1998 Super League Grand Final

Last updated

1998 (1998) Super League Grand Final  ()
12Total
WIG Wigancolours.svg 6410
LEE Rhinoscolours.svg 404
Date24 October 1998
Stadium Old Trafford
Location Flag of England.svg Manchester
Harry Sunderland Trophy Flag of England.svg Jason Robinson ( Wigancolours.svg Wigan)
Referee Russell Smith
Attendance43,533
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters
Commentators
1999  

The 1998 JJB Super League Grand Final was the first staging of the Super League Grand Final and the conclusive and championship-deciding game of 1998's Super League III, and the first Grand Final of the Super League era. It was held on Saturday 24 October 1998, at Old Trafford, Manchester, United Kingdom. This was the first time the League Championship had been decided by play-off since the 1972–73 Championship Final. The game was played between Wigan Warriors and Leeds Rhinos.

Contents

Background

JJB Sports Super League III was the official name for the year 1998's Super League championship season, the 104th season of top-level professional rugby league football in Britain, and the third championship run by Super League. The League format changed in 1998 and the championship became a play off series to determine the Super League champions, similar to the way the Premiership was played a few seasons earlier. This meant the first Final to determine the British champions since the 1972–73 season. Huddersfield Giants, the league's bottom club was saved from relegation in 1998 due to the expansion of the league to fourteen teams in Super League IV.

Route to the Grand Final

TeamPldWDLPFPAPDPts
1 Wigancolours.svg Wigan Warriors 232102762222+54042
2 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos 231904662369+29338

Wigan Warriors

By finishing first in the regular season, Wigan qualified directly to the play-off semi-finals. They were drawn against Leeds at home and beat their eventual Grand Final opponents 17–4.

Leeds Rhinos

The play-off system in use only gave the league leaders a bye to the semi-finals. Leeds had finished second so had to play a qualifying play-off first. Drawn at home to Halifax Blue Sox Leeds won 13–6 to go through to the semi-final. This was an away fixture to Wigan where the Rhinos were beaten 17–4. However this loss did not end their season. The losers of the qualifying semi-final got another chance by playing the winners of the other semi-final in a final eliminator. Therefore Leeds' third play-off game was a home tie against St Helens where they cruised through 44–16.

Leeds
RoundOppositionScore
Qualifying Play-off Faxcolours.svg Halifax Blue Sox (H)13-6
Qualifying Semi-Final Wigancolours.svg Wigan Warriors (A)17-4
Final Eliminator Saintscolours.svg St Helens (H)44-16
Key: (H) = Home venue; (A) = Away venue.

Match details

24 October 1998
Wigancolours.svg Wigan Warriors 10–4 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos
Tries: Robinson
Goals: Farrell (3)
Report
Tries: Blackmore
Old Trafford, Manchester
Attendance: 43,533 [1]
Referee: Russell Smith (Castleford)
Wigan Warriors Position Leeds Rhinos
1 Flag of England.svg Kris Radlinski Fullback1 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Iestyn Harris (c)
2 Flag of England.svg Jason Robinson Winger22 Flag of England.svg Leroy Rivett
3 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Danny Moore Centre3 Flag of New Zealand.svg Richie Blackmore
4 Flag of England.svg Gary Connolly Centre4 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brad Godden
5 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mark Bell Winger5 Flag of England.svg Francis Cummins
6 Flag of New Zealand.svg Henry Paul Stand Off13 Flag of England.svg Daryl Powell
7 Flag of England.svg Tony Smith Scrum half7 Flag of England.svg Ryan Sheridan
16 Flag of Ireland.svg Terry O'Connor Prop8 Flag of Tonga.svg Martin Masella
9 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Robbie McCormack Hooker21 Flag of England.svg Terry Newton
10 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tony Mestrov Prop25 Flag of England.svg Darren Fleary
17 Flag of England.svg Stephen Holgate 2nd Row11 Flag of England.svg Adrian Morley
20 Flag of England.svg Lee Gilmour 2nd Row17 Flag of England.svg Anthony Farrell
13 Flag of England.svg Andy Farrell (c)Loose forward12 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Marc Glanville
25 Flag of England.svg Paul Johnson Interchange24 Flag of England.svg Marcus St Hilaire
12 Flag of England.svg Simon Haughton Interchange14 Flag of England.svg Graham Holroyd
14 Flag of England.svg Mick Cassidy Interchange27 Flag of England.svg Andy Hay
8 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Neil Cowie Interchange20 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jamie Mathiou
Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Monie Coach Flag of Australia (converted).svg Graham Murray

See also

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References

  1. "Wonderful Wigan add Final chapter to illustrious history". The Birmingham Post . England. 26 October 1998. Retrieved 5 October 2009.