In 2007 it was announced licensing was to be introduced for the 2008 season, replacing promotion and relegation, but the Grand Final would be retained and the division would be rebranded the Championship.

In 2013, the playoffs were expanded for the first time to eight teams as it had been seen to be a success in the Super League for a number of years before.

The eight team playoff would be the last before it was announced the Championship Grand Final would be scrapped in 2014 due to a league restructure in 2015.

In 2015 the Championship Grand Final was effectively replaced with the Million Pound Game.

[1] After scrapping the Super 8s in 2019 the RFL Championship Grand Final returned as the promotion deciding game.