Betfred Championship Play-Offs Explained

The 2026 Betfred Championship Play-Offs bring a brand-new format to the competition, with 10 teams battling it out over five weeks for a place in the Grand Final. The new system rewards those who finish highest in the regular-season table, giving the top two sides a valuable week off before entering the action in Week Two.

Using an extended and amended version of the McIntyre system, it will see four weekends of Play Off action, culminating in the Championship Grand Final on the weekend of 3/4 October. 

For Newcastle Thunder, finishing an outstanding second place means they have secured that all-important bye. While the rest of the Play-Off contenders begin their campaigns this weekend, Thunder can sit back, recover and prepare for their opening fixture in Week Two, when they will face the lowest-ranked winner of the two Qualifying Semi-Finals between Oldham v Widnes and Doncaster v Barrow.

With everything still to play for, here's a simple guide to how the new Play-Off system works — and what lies ahead for Thunder on the road to the Championship Grand Final.

Week 1 - 5/6 September

Teams 1 & 2 bye – through to Week 2

Qualifying Semi Final 1 – 3 v 5

Qualifying Semi Final 2 – 4 v 6

Eliminator 1 – 7 v 10

Eliminator 2 – 8 v 9

Week 2 - 12/13 September

Qualifying Final 1 – 1 v Highest Ranked Qualifying Semi Final Winners

Qualifying Final 2 – 2 v Lowest Ranked Qualifying Semi Final Winners

Elimination Final 1 - Highest Ranked Qualifying Semi Final Losers v Lowest Ranked Eliminator Winners

Elimination Final 2 - Lowest Ranked Qualifying Semi Final Losers v Highest Ranked Eliminator Winners

Week 3 - 19/20 September

Winners of Qualifying Final 1 & 2 – through to home semi finals

Sudden Death Play Off 1 – Highest Ranked Loser of Qualifying Finals v Lowest Ranked Winner of Elimination Finals

Sudden Death Play Off 2 – Lowest Ranked Loser of Qualifying Finals v Highest Ranked Winner of Elimination Finals

Week 4 - 26/27 September

Preliminary Final 1 – Highest Ranked Qualifying Final Winners v Lowest Ranked Sudden Death Play Off Winners

Preliminary Final 2 – Lowest Ranked Qualifying Final Winners v Highest Ranked Sudden Death Play Off Winners

Week 5 - 3/4 October

Grand Final – Highest Ranked Winner of Preliminary Finals v Lowest Ranked Winner of Preliminary Finals