 | 5 | 548 | 229 | 239.3 | 32 | 76.19 | Semi-final |
| 3 | Warrington Wolves | 21 | 15 | 1 | 5 | 588 | 354 | 166.1 | 31 | 73.81 | Elimination Semi-finals |
| 4 | Wigan Warriors | 25 | 15 | 0 | 10 | 387 | 385 | 100.5 | 30 | 60.00 | Elimination Semi-finals |
| 5 | Leeds Rhinos | 24 | 13 | 0 | 11 | 556 | 440 | 126.4 | 26 | 54.17 | Elimination Semi-finals |
| 6 | Hull Kingston Rovers | 20 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 497 | 458 | 108.5 | 20 | 50.00 | Elimination Semi-finals |
| 7 | Castleford Tigers | 23 | 11 | 0 | 12 | 437 | 552 | 79.2 | 22 | 47.83 | |
| 8 | Hull FC | 21 | 8 | 1 | 12 | 409 | 476 | 85.9 | 17 | 40.48 | |
| 9 | Huddersfield Giants | 24 | 9 | 0 | 15 | 460 | 516 | 89.1 | 18 | 37.50 | |
| 10 | Wakefield Trinity | 24 | 9 | 0 | 15 | 482 | 548 | 88.0 | 18 | 37.50 | |
| 11 | Salford Red Devils | 22 | 7 | 0 | 15 | 402 | 584 | 68.8 | 14 | 31.82 | |
| 12 | Leigh Centurions (R) | 22 | 2 | 0 | 20 | 356 | 870 | 40.9 | 4 | 9.09 | Relegated to the Championship |
* ↑ Teams must have played at least 70% of scheduled fixtures to qualify for the play-offs.

## Play-offs

The top 2 teams who finished first and second respectively in the regular season table (Catalans Dragons and St Helens respectively, had byes to the semi-finals. The four teams who finish third to sixth contested in two elimination finals, with the winner of those two games moving on to the semi-finals (Hull Kingston Rovers and Leeds Rhinos respectively). Catalans became the first non English team in Super League Era, to reach the Grand Final after they beat Hull Kingston Rovers 28–10 in the first semi-final on 30 September.

### Team bracket

| Eliminators | Eliminators | Eliminators | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Grand Final | Grand Final | Grand Final |
| | | | 1 | Catalans Dragons | 28 | | | |
| 3 | Warrington Wolves | 0 | 6 | Hull Kingston Rovers | 10 | | | |
| 6 | Hull Kingston Rovers | 19 | | | | 1 | Catalans Dragons | 10 |
| | | | | | | 2 | St Helens | 12 |
| | | | 2 | St Helens | 36 | | | |
| 4 | Wigan Warriors | 0 | 5 | Leeds Rhinos | 8 | | | |
| 5 | Leeds Rhinos | 8 | | | | | | |

### Week 1: Eliminators

* 23 September 2021 19:45 BST (UTC+01)
| Wigan Warriors | 0–8 | Leeds Rhinos |
| | Report (RFL) Report (Sky Sports) | Tries: Handley 50' Goals: Martin 51', 74' (pen) |
* DW Stadium, Wigan Attendance: 7,396 Referee: Robert Hicks
* 24 September 2021 19:45 BST (UTC+01)
| Warrington Wolves | 0–19 | Hull Kingston Rovers |
| | Report (RFL) Report (Sky Sports) | Tries: Abdull 17' Lewis 48' Keinhorst 68' Goals: Abdull 18', 49', 57' (pen) Drop goals: Abdull 73' |
* Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington Attendance: 6,252 Referee: Liam Moore

