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1998 Super League Grand Final

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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 →

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.

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