2008 Super League Grand Final
| 2008 Super League Grand Final | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Leeds Rhinos celebrating their victory after the full-time whistle | |||||||||||||
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| Date | 4 October 2008 | ||||||||||||
| Stadium | Old Trafford | ||||||||||||
| Location |  Manchester | ||||||||||||
| Harry Sunderland Trophy | Lee Smith ( Leeds Rhinos) | ||||||||||||
| Headliners | Scouting for Girls | ||||||||||||
| Referee | Ashley Klein | ||||||||||||
| Attendance | 68,810 | ||||||||||||
| Broadcast partners | |||||||||||||
| Broadcasters | |||||||||||||
| Commentators | |||||||||||||
The 2008 Super League Grand Final was the 11th official Grand Final and conclusive and championship-deciding match of the Super League XIII season. Held on Saturday 4 October 2008, at Old Trafford, Manchester, the match was between League Leaders St. Helens and defending champions from 2007 Leeds Rhinos.
Background
[edit]| Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  St. Helens
|
27 | 21 | 1 | 5 | 940 | 457 | +483 | 43 |
| 2 | Leeds Rhinos
|
27 | 21 | 0 | 6 | 863 | 413 | +450 | 42 |
Route to the Final
[edit]St Helens
[edit]| Round | Opposition | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifying Semi-Final | Leeds Rhinos (H)
|
38–10 |
| Key: (H) = Home venue; (A) = Away venue; (N) = Neutral venue. | ||
Leeds Rhinos
[edit]| Round | Opposition | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifying Semi-Final | St Helens (A)
|
38–10 |
| Elimination Final |  Wigan Warriors (H)
|
18–14 |
| Key: (H) = Home venue; (A) = Away venue; (N) = Neutral venue. | ||
Match details
[edit]4 October 2008
18:00 UTC+1 |
| St. Helens
|
16–24 | Leeds Rhinos
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Graham 6' Gidley 43' Gardner 59' Goals: Long (2) |
Report |
Tries: Smith 24' Hall 37' McGuire 49', 63' Goals: Sinfield (4) |
| St Helens | Position | Leeds Rhinos | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paul Wellens
|
Fullback | 5 | Lee Smith
|
| 2 | Ade Gardner
|
Winger | 22 | Ryan Hall
|
| 3 |  Matthew Gidley
|
Centre | 19 | Carl Ablett
|
| 4 |  Willie Talau
|
Centre | 4 | Keith Senior
|
| 5 | Francis Meli
|
Winger | 2 | Scott Donald
|
| 6 | Leon Pryce
|
Stand Off | 6 | Danny McGuire
|
| 7 | Sean Long
|
Scrum half | 7 | Rob Burrow
|
| 17 | James Graham
|
Prop | 8 |  Kylie Leuluai
|
| 9 |  Keiron Cunningham (c)
|
Hooker | 9 | Matt Diskin
|
| 18 | Bryn Hargreaves
|
Prop | 10 | Jamie Peacock
|
| 11 | Lee Gilmour
|
2nd Row | 11 | Jamie Jones-Buchanan
|
| 12 | Jon Wilkin
|
2nd Row | 12 | Gareth Ellis
|
| 30 | Chris Flannery
|
Loose forward | 13 | Kevin Sinfield (c)
|
| 14 | James Roby
|
Interchange | 14 | Ali Lauitiiti
|
| 8 | Nick Fozzard
|
Interchange | 16 | Ryan Bailey
|
| 28 | Paul Clough
|
Interchange | 17 | Nick Scruton
|
| 23 | Maurie Fa'asavalu
|
Interchange | 18 | Ian Kirke
|
| Daniel Anderson
|
Coach | Brian McClennan
| ||
The coin to see who kicked off was tossed by 12-year-old, James Baxter who won the opportunity through a competition through the leagues sponsor Engage.
2009 World Club Challenge
[edit]The Rhinos' win in the grand final earned them the right to play against the 2008 NRL season premiers, the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles on 1 March 2009 in the World Club Challenge.