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Super League XII is the official name for the 2007 engage Super League season in the sport of rugby league.
The 2007 season kicked off on the weekend of February 2, 2007 at the Galpharm Stadium. For the first time, the league had a staggered start due to the World Club Challenge between St Helens RLFC and Brisbane Broncos. The first round of matches began on the weekend of February 9th-11th 2007.
St Helens RFC are the defending Super League, Grand Final and Challenge Cup winners. Hull Kingston Rovers will be playing in the Super League for the first time ever after being promoted from National League 1 in 2006. This season will also include the first Millennium Magic weekend, which will take place on the weekend of the 5th and 6th of May 2007 in Cardiff.
Super League XII will feature 12 teams and have 27 rounds including the Millennium Magic round. The teams finishing from 1st to 6th will qualify for the end of season playoffs and the team finishing bottom will be relegated to National League 1 unless Les Catalans Dragons finish bottom, in which case the team finishing 11th will be relegated because Les Catalans Dragons are exempt from relegation in 2007.
Super League XII Teams
Notable Moments
- 4th February - Super League XI champions St Helens open the new season with an 18-10 win at Huddersfield Giants
- 9th February - The first big shock of the season as Harlequins win 14-6 against St Helens at Knowsley Road
- 10th February - Promoted Hull Kingston Rovers win their first Super League match at Craven Park, 14-9 against Wakefield Trinity Wildcats.
- 18th February - St Helens' stuttering start continues, losing 29-22 at Wakefield Trinity Wildcats.
- 2nd March - Hull Kingston Rovers continue their fantastic start with a 26-16 win at Wigan Warriors.
- 3rd March - Salford City Reds earn the first shut-out of the season, beating Catalans Dragons 10-0 at The Willows.
- 5th May - The Millennium Magic weekend begins in Cardiff. Paul Cooke plays his first game for Hull Kingston Rovers against his previous club, local rivals Hull FC. Rovers win 14-10. Meanwhile, St Helens beat local rivals Wigan Warriors 34-18 and Catalans Dragons lose 28 - 32 to Harlequins RL.
- 6th May - Millennium Magic concludes in Cardiff. Huddersfield Giants continue their fine run of form with a 36-12 win over Wakefield Trinity Wildcats and Warrington Wolves thrash Salford City Reds 50-18. In a dramatic final match, Leeds Rhinos beat Bradford Bulls in the West Yorkshire derby 42-38. The game sees 13 tries, including a Brent Webb hat-trick, but Leeds win in controversial circumstances. Trailing 38-36, they are awarded a disputed penalty by referee Steve Ganson. Kevin Sinfield kicks from long range for a draw but hits the cross-bar. Jordan Tansey, however, runs on to the loose ball and scores a try to win the game. However, video replays show Tansey is offside at the kick. In the aftermath, video ref Ashley Klein admits it was he who advised Ganson to award the initial penalty.
- 3rd June - Hull Kingston Rovers' Makali Aizue is given the first red card of the season at Belle Vue Stadium. Wakefield Trinity Wildcats overturn a 9-2 half-time deficit to win 30-15 win with the extra man. The weekend attracts a total attendance of 58,831 and is hailed as a success by the RFL.
- 15th June - The first ever Super League match without a try sees Salford City Reds beat Harlequins 5-2 at The Willows. It is also the lowest scoring match in Super League history.
- 17th June - Kiwi wing Lesley Vainikolo plays his last match for Bradford Bulls at Osdal. Hooker Terry Newton steals the headlines with four tries in a 34-8 win over Hull FC, but Vainikolo says goodbye by taking the conversion after Paul Deacon's try at the end of the match. It is the first time he has ever attempted a kick at goal in his life but nevertheless he gets the two points.
- 29th June - Lesley Vainikolo scores his final try for Bradford Bulls in a 38-14 derby win at Leeds Rhinos.
- 1st July - Severe flooding causes the match between Hull FC and Salford City Reds at the KC Stadium to be postponed. Meanwhile, Wakefield Trinity Wildcats earn a striking 32-6 win against Wigan Warriors to aid their push for a playoff place.
- 6th July - The relegation struggle looks like being a straight fight between Salford City Reds and Hull Kingston Rovers. Salford lose 35-18 at home to Wakefield Trinity Wildcats.
- 8th July - Hull Kingston Rovers are still in trouble as they lose the Humberside derby at home to Hull FC 20-30.
- 20th July - Wakefield Trinity Wildcats earn a shock 23-16 win at Headingley Stadium against Leeds Rhinos to boost their bid for the playoffs.
- 21st July - Salford City Reds shock Bradford Bulls 14-10 at The Willows to aid their struggle against relegation.
Super League XII Table
With the Hull-Salford match remaining in Round 18:
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Last game | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  St Helens
|
21 | 15 | 0 | 6 | 640 | 315 | +325 | 30 | WIG 19-12 W |
| 2 |  Leeds Rhinos
|
21 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 539 | 398 | +141 | 28 | WAK 23-16 L |
| 3 | File:Bullscolours.png Bradford Bulls | 21 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 624 | 456 | +168 | 26 | SAL 14-10 L |
| 4 |  Wigan Warriors
|
21 | 11 | 0 | 10 | 461 | 404 | +57 | 22 | ST H 19-12 L |
| 5 |  Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
|
21 | 10 | 1 | 10 | 474 | 512 | -38 | 21 | LEE 23-16 W |
| 6 |  Warrington Wolves
|
21 | 10 | 0 | 11 | 542 | 552 | -10 | 20 | HKR 60-20 W |
| 7 |  Hull FC
|
20 | 9 | 2 | 9 | 374 | 400 | -26 | 20 | CAT 34-18 W |
| 8 |  Harlequins RL
|
21 | 9 | 2 | 10 | 399 | 460 | -61 | 20 | HUD 22-10 L |
| 9 |  Huddersfield Giants
|
21 | 9 | 1 | 11 | 475 | 409 | +85 | 19 | QUI 22-10 W |
| 10 |  Catalans Dragons
|
21 | 7 | 1 | 13 | 433 | 547 | -114 | 15 | HUL 34-18 L |
| 11 |  Hull Kingston Rovers
|
21 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 342 | 567 | -225 | 14 | WAR 60-20 L |
| 12 |  Salford City Reds
|
20 | 6 | 1 | 13 | 333 | 614 | -283 | 13 | BRA 14-10 W |
Note: The Round 18 game Hull FC v Salford City Reds that was postponed on Sunday 1st July will now be played on Sunday 29th July. Bradford deducted 2 points for breaching of salary cap rules.
Wigan may be deducted up to six points for breaching salary cap rules
External links
| Preceded bySuper League XI | Super League Season 2007 |
Succeeded bySuper League XIII |