Red 'V' for Victory

The Super League finale is upon us. On Saturday the players of St Helens and Hull FC will walk out onto the Old Trafford turf for the engage Super League Grand Final.



Favourites St Helens go into the game with the League Leaders shield and Challenge Cup sitting proudly on the sideboard whilst Peter Sharpe's Airlie Birds prepare for their first ever Super League final. Of the 18 players in the Hull squad, only Lee Radford and Chris Chester have played in the season's showpiece.

St Helens on the other hand, could have a number of record breakers amongst them. Four of the side, Sean Long, Keiron Cunningham, Man of Steel Paul Wellens and Leon Pryce, will be looking to lift the trophy for a record fourth time whilst the latter could hold the record for the highest number of Grand Final appearances should he take the field on Saturday.

Daniel Anderson's Saints have the upper hand as far as past meetings go, The men from Knowsley Road game out on top in the Grand Final Qualifier and recorded a 46-0 victory at the KC Stadium in March although Paul Cooke's drop goal ended Hull's 18-year baron spell at Knowsley Road with a 27-26 win in June. As for Grand Final form, Saints have never lost in the Old Trafford showpiece, beating Bradford twice (1999 & 2002) and Wigan in 2000.

On Saturday, expect a tight game. Grand Final's are often tense affairs and this will be no different. There are two physical teams on show each with potential game breakers amongst their ranks.
However, St Helens have the upper hand. Hull's exploits last week may mean they are battle-hardened, but a hard-fought win over Bradford may have taken it's toll. Saints on the other hand go into the game fresh and with the added benefit of an extra week's preparation. On the field, there are players in the Saints side who know every inch of the Old Trafford pitch. They know how to win there and I'd expect them to on Saturday.
For the first hour, two heavyweights will slug it out but from that point on, expect the pace and flair of St Helens to provide the sucker punch and complete a fantastic domestic treble.

St Helens and Hull Grand Final Squads:

St Helens (18-man): Paul Wellens, Ade Gardner, Jamie Lyon, Willie Talau, Francis Meli, Leon Pryce, Sean Long, Nick Fozzard, Keiron Cunningham, Jason Cayless, Lee Gilmour, John Wilkin, James Roby, Mike Bennett, Jason Hooper, Paul Anderson, James Graham, Maurie Fa'asavalu.

Hull FC (18-man): Shaun Briscoe, Gareth Carvell, Chris Chester, Paul Cooke, Ewan Dowes, Sid Domic, Graham Horne, Richard Horne, Shane McMenemy, Paul King, Lee Radford, Gareth Raynor, Richard Swain, Motu Tony, Danny Washbrook, Scott Wheeldon, Richard Whiting, Kirk Yeaman