2012 Super League Grand Final Explained

Year:2012
Super League Grand Final
Home:Leeds Rhinos
Away:Warrington Wolves
Home Abbr:LEE
Away Abbr:WAR
Home Half1:14
Home Half2:12
Home Total:26
Away Half1:14
Away Half2:4
Away Total:18
Date:6 October 2012
Stadium:Old Trafford
Location: Manchester
Mom Title:Harry Sunderland Trophy
Mom: Kevin Sinfield (Leeds Rhinos)
Anthem Title:Jerusalem
Anthem:Hayley Westenra
Referee:Richard Silverwood[1]
Attendance:70,676
Network:Sky Sports
Commentators:Eddie Hemmings
Commentators2:Mike Stephenson
Commentators3:Phil Clarke, Brian Carney
Tournaments:Super League Grand Final
Last:2011
Next: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]

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

Background

See also: 2012 Super League season results.

PosTeamPldWDLPFPAPDPts[4]
2 Warrington Wolves27 20 1 6 909 539 +370 41
5 Leeds Rhinos27 16 0 11 823 622 +209 32

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]

Round!width="150"
OppositionScore
scope=row style="text-align:center"Elimination Play-Off Wakefield Trinity (H)42-20
scope=row style="text-align:center"Preliminary Semi-Final Catalans Dragons (A)27-20
scope=row style="text-align:center"Semi-Final 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.

Round!width="150"
OppositionScore
scope=row style="text-align:center"Qualifying Play-Off St Helens (H)28-6
scope=row style="text-align:center"Preliminary Semi-Final Hull F.C. (H)24-12
scope=row style="text-align:center"Semi-Final St Helens (A)36-18
Key: (H) = Home venue; (A) = Away venue.

Match details

Leeds RhinosPositionWarrington Wolves
4 Zak HardakerFullback1 Brett Hodgson
2 Ben Jones-BishopWinger5 Joel Monaghan
3 Kallum Watkins19 Stefan Ratchford
12 Carl Ablett4 Ryan Atkins
5 Ryan HallWinger2 Chris Riley
13 Kevin Sinfield (c)Stand Off6 Lee Briers
6 Danny McGuire7 Richie Myler
820
7 Rob BurrowHooker14
1013
11 Jamie Jones-Buchanan2nd Row11 Trent Waterhouse
152nd Row12
1615
style=background:black; colspan=5
17Interchange8 Adrian Morley (c)
209
2516
3117
style=background:black; colspan=5
Brian McDermottCoach Tony Smith

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Silverwood in charge at Old Trafford. 2 October 2012. Super League. 2 October 2012.
  2. Web site: Leeds Rhinos 18-35 Warrington Wolves. RFL. Challenge Cup. 29 September 2012. https://archive.today/20130205011004/http://www.thechallengecup.com/article.php?id=26014. 5 February 2013. dead. dmy-all.
  3. News: Grand Final: Warrington 18-26 Leeds. 6 October 2012. BBC Sport. 6 October 2012.
  4. Web site: Stobart Super League - League Table . Super League . 28 September 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130921120347/http://www.superleague.co.uk/matchday/league_table . 21 September 2013 .
  5. News: Leeds 42-20 Wakefield. BBC Sport. 11 September 2012 . 28 September 2012.
  6. News: Catalan Dragons 20-27 Leeds Rhinos. BBC Sport. 20 September 2012 . 28 September 2012.
  7. News: Wigan Warriors 12-13 Leeds Rhinos. BBC Sport. 25 September 2012 . 28 September 2012.
  8. News: Warrington 6-28 St Helens. BBC Sport. 11 September 2012 . 29 September 2012.
  9. News: Warrington Wolves 24-12 Hull FC. BBC Sport. 17 September 2012 . 29 September 2012.
  10. News: St Helens 18-36 Warrington. BBC Sport. 25 September 2012 . 29 September 2012.