Since its inception in 1996, the Super League has been the pinnacle of rugby league in the Northern Hemisphere. Over the last nearly three decades, it has featured teams from England, Wales, France and Canada, and it remains the tournament outside of Australia. This year, the ongoing campaign is in its ninth week and there are already plenty of stories being told.
The Current Campaign
French outfit Catalans Dragons are currently sitting at the top of the pile. They have won seven of their fixtures so far this term against just one defeat and have already picked up notable victories against the likes of the heavyweight St. Helen’s and beaten 2023 Challenge Cup finalists Hull Kingston Rovers. The Dragons have never been crowned champions, however, they have reached the Grand Final twice in the last three seasons. They were narrowly beaten 12-10 by the Saints in 2021, before losing out once again to the Wigan Warriors last term by a score of ten points to two.
Catalans have been in the league since 2007 and became the first team outside the British Isles to ever compete in the Super League. They will be aiming to turn their recent heartache into success and popular bookmaker SkyBet certainly fancy their chances. The betting giant has made the French team a 7/1 contender this season, narrowly behind the aforementioned Saints and Wigan, as well as Warrington Wolves. You can find more info about Skybet and its free bets here, such as a £30 sign-up offer, something that could be turned into a £210 windfall should Catalans see the job through at their current odds.
In the coming years, the Catalans will be hoping to join the illustrious duo below. Here are the most successful teams in the history of the Super League.
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St. Helens
St. Helen’s stands at the apex of Super League success with an impressive tally of ten titles. They first tasted glory at the turn of the millennium, claiming three titles in four seasons between 1999 and 2002, winning two of them back-to-back. In the noughties, the crown bounced between them, Leeds and the now defunct Bradford Bulls. The Saints would have to go without a title for eight years between 2006 and 2014.
However, they truly took off as the dominant team in the league in 2019. Five years on from that success against Wigan at Old Trafford, the Saints reeled off four consecutive titles, the most dominant run in Super League history. Their form culminated with a stunning upset victory against the Penrith Panthers in the World Club Challenge in the Land Down Under last year. However, their reign came to a screeching halt as they were dumped out of the playoffs by Catalans in last year’s semifinal, with the underdogs gaining revenge for their defeat in the previous year’s Grand Final.
Leeds Rhinos
If St. Helen’s are the standard-bearers, Leeds Rhinos are the indomitable challengers. Just like the Saints, they too had a golden era, albeit somewhat before their rivals from down the M62. The Yorkshire outfit was the dominant force in the mid-2000s to early 2010s, a period during which they amassed multiple titles and etched their names into Super League folklore. Players like Kevin Sinfield, Jamie Peacock, and Rob Burrow were not just stars on the field; they were leaders who embodied the spirit and determination of the Rhinos.
They became the first team in history to complete a threepeat of crowns in 2007, 2008 and 2009, starting a run of seven titles in 11 years. However, as the 2024 season reaches its midpoint, the Rhinos are currently overdue another triumph and haven’t hoisted silverware above their heads in the last seven years.