### Week 2: Semi-finals

* 30 September 2021 19:45 CEST (UTC+02)
| Catalans Dragons | 28–10 | Hull Kingston Rovers |
| Tries: Garcia 9' Drinkwater 31' Mourgue 41' Yaha 62' Chan 68' Goals: Maloney 10', 32', 69', 80' (pen) | Report (RFL) Report (Sky Sports) | Tries: Kenny Dowall 35' Hall 75' Goals: Abdull 76' |
* Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan Attendance: 11,530 Referee: James Child
* 1 October 2021 19:45 BST (UTC+01)
| St Helens | 36–8 | Leeds Rhinos |
| Tries: Grace 6' 78' Roby 24' Percival 51', 73' Naiqama 60' Goals: Coote 14' (pen), 22' (pen), 25', 61', 74', 79' | Report (RFL) Report (Sky Sports) | Tries: T. Briscoe 21' Myler 38' L. Briscoe 68' |
* Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens Attendance: 11,688 Referee: Chris Kendall

### Week 3: Grand Final

* 9 October 2021 18:00 BST (UTC+01)
| Catalans Dragons | 10–12 | St Helens |
| Tries: McMeeken 50' Goals: Maloney 9' (pen), 27' (pen), 51' | Report (RFL) Report (Sky Sports) | Tries: Naiqama 13' 66 Makinson 45' Goals: Coote 21' (pen), 67' |
* Old Trafford, Manchester Attendance: 45,177 Referee: Liam Moore Harry Sunderland Award: Kevin Naiqama (St Helens)

## Player statistics

Top 10 try scorers
Rank
Player
Club
Tries
1
Ken Sio
Salford Red Devils
18
2=
Ryan Hall
Hull KR
16
Jake Mamo
Warrington Wolves
4
Tom Davies
Catalans Dragons
15
5=
Fouad Yaha
Catalans Dragons
14
Regan Grace
St Helens
7=
Jordan Turner
Castleford Tigers
13
Adam Swift
Hull FC
Jack Welsby
St Helens
Jake Bibby
Wigan Warriors
Top 10 try assists
Rank
Player
Club
Assists
1
Josh Drinkwater
Catalans Dragons
28
2
Jake Connor
Hull FC
22
3
Sam Tomkins
Catalans Dragons
20
4=
Tui Lolohea
Salford Red Devils
18
Jackson Hastings
Wigan Warriors
6
Lachlan Coote
St Helens
16
7=
Niall Evalds
Castleford Tigers
15
Richie Myler
Leeds Rhinos
Jacob Miller
Wakefield Trinity
10=
Kruise Leeming
Leeds Rhinos
14
Jonny Lomax
St Helens
Harry Smith
Wigan Warriors
Top 10 goal scorers
Rank
Player
Club
Goals
Missed Goals
Drop Goals
Goal Percentage
1
James Maloney
Catalans Dragons
101
15
5
88%
2
Rhyse Martin
Leeds Rhinos
83
15
0
83%
3
Mason Lino
Wakefield Trinity
75
9
1
89%
4
Lachlan Coote
St Helens
72
19
0
79%
5
Stefan Ratchford
Warrington Wolves
71
14
82%
6
Marc Sneyd
Hull FC
60
15
2
80%
7
Danny Richardson
Castleford Tigers
46
11
3
80%
8
Jordan Abdull
Hull KR
43
17
0
82%
9
Krisnan Inu
Salford Red Devils
42
10
1
80%
10
Oliver Russell
Huddersfield Giants
32
9
0
78%
Top 10 points scorers
Rank
Player
Club
Points
1
James Maloney
Catalans Dragons
245
2
Lachlan Coote
St Helens
188
3
Mason Lino
Wakefield Trinity
171
4
Rhyse Martin
Leeds Rhinos
166
5
Stefan Ratchford
Warrington Wolves
146
6
Marc Sneyd
Hull FC
122
7
Jordan Abdull
Hull KR
114
8
Danny Richardson
Castleford Tigers
99
10
Ryan Brierley
Leigh Centurions
98
10
Krisnan Inu
Salford Red Devils
96
Updated to match(es) played on 5 September 2021 (Round 23) :

## Discipline

| Rank | Player | Club | Red Cards |
| 1= | Joe Greenwood | Huddersfield Giants | 1 |
| 1= | Josh Jones | Huddersfield Giants | 1 |
| 1= | Andre Savelio | Hull FC | 1 |
| 1= | Korbin Sims | Hull KR | 1 |
| 1= | Pauli Pauli | Salford Red Devils | 1 |
| 1= | Jack Ashworth | Leigh Centurions | 1 |
| 1= | Bodene Thompson | Leeds Rhinos | 1 |
| 1= | Tommy Makinson | St Helens | 1 |
| 1= | Mike Cooper | Warrington Wolves | 1 |
| 1= | Zak Hardaker | Wigan Warriors | 1 |
| 1= | Brad Singleton | Wigan Warriors | 1 |
| Rank | Player | Club | Yellow Cards |
| 1 | James Bentley | St Helens | 4 |
| 2 | Richie Myler | Leeds Rhinos | 3 |
| 3= | Jesse Sene-Lefao | Castleford Tigers | 2 |
| 3= | Peter Mata'utia | Castleford Tigers | 2 |
| 3= | James Maloney | Catalans Dragons | 2 |
| 3= | Oliver Russell | Huddersfield Giants | 2 |
| 3= | Ligi Sao | Hull FC | 2 |
| 3= | Carlos Tuimavave | Hull FC | 2 |
| 3= | James Bell | Leigh Centurions | 2 |
| 3= | Ryan Lannon | Salford Red Devils | 2 |
| 3= | James Bentley | St Helens | 2 |
| 3= | John Bateman | Wigan Warriors | 2 |
| 3= | Willie Isa | Wigan Warriors | 2 |
| 14= | George Griffin | Castleford Tigers | 1 |
| 14= | Danny Richardson | Castleford Tigers | 1 |
| 14= | Jason Baitieri | Catalans Dragons | 1 |
| 14= | Julian Bousquet | Catalans Dragons | 1 |
| 14= | Joe Chan | Catalans Dragons | 1 |
| 14= | Josh Drinkwater | Catalans Dragons | 1 |
| 14= | Gil Dudson | Catalans Dragons | 1 |
| 14= | Sam Kasiano | Catalans Dragons | 1 |
| 14= | Michael Mcilorum | Catalans Dragons | 1 |
| 14= | Joel Tomkins | Catalans Dragons | 1 |
| 14= | Sam Tomkins | Catalans Dragons | 1 |
| 14= | Leroy Cudjoe | Huddersfield Giants | 1 |
| 14= | Chris McQueen | Huddersfield Giants | 1 |
| 14= | Kenny Edwards | Huddersfield Giants | 1 |
| 14= | Jake Connor | Hull FC | 1 |
| 14= | Bureta Faraimo | Hull FC | 1 |
| 14= | Jordan Johnstone | Hull FC | 1 |
| 14= | Josh Reynolds | Hull FC | 1 |
| 14= | Chris Satae | Hull FC | 1 |
| 14= | Marc Sneyd | Hull FC | 1 |
| 14= | Scott Taylor | Hull FC | 1 |
| 14= | Luis Johnson | Hull KR | 1 |
| 14= | George King | Hull KR | 1 |
| 14= | George Lawler | Hull KR | 1 |
| 14= | Matt Parcell | Hull KR | 1 |
| 14= | Brad Takairangi | | 1 |
| 14= | Albert Vete | | 1 |
| 14= | Luke Gale | Leeds Rhinos | 1 |
| 14= | Robert Lui | Leeds Rhinos | 1 |
| 14= | Matt Prior | Leeds Rhinos | 1 |
| 14= | Liam Sutcliffe | Leeds Rhinos | 1 |
| 14= | Zane Tetevano | Leeds Rhinos | 1 |
| 14= | Chris Atkin | Salford Red Devils | 1 |
| 14= | Greg Burke | Salford Red Devils | 1 |
| 14= | Morgan Escare | Salford Red Devils | 1 |
| 14= | Ata Hingano | Salford Red Devils | 1 |
| 14= | Sebastine Ikahihifo | Salford Red Devils | 1 |
| 14= | Tui Lolohea | Salford Red Devils | 1 |
| 14= | Jack Wells | Salford Red Devils | 1 |
| 14= | Sione Mata'utia | St Helens | 1 |
| 14= | Mark Percival | St Helens | 1 |
| 14= | James Batchelor | Wakefield Trinity | 1 |
| 14= | Chris Green | Wakefield Trinity | 1 |
| 14= | Mason Lino | Wakefield Trinity | 1 |
| 14= | Jacob Miller | Wakefield Trinity | 1 |
| 14= | Tom Lineham | Warrington Wolves | 1 |
| 14= | Jake Mamo | Warrington Wolves | 1 |
| 14= | Gareth Widdop | Warrington Wolves | 1 |
| 14= | Liam Byrne | Wigan Warriors | 1 |
| 14= | Liam Farrell | Wigan Warriors | 1 |
| 14= | Oliver Partington | Wigan Warriors | 1 |
| 14= | Kai Pearce-Paul | Wigan Warriors | 1 |
| 14= | Morgan Smithies | Wigan Warriors | 1 |
* Updated to match(es) played on 30 August 2021 (Round 22)

