In order to maintain interest towards the end of the season a new competition, the Club Championship, was introduced to replace the play-offs.

[1] The following season saw the title change to "Premiership", and the format was altered so that only the top eight teams in the first division would compete.

The Premiership continued to be played until 1995–96, and the switch to a summer sport, when the competition was abandoned to allow the 1996 Super League season to begin in the spring.

In 1998 this was replaced by a return to a play-off for the championships, with the Harry Sunderland Trophy being the award to the Grand Final's man of the match.

For completeness, this table includes the 1973–74 Club Championship, and premiership winners from the Super League era.