What are loop fixtures & is the Super League match schedule fair?

The intricate dance of professional sports scheduling is often a thankless task, balancing commercial imperatives, logistical challenges, and the perennial quest for competitive fairness. In Super League, this challenge is amplified by a fixture list that, for some teams, involves playing certain opponents three times within a single regular season. This phenomenon, often referred to as "loop fixtures," sparks an annual debate among fans and pundits alike: how is the schedule decided, and does it truly offer a level playing field for all contenders?

At its core, the existence of loop fixtures in Super League is a mathematical necessity driven by the league's structure. With an odd number of teams (typically 12), a standard home-and-away format would result in 22 regular season games per club (playing 11 opponents twice). However, to fill the desired length of the season and meet broadcasting commitments, more games are required. The solution is to introduce additional fixtures, meaning each team plays a select number of opponents a third time. The criteria for these extra matches often involve a combination of factors: historical rivalries that guarantee high attendances and viewership, geographical proximity for derby clashes, or sometimes, a system that pairs teams based on their previous season's finishing positions, aiming to create more 'big' games.