1998 Super League Grand Final

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.

1998 (1998) Super League Grand Final  ()
12 Total
WIG 64 10
LEE 40 4
Date24 October 1998
StadiumOld Trafford
LocationEngland Manchester
Harry Sunderland TrophyEngland Jason Robinson ( Wigan)
RefereeRussell Smith
Attendance43,533
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters
Commentators
1999 →

Background

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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

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Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
1   Wigan Warriors 23 21 0 2 762 222 +540 42
2   Leeds Rhinos 23 19 0 4 662 369 +293 38

Wigan Warriors

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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

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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
Round Opposition Score
Qualifying Play-off   Halifax Blue Sox (H) 13-6
Qualifying Semi-Final   Wigan Warriors (A) 17-4
Final Eliminator   St Helens (H) 44-16
Key: (H) = Home venue; (A) = Away venue.

Match details

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24 October 1998
  Wigan Warriors 10–4   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   Kris Radlinski Fullback 1   Iestyn Harris (c)
2   Jason Robinson Winger 22   Leroy Rivett
3   Danny Moore Centre 3   Richie Blackmore
4   Gary Connolly Centre 4   Brad Godden
5   Mark Bell Winger 5   Francis Cummins
6   Henry Paul Stand Off 13   Daryl Powell
7   Tony Smith Scrum half 7   Ryan Sheridan
16   Terry O'Connor Prop 8   Martin Masella
9   Robbie McCormack Hooker 21   Terry Newton
10   Tony Mestrov Prop 25   Darren Fleary
17   Stephen Holgate 2nd Row 11   Adrian Morley
20   Lee Gilmour 2nd Row 17   Anthony Farrell
13   Andy Farrell (c) Loose forward 12   Marc Glanville
25   Paul Johnson Interchange 24   Marcus St Hilaire
12   Simon Haughton Interchange 14   Graham Holroyd
14   Mick Cassidy Interchange 27   Andy Hay
8   Neil Cowie Interchange 20   Jamie Mathiou
  John Monie Coach   Graham Murray

See also

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References

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