The 2007 Super League

Super League

Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...

 Grand Final was held on Saturday 13 October 2007, at Old Trafford in Manchester

Manchester

Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...

, England

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

. The game was played between St Helens, who finished top of the league after the 27 weekly rounds, and Leeds Rhinos

Leeds Rhinos

Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...

, who finished second after the weekly rounds.

Route to final

Regular Season Final Standings

361

260

Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
1	St Helens	27	19	0	8	783	422
38
2	Leeds Rhinos Leeds Rhinos Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...	27	18	1	8	747	487
37

Leeds Rhinos

Position in Super League table: 2nd

• Qualifying semi-final Lost 10-8 to St Helens

• Final eliminator: Won 36-6 v Wigan Warriors
  Wigan Warriors
  Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
  
  

Pre-match

Going into this game, St Helens had never lost in a Grand Final - they had won in 1999

1999 Super League Grand Final

The 1999 Super League Grand Final was held on Saturday 9 October 1999, at Old Trafford, Manchester, UK. The game was played between St Helens and Bradford Bulls.-Route to final:Regular Season Final Standings-Bradford Bulls:...

, 2000

2000 Super League Grand Final

The 2000 Super League Grand Final was held on Saturday 14 October 2000, at Old Trafford, Manchester, England. The game was played between St Helens and Wigan Warriors. Wigan wore blue for the encounter and St Helens wore their traditional red and white. The match was refereed by Russell Smith of...

, 2002

2002 Super League Grand Final

The 2002 Super League Grand Final was held on Saturday 19 October 2002, at Old Trafford, Manchester, UK. The game was played between St Helens and Bradford Bulls.Referee: Russell Smith Attendance: 61,138...

 and 2006

2006 Super League Grand Final

The 2006 Super League Grand Final was the conclusive and championship-deciding game of Super League XI. Held on Saturday, 14 October at Manchester's Old Trafford ground, the game was played between St Helens, who finished top of the league after the 28 weekly rounds, and Hull, who finished second...

. Leeds Rhinos had one win from 2004

2004 Super League Grand Final

The 2004 Super League Grand Final was held on Saturday 16 October 2004, at Old Trafford, Manchester, UK. The game was played between Leeds Rhinos, who finished top of the league after the 28 weekly rounds, and Bradford Bulls, who finished second after the weekly rounds.-Route to final:Regular...

 and two losses (1998

1998 Super League Grand Final

The 1998 JJB Super League Grand Final was the first Grand Final of the Super League era, held on Saturday 24 October 1998, at Old Trafford, Manchester, United Kingdom. This was the first time the Rugby Football League Championship had been decided by play-off since the 1972–73 Rugby Football League...

 and 2005

2005 Super League Grand Final

The 2005 Super League Grand Final was held on Saturday 15 October 2005, at Old Trafford, Manchester, England. The game was played between Bradford Bulls, who finished 3rd in the league after the 28 weekly rounds, and Leeds Rhinos, who finished second after the weekly rounds.-Route to final:Regular...

).

The St Helens stand-off, Leon Pryce

Leon Pryce

Leon Pryce is an English professional rugby league footballer of Jamaican descent for the St. Helens club of Super League...

, made a record-breaking seventh Grand Final appearance by playing in this game with previous appearances playing with Bradford Bulls

Bradford Bulls

Bradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the European Super League and are currently joint 10th in the league....

 and St Helens.

The pre-match coin toss was won by Leeds Rhinos. They chose to kick off and defended from the Stretford End

Stretford End

The Stretford End, officially named West Stand, is a stand on the west side of Old Trafford, the stadium of Manchester United F.C. It took its name from the town of Stretford, in which the stadium is located, as it is in the direction of the centre of Stretford, looking from the centre of the pitch...

 of Old Trafford.

Katherine Jenkins

Katherine Jenkins

Katherine Jenkins is a Welsh mezzo-soprano. She is a classical-popular crossover singer who performs across a spectrum of operatic arias, popular songs, musical theatre and hymns.-Early life and education:...

 was forced to withdraw herself from the pre-match entertainment due to a flu bug, her replacement was Russell Watson

Russell Watson

Russell Watson is an English tenor who has released singles and albums of both operatic-style and pop songs. The self-styled "People's Tenor" had been singing since he was a child, and became known after performing at a working men's club...

, who performed the Grand Final hymn, Jerusalem

And did those feet in ancient time

"And did those feet in ancient time" is a short poem by William Blake from the preface to his epic Milton a Poem, one of a collection of writings known as the Prophetic Books. The date on the title page of 1804 for Milton is probably when the plates were begun, but the poem was printed c. 1808...

. Watson performed before the game at the first Super League Grand Final

1998 Super League Grand Final

The 1998 JJB Super League Grand Final was the first Grand Final of the Super League era, held on Saturday 24 October 1998, at Old Trafford, Manchester, United Kingdom. This was the first time the Rugby Football League Championship had been decided by play-off since the 1972–73 Rugby Football League...

.

St Helens's kit consisted of a white jersey with a red ‘Vee-neck', white shorts and red stockings. Leeds wore navy blue kit with yellow trim.

Teams

St Helens	Position Rugby league positions A rugby league football team consists of thirteen players on the field, with four substitutes on the bench. Players are divided into two general categories: "forwards" and "backs"....	Leeds Rhinos Leeds Rhinos Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
Paul Wellens Paul Wellens Paul Simon Wellens is an English multi-award–winning rugby league footballer. Wellens plays for St. Helens in the European Super League. Wellens is a Great Britain and England international...	Fullback	Brent Webb Brent Webb Brent Webb is an Australian-born New Zealand rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Leeds in the Super League. Webb plays as a full-back and is a former New Zealand international.-Early years:...
Ade Gardner Ade Gardner Adrian Antonio Gardner is an English professional rugby league footballer for St. Helens of Super League. A Great Britain representative winger, he previously played for Barrow Raiders. He is the older brother of Ex-Salford City Reds winger, Mat Gardner.Gardner went to St Columba's Roman...	Winger	Scott Donald Scott Donald Scott Albert Donald is a retired Australian professional rugby league footballer and played for the Leeds Rhinos of the European Super League competition...
Matthew Gidley Matthew Gidley Matthew "Matt" Gidley is an Australian rugby league administrator and retired professional footballer. Born in Newcastle, New South Wales, Gidley represented New South Wales and Australia. He is the currently CEO of Football Operations at the Newcastle Knights...	Centre	Clinton Toopi Clinton Toopi Clinton Toopi is a professional rugby footballer who is currently playing for the Gold Coast Titans of the National Rugby League. His usual position is centre.-Playing career:...
Willie Talau Willie Talau Viliamu Talau is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays for English club Salford City Reds of Super League...	Centre	Keith Senior Keith Senior Keith Senior is an English professional rugby league or who most recently played for the Leeds Rhinos in Super League. He has won every honour in the English domestic game. He holds the record for the most Super League appearances & the most Super League tries...
Francis Meli Francis Meli Francis Meli is a professional rugby league player who currently plays for St. Helens in the Super League competition. Meli has represented both New Zealand and Samoa in internationals. His usual position is on the wing....	Winger	Lee Smith Lee Smith (rugby league) Lee Smith is an English rugby league player who is currently in his second stint playing for the Leeds Rhinos in the Super League. He had a brief spell in rugby union with the London Wasps in the Guinness Premiership.-Early career:...
Leon Pryce Leon Pryce Leon Pryce is an English professional rugby league footballer of Jamaican descent for the St. Helens club of Super League...	Stand Off	Danny McGuire Danny McGuire Danny McGuire is an English professional rugby league player who currently plays for the Leeds Rhinos in the Super League. His preferred position is at /. He has played his entire career to date with the Rhinos, having come through the club's Academy....
Sean Long Sean Long Sean Long is an English former professional rugby league and current rugby union footballer with Preston Grasshoppers. He has played for Wigan, Widnes and Hull but is best known for playing for St Helens in the Super League. Internationally he has represented England and Great Britain at /...	Scrum Half	Rob Burrow Rob Burrow Rob Burrow is an English professional rugby league footballer with the Leeds Rhinos of Super League. He has represented both England and Great Britain as a hooker/half. He has spent his whole career to date at Leeds, having won the Super League championship with them five times...
Nick Fozzard Nick Fozzard Nicholas Fozzard is an English rugby league footballer who is currently playing for Castleford Tigers of Super League.A , his previous clubs are St. Helens, Warrington, Huddersfield, Leeds and Hull KR, and has signed a 1-year deal with Castleford Tigers for the 2011 season.During his spell with St...	Prop	Kylie Leuluai Kylie Leuluai Kylie Leuluai is a professional rugby league footballer currently contracted to the Leeds Rhinos of Super League...
Keiron Cunningham Keiron Cunningham Keiron Cunningham is a former British professional rugby league footballer. A Great Britain and Wales international representative hooker, he played his entire club rugby career at St...	Hooker	Matt Diskin Matt Diskin Matt Diskin is an English professional rugby league footballer for the Bradford Bulls of Super League. A Great Britain and England international representative hooker, he played ten years with Leeds Rhinos, having won four Super League championships with the club, before moving to the Bulls for the...
Jason Cayless Jason Cayless Jason Paul Cayless is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. A New Zealand international representative prop forward, he is the younger brother of Parramatta Eels great, Nathan Cayless. He played his club football for the Sydney Roosters, with whom he won the 2002...	Prop	Jamie Peacock Jamie Peacock James "Jamie" Peacock is an English professional rugby league footballer for the Leeds Rhinos of the European Super League...
Lee Gilmour Lee Gilmour Lee Gilmour is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays for Huddersfield Giants of Super League.Gilmour's usual position is , but he has played on the and in the s when a back-line player suffered an injury....	2nd Row	Jamie Jones-Buchanan Jamie Jones-Buchanan Jamie Jones-Buchanan is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays for Leeds of Super League. An England international representative second-rower, he has played his entire professional career to date with Leeds and has won four Super League championships with the club.His Leeds...
Chris Flannery	2nd Row	Gareth Ellis Gareth Ellis Gareth Ellis is an English professional rugby league footballer for the Wests Tigers in the National Rugby League . He has represented at international level for Great Britain and England and primarily plays in the back row...
Jon Wilkin	Loose Forward	Kevin Sinfield Kevin Sinfield Kevin Sinfield is an English professional rugby league player. He is the captain of the Leeds Rhinos in Super League. His recognised position is /, although he can cover both /, and . He has represented both England and Great Britain at international level.-Career:Sinfield began his career at...  (c)
James Roby James Roby James Roby is an English professional rugby league footballer for St. Helens of Super League. A Great Britain and England international representative hooker, he has played his entire professional career to date at St Helens, winning the 2006 Super League XI Championship with them.-Career:Roby...	Interchange	Ali Lauitiiti Ali Lauitiiti Ali Lauitiiti is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer for English club Leeds Rhinos in the European Super League. Both a Samoa and New Zealand international representative forward, he previously played in the National Rugby League for the Warriors...
Mike Bennett	Interchange	Ryan Bailey
James Graham James Graham (rugby league) James Graham is a rugby league player for St. Helens of Super League. A Great Britain and England international representative front row forward, he has played his entire professional career to date at St...	Interchange	Ian Kirke Ian Kirke Ian Kirke is an English professional rugby league footballer for English club Leeds Rhinos of Super League. He made his Leeds debut on March 5, 2006 when Leeds played Castleford Tigers. During the close to season 2006 he had surgery on both his shoulders to fix a long term injury. Attended Hornsea...
Maurie Fa'asavalu Maurie Fa'asavalu Maurie Fa'asavalu is a Samoan rugby union player who formerly played rugby league for St Helens. He was recently picked in the Great Britain rugby league squad after living in England for 4 years...	Interchange	Carl Ablett Carl Ablett Carl Ablett is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays for the Leeds Rhinos of Europe's Super League competition. Carl made numerous appearances in the second half of the 06/07 season after recovering from injury, he was part of the Grand Final 2007 winning squad selected by Tony...
Daniel Anderson Daniel Anderson (rugby league) Daniel Anderson is an Australian rugby league football coach. Anderson previously coached in Australia, New Zealand and England and is particularly noted for his work with the development of younger players.-Early years:...	Coach	Tony Smith

Match details