2008 Super League Grand Final
Encyclopedia
The 2008 Super League
Grand Final was held on Saturday 4 October 2008, at Old Trafford, Manchester, UK. The match was between Super League XIII
League Leaders St Helens and defending champions from 2007 Leeds Rhinos
.
, who performed a four song set, and Katherine Jenkins
. Jenkins returned a year after bring forced to withdraw from the 2007 game to perform the Grand Final anthem, Jerusalem
.
winner: Lee Smith
, Leeds Rhinos
This game was the last in Leeds' colours for Gareth Ellis and Nick Scruton, who join Wests Tigers
and Bradford Bulls
in 2009, respectively. Similarly, it was the last game Nick Fozzard and Willie Talau played for Saints as they head to Hull KR
and Salford City Reds
in 2009, respectively. It was also Daniel Anderson's
last game in charge of Saints.
Leeds' achievement of winning consecutive Super League titles marks the first time in their history that the club have managed to defend the Championship.
Leeds' victory also marked the first time that a Super League
team had won both the World Club Challenge
and the Grand Final in the same calendar year.
on 1 March 2009 in the World Club Challenge
.
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 4 October 2008, at Old Trafford, Manchester, UK. The match was between Super League XIII
Super League XIII
Engage Super League XIII was the official name, due to sponsorship, for the 2008 Super League season by Engage Mutual. Twelve teams competed for the Minor Premiership over 27 rounds after which, the top 6 finishing teams entered the play-offs where they competed for a place in the Grand Final and...
League Leaders St Helens and defending champions from 2007 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...
.
Route to final
Regular season final standings| Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  St Helens |
27 | 21 | 1 | 5 | 940 | 457 | 43 |
| 2 |  Leeds RhinosLeeds 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 | 21 | 0 | 6 | 863 | 413 | 42 |
St Helens
Position in Super League table: 1st- Qualifying semi-final: Won 38-10 v Leeds
Leeds Rhinos
Position in Super League table: 2nd- Qualifying semi-final Lost 38-10 to St Helens
- Final eliminator: Won 18-14 v Wigan WarriorsWigan WarriorsWigan 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
Pre-match entertainment was provided by Scouting for GirlsScouting for Girls
Scouting for Girls are a Brit and Ivor Novello nominated band from London, formed in 2005 by Roy Stride, Greg Churchouse and Peter Ellard. Stride and Ellard met in the Cub Scouts and Churchouse met Stride on their first day at school. They have sold over 1.2 million albums and over 1.5 million...
, who performed a four song set, and 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:...
. Jenkins returned a year after bring forced to withdraw from the 2007 game to perform the Grand Final anthem, 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...
.
Teams
| St Helens | Positions 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 | 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:... |
| 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 | Ryan Hall Ryan Hall (rugby league) Ryan Hall is an English professional Rugby League Winger for the Leeds in Super League. He has played his entire professional career to date with Leeds, winning the 2008, 2009 &2011 Super League Championships with them.-Club career:... |
| 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 | 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... |
| 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 | 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... |
| 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... |
| 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... |
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... (c) |
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... |
| Bryn Hargreaves Bryn Hargreaves Bryn Hargreaves is an English rugby league player with Super League team Bradford Bulls .Bryn Hargreaves played prop forward in the Wigan Academy since 2002. He made his first team debut from the subs' bench against Salford City Reds in July 2004 and his full debut against London Broncos in... |
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... |
| Jon Wilkin | 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... |
| Chris Flannery | 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... |
| 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... |
Interchange | Ryan Bailey |
| Paul Clough Paul Clough Paul Clough is an English rugby league footballer who plays for St Helens. He is the brother of former Salford and Halifax hooker John Clough.In November 2006 Paul Clough was promoted to train full time with the Saints' first team squad... |
Interchange | Nick Scruton Nick Scruton Nick Scruton is a rugby league player who plays for Bradford Bulls and has also represented England. He was part of the Rhinos Grand Final victory in 2007 over St Helens at Old Trafford and also part of the team that won the 2008 World Club Challenge versus the Melbourne Storm at Elland Road.Nick... |
| 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 | 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... |
| 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 | Brian McClennan Brian McClennan Brian "Bluey" McClennan is the head coach for the New Zealand Warriors of the National Rugby League . He was previously the head coach of the New Zealand national team and then England's Leeds Rhinos club... |
Match details
Man of the Match
Harry Sunderland TrophyHarry Sunderland Trophy
The Harry Sunderland Trophy is awarded to the Man-of-the-Match in the Super League Grand Final by the Rugby League Writers' Association. It is named after Harry Sunderland, who was an Australian rugby league football administrator in both Australia and the United Kingdom...
winner: 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:...
, Leeds Rhinos
Significance
Wests Tigers
The Wests Tigers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Sydney's mid-western suburbs. They have competed in the National Rugby League since they were formed at the end of the 1999 season as a joint-venture club between the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs...
and 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....
in 2009, respectively. Similarly, it was the last game Nick Fozzard and Willie Talau played for Saints as they head to Hull KR
Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers or Hull KR is an English professional rugby league football club based in Hull, England. The club formed in 1882 and currently competes in Super League, having won promotion from National League One in 2006...
and Salford City Reds
Salford City Reds
Salford City Reds are an English rugby league club based in Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1873, they currently play in the Super League. They have won six Rugby Football League Championships and one Challenge Cup...
in 2009, respectively. It was also Daniel Anderson's
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:...
last game in charge of Saints.
Leeds' achievement of winning consecutive Super League titles marks the first time in their history that the club have managed to defend the Championship.
Leeds' victory also marked the first time that a 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...
team had won both the World Club Challenge
World Club Challenge
The World Club Challenge is an annual rugby league football match held between the champions of the Australasian National Rugby League and the European Super League competitions to determine the world's best rugby league club...
and the Grand Final in the same calendar year.
2009 World Club Challenge
The Rhinos' win in the grand final earned them the right to play against the 2008 NRL season premiers, the Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesManly-Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia...
on 1 March 2009 in the World Club Challenge
World Club Challenge
The World Club Challenge is an annual rugby league football match held between the champions of the Australasian National Rugby League and the European Super League competitions to determine the world's best rugby league club...
.