Leeds to play Wigan in the Grand Final. The bigges

Leeds to play Wigan in the Grand Final. The biggest game in Leeds history, with a historic treble at at stake
Having won the Challenge Cup at a canter Leeds followed up with three losses reducing their league lead to points difference. Never had the league leaders shield been so sought after. Four teams; Leeds on 39 with greater points difference led, Wigan also on 39, Huddersfield on 38, Saints on 38. Anyone could win. In a historic last minute win Leeds beat Huddersfield in brilliant game. The Wigan fans had seen their team beat Cas and clutched radios to their ears to hear the last minutes of the Leeds Huddersfield game that Huddersfield led. Had they won, the shield went to Wigan. As the hooter sounded on Leeds last play, McGuire chipped the Huddersfield defence, Ryan Hall caught the ball and steamed over to seal the second trophy of the season for Leeds. Having led the table all season it would have seemed an injustice for Leeds to lose out at the final hurdle. This left Leeds on for the treble.
The golden age began in 2003 where Leeds beat St Helens in the greatest cup final semi of all time. Sin fields last minute kick from touch to get the two points needed to take the game in to extra time was utter pressure. The young Sinfield looked u phased and slipped it through the posts and Leeds went onto win. This took them to the final with Bradford in Cardiff. Leeds were losing again by two points whilst attacking the Bulls line. He opted to run the ball, leeds failed to score and Bradford won the cup. But his decision showed a belief that was the foundation for the next season where Leeds won league leaders shield and Grand Final victory. Leeds were champions again for the first time in thirty two years.
Since then Leeds have won five more titles, one less than Saints. They have two challenge cup wins and three world club challenges. This team have been the greatest ever Leeds team, perhaps the greatest ever rugby team. Built on a nucleus of home grown talent; McGuire, Rob Burrow and Kevin Sinfield all came through the ranks together. Sinfield went on to become Leeds most successful ever captain and highest points scorer of all time. The whole back line now regarded as the best in super league, Zak Hardaker, the sports best full back, Ryan Hall, Tom Briscoe, the two England wingers, Joel Moon and Callum Watkins, the greatest centre pairing in the game. The hookers role this season was taken up by Aitken who had a great season till injury ended it. Kylie Lueluia and Jamie Peacock, the two props are playing their last season. Other squad forwards, Delany, Garbutt, Cuthbertson have all had tremendous seasons. As has the undersung Carl Ablett. Emerging talