2012 Super League Grand Final

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2012 (2012) Super League Grand Final
12Total
LEE Rhinoscolours.svg 141226
WAR Wolvescolours.svg 14418
Date6 October 2012
Stadium Old Trafford
Location Flag of England.svg Manchester
Harry Sunderland Trophy Flag of England.svg Kevin Sinfield ( Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos)
Jerusalem Hayley Westenra
Referee Richard Silverwood [1]
Attendance70,676
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters
Commentators
  2011
2013  

The 2012 Super League Grand Final was the 15th official Grand Final and conclusive and championship-deciding match of the Super League XVII season. The match was held on Saturday 6 October 2012, at Old Trafford, Manchester, and was contested by English clubs Leeds Rhinos and Warrington Wolves. The 2012 Grand Final was a repeat of the 2012 Challenge Cup Final, in which Warrington beat Leeds 35-18 at Wembley Stadium, [2] although it was Leeds who would win the Super League Grand Final, winning 26-18. [3]

Contents

The progress of the two teams competing in the match were decided by results in the Super League XVII play-offs.

Background

PosTeamPldWDLPFPAPDPts [4]
2 Wolvescolours.svg Warrington Wolves 272016909539+37041
5 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos 2716011823622+20932

Route to the Final

Leeds Rhinos

As in 2011, Leeds Rhinos finished the regular season in 5th place, meaning the team started their play-off campaign in the elimination play-off, where they met West Yorkshire rivals Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, playing in their first play-off campaign at Headingley Carnegie Stadium. Leeds won the game 42-20 with Ben Jones-Bishop scoring a hat-trick and Danny McGuire becoming the all-time leading try-scorer in the Super League history. [5]

In the Preliminary Semi Final, Leeds would meet the lowest-placed loser from the Qualification play-off games, Catalans Dragons in the south of France, who they would beat 27-20, thanks to five goals from Kevin Sinfield and a drop goal from McGuire. [6] That result booked Leeds' place in the Qualifying Semi-Final and the club call. Wigan Warriors were the team that were given the decision and chose Leeds. The match at the DW Stadium was won 13-12 by Leeds, despite Wigan scoring more tries (two to Leeds' one). Leeds reached the Grand Final, thanks to the boot of Kevin Sinfield, who kicked four goals, including the conversion to Kallum Watkins' try, and a first-half drop goal. [7]

Leeds
RoundOppositionScore
Elimination Play-Off Wcatscolours.svg Wakefield Trinity (H)42-20
Preliminary Semi-Final Catalanscolours.svg Catalans Dragons (A)27-20
Semi-Final Wigancolours.svg Wigan Warriors (A)13-12
Key: (H) = Home venue; (A) = Away venue.

Warrington Wolves

Warrington's 2012 play-off campaign did not get off to a good start, as they lost 28-6 to St. Helens, despite having home advantage in the Qualifying play-off game following their 2nd place league finish. Tommy Makinson was Saints's most influential player in the game, scoring 16 points from two tries and kicking four goals. [8]

The defeat meant Warrington would have to compete in the Preliminary Semi-Final round but would once again play at home at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, this time against Hull FC. Warrington would race into a 24-point lead before winning the 24-12 to reach the Preliminary Semi Final. [9] Following Wigan's club call decision, Warrington were re-united against St Helens, this time at Langtree Park. The reverse of the fixture also meant a reverse of luck for Warrington, who would gain revenge for the defeat earlier in the play-offs by winning 36-18 to reach their ever Grand Final. [10] It also sees coach Tony Smith become the first coach to reach the Super Grand Final with two different clubs, the other club being Warrington's opponent, Leeds Rhinos.

Warrington
RoundOppositionScore
Qualifying Play-Off Saintscolours.svg St Helens (H)28-6
Preliminary Semi-Final Hullcolours.svg Hull F.C. (H)24-12
Semi-Final Saintscolours.svg St Helens (A)36-18
Key: (H) = Home venue; (A) = Away venue.

Match details

6 October 2012
18:00 BST
Leeds Rhinos Rhinoscolours.svg 2618 Wolvescolours.svg Warrington Wolves
Tries
Sinfield Ru ball.svg 18'
Jones-Bishop Ru ball.svg 28'
Ablett Ru ball.svg 60'
Hall Ru ball.svg 71'
Goals
Sinfield 18', 24', 28', 60', 71'
Report
Tries
Myler Ru ball.svg 3'
J.Monaghan Ru ball.svg 37'
Atkins Ru ball.svg 45'
Goals
Hodgson 3', 37', 40'
Old Trafford, Manchester
Attendance: 70,676
Referee: Richard Silverwood
Player of the Match: Kevin Sinfield
Leeds Rhinos Position Warrington Wolves
4 Flag of England.svg Zak Hardaker Fullback 1 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brett Hodgson
2 Flag of England.svg Ben Jones-Bishop Winger 5 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Joel Monaghan
3 Flag of England.svg Kallum Watkins centre 19 Flag of England.svg Stefan Ratchford
12 Flag of England.svg Carl Ablett centre 4 Flag of England.svg Ryan Atkins
5 Flag of England.svg Ryan Hall Winger 2 Flag of England.svg Chris Riley
13 Flag of England.svg Kevin Sinfield (c) Stand Off 6 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Lee Briers
6 Flag of England.svg Danny McGuire scrum-half 7 Flag of England.svg Richie Myler
8 Flag of New Zealand.svg Kylie Leuluai prop 20 Flag of England.svg Chris Hill
7 Flag of England.svg Rob Burrow Hooker 14 Flag of England.svg Mickey Higham
10 Flag of England.svg Jamie Peacock prop 13 Flag of England.svg Ben Harrison
11 Flag of England.svg Jamie Jones-Buchanan 2nd Row 11 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Trent Waterhouse
15 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brett Delaney 2nd Row 12 Flag of England.svg Ben Westwood
16 Flag of England.svg Ryan Bailey loose forward 15 Flag of Ireland.svg Simon Grix
17 Flag of England.svg Ian Kirke Interchange8 Flag of England.svg Adrian Morley (c)
20 Flag of England.svg Darrell Griffin 9 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Michael Monaghan
25 Flag of England.svg Stevie Ward 16 Flag of England.svg Paul Wood
31 Flag of England.svg Shaun Lunt 17 Flag of England.svg Michael Cooper
Flag of England.svg Brian McDermott Coach Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tony Smith

References

  1. "Silverwood in charge at Old Trafford". Super League. 2 October 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  2. "Leeds Rhinos 18-35 Warrington Wolves". RFL. Challenge Cup. Archived from the original on 5 February 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
  3. "Grand Final: Warrington 18-26 Leeds". BBC Sport. 6 October 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
  4. "Stobart Super League - League Table". Super League. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 28 September 2012.
  5. "Leeds 42-20 Wakefield". BBC Sport. 11 September 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2012.
  6. "Catalan Dragons 20-27 Leeds Rhinos". BBC Sport. 20 September 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2012.
  7. "Wigan Warriors 12-13 Leeds Rhinos". BBC Sport. 25 September 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2012.
  8. "Warrington 6-28 St Helens". BBC Sport. 11 September 2012. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
  9. "Warrington Wolves 24-12 Hull FC". BBC Sport. 17 September 2012. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
  10. "St Helens 18-36 Warrington". BBC Sport. 25 September 2012. Retrieved 29 September 2012.