## Attendances

| Club | Home Games | Total | Average | Highest | Lowest |
| Castleford Tigers | 2 | 3,600 | 1,800 | 3,600 | 3,600 |
| Catalans Dragons | 3 | 1,000 | 500 | 1,000 | 1,000 |
| Huddersfield Giants | 2 | | | | |
| Hull FC | 3 | 5,527 | 1,842 | 5,527 | 5,527 |
| Hull KR | 2 | | | | |
| Leeds Rhinos | 3 | 4,000 | 1,333 | 4,000 | 4,000 |
| Leigh Centurions | 2 | 3,708 | 1,854 | 2,008 | 1,700 |
| Salford Red Devils | 2 | 4,000 | 2,000 | 4,000 | 4,000 |
| St Helens | 2 | 4,000 | 2,000 | 4,000 | 4,000 |
| Wakefield Trinity | 2 | | | | |
| Warrington Wolves | 2 | 8,000 | 4,000 | 4,000 | 4,000 |
| Wigan Warriors | 2 | | | | |
| Rank | Home club | Away club | Stadium | Attendance |
| 1 | Magic Weekend: Day 1 | Magic Weekend: Day 1 | St James' Park | 35,104 |
| 2 | Magic Weekend: Day 2 | Magic Weekend: Day 2 | St James' Park | 25,762 |
| 3 | Wigan Warriors | St Helens | DW Stadium | 16,319 |
| 4 | Hull FC | Hull KR | MKM Stadium | 15,000 |
| 5 | Leeds Rhinos | Castleford Tigers | Emerald Headingley | 10,838 |
| 6 | Wigan Warriors | Salford Red Devils | DW Stadium | 9,434 |
| 7 | Wigan Warriors | Leigh Centurions | DW Stadium | 9,206 |
| 8 | Warrington Wolves | Wigan Warriors | Halliwell Jones Stadium | 8,014 |
| 9 | Wigan Warriors | Wakefield Trinity | DW Stadium | 5,555 |
| 10 | Wigan Warriors | Warrington Wolves | DW Stadium | 5,537 |

## End-of-season awards

The Super League end of season awards were announced on 4 October. The award winners were:
* Steve Prescott Man of Steel: Sam Tomkins (Catalans Dragons)
* Woman of Steel: Jodie Cunningham (St Helens)
* Coach of the year: Steve McNamara (Catalans Dragons)
* Top tackler: Joe Shorrocks (Wigan Warriors) 833 Tackles
* Top Metre-maker: Tom Davies (Catalans Dragons) 3,332 Meters
* Top Try Scorer: Ken Sio (Salford) 19 Tries
* Young player of the year: Jack Welsby (St Helens)
* Spirit of Super League: Kevin Sinfield

### Steve Prescott Man of Steel Nominees

| Rank | Player | Club |
| 1 | Sam Tomkins | Catalans Dragons |
| 2 | Jordan Abdull | Hull KR |
| 3 | Jake Connor | Hull FC |
| 4 | Jonny Lomax | St Helens |
| 5 | Gareth Widdop | Warrington Wolves |
| Here are the 5 nominees for the 2021 Steve Prescott Man Of Steel |||