If Super League had the bonus point system…

James Gordon

The 3 points for a win and bonus point system is now widespread in UK rugby league, but it hasn’t yet made it to Super League.

We take a look at how it would have affected the final 2012 table.

The bonus point system, which was introduced to the Championships in 2007, was also brought in to the community game for this season.

It awards three points for a win, two points for a draw and then one point if a team loses by 12 points or less.

Of course, it’s hard to gage the affect the change may have on Super League, as playing attitudes would have been different had the bonus system been in effect, but it’s interesting to investigate.

The only shift in the top eight would have seen Hull climb above Leeds, althought that is unrelated to the bonus point, and simply down to the maths of there being three points for a win, and two for a draw, as the Airlie Birds have drawn twice this season.

The team who most would have benefited from the bonus point system this season is Hull KR, who in 11 of their 16 defeats in 2012, lost by 12 points or less.

It still wouldn’t have been enough to see them climb in to the play-offs, though.

The only other change would have seen Widnes climb off the bottom, above Castleford. The Vikings have been within 12 in six of their defeats this term, compared to only four for Castleford.

Bradford are perhaps most prone to a collapse, having finished within 12 points in just one of their 12 defeats.

Wigan, meanwhile, would have earned at least a point in all but one of their matches had the bonus point system been in place, with a 30-10 defeat at Warrington the only time they were beaten by more than 12 all year.

New
Pos

Actual
Pos

Club

Wins(x3)+
Draws(x2)

Bonus

Total

1

1

Wigan Warriors

63

5

68

2

2

Warrington Wolves

62

3

65

3

3

St Helens

55

6

61

4

4

Catalan Dragons

54

3

57

5

6

Hull FC

49

3

52

6

5

Leeds Rhinos

48

3

51

7

7

Huddersfield Giants

42

5

47

8

8

Wakefield Wildcats

39

5

44

9

10

Hull KR

32

11

43

10

9

Bradford Bulls

38

1

39

11

11

Salford City Reds

26

7

33

12

12

London Broncos

21

6

27

13

14

Widnes Vikings

18

6

24

14

13

Castleford Tigers

18

4

22

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