2007 Super League Grand Final

The 2007 Super League Grand Final was 10th official Grand Final and the conclusive and championship-deciding match of the Super League XII season. Held on Saturday 13 October 2007, at Old Trafford in Manchester, the game was played between St. Helens, who finished top of the league after the 27 weekly rounds, and Leeds Rhinos, who finished second after the weekly rounds.

2007 (2007) Super League Grand Final  ()
12 Total
ST H 60 6
LEE 825 33
Date13 October 2007
StadiumOld Trafford
LocationEngland Manchester
Harry Sunderland TrophyEngland Rob Burrow ( Leeds Rhinos)
HeadlinersKaiser Chiefs
RefereeAshley Klein
Attendance71,352
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters
Commentators
← 2006
2008 →

Background edit

Going into this game, St Helens had never lost in a Grand Final - they had won in 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2006. Leeds Rhinos had one win from 2004 and two losses (1998 and 2005).[1]

The St Helens stand-off, Leon Pryce, made a record-breaking seventh Grand Final appearance by playing in this game with previous appearances playing with Bradford Bulls and St Helens.[1]

The pre-match coin toss was won by Leeds Rhinos. They chose to kick off and defended from the Stretford End of Old Trafford.[1]

Katherine Jenkins was forced to withdraw herself from the pre-match entertainment due to a flu bug, her replacement was Russell Watson, who performed the Grand Final hymn, Jerusalem. Watson performed before the game at the first Super League Grand Final.[1]

Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
1   St. Helens 27 19 0 8 783 422 +361 38
2   Leeds Rhinos 27 18 1 8 747 487 +260 37

Route to the Final edit

St Helens edit

Round Opposition Score
Qualifying Semi-Final   Leeds Rhinos (H) 10-8
Key: (H) = Home venue; (A) = Away venue; (N) = Neutral venue.

Leeds Rhinos edit

Round Opposition Score
Qualifying Semi-Final   St Helens (A) 10-8
Elimination Final   Wigan Warriors (H) 36-6
Key: (H) = Home venue; (A) = Away venue; (N) = Neutral venue.

Match details edit

13 October 2007
18:00 UTC+1
St. Helens   6 - 33   Leeds Rhinos
Tries: Roby 26'
Goals: Long
Report
Tries: Webb 19'
Lauitiiti 50'
Donald 52'
Smith 69'
Jones-Buchanan 79'
Goals: Sinfield (6)
Drops: Burrow
Old Trafford, Manchester
Attendance: 71,352
Referee: Ashley Klein (Australia)
St Helens Position Leeds Rhinos
  Paul Wellens Fullback 1   Brent Webb
2   Ade Gardner Winger 2   Scott Donald
3   Matthew Gidley Centre 3   Clinton Toopi
4   Willie Talau Centre 4   Keith Senior
5   Francis Meli Winger 5   Lee Smith
6   Leon Pryce Stand Off 6   Danny McGuire
7   Sean Long Scrum half 7   Rob Burrow
8   Nick Fozzard Prop 8   Kylie Leuluai
9   Keiron Cunningham Hooker 9   Matt Diskin
10   Jason Cayless Prop 10   Jamie Peacock
11   Lee Gilmour 2nd Row 11   Jamie Jones-Buchanan
13   Chris Flannery 2nd Row 12   Gareth Ellis
12   Jon Wilkin Loose forward 13   Kevin Sinfield (c)
14   James Roby Interchange 14   Ali Lauitiiti
  Mike Bennett Interchange 16   Ryan Bailey
10   James Graham Interchange 17   Ian Kirke
  Maurie Fa'asavalu Interchange 18   Carl Ablett
  Daniel Anderson Coach   Tony Smith

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d BBC Sport (13 October 2007). "Grand Final as it happened". BBC. Archived from the original on 15 October 2007. Retrieved 16 October 2007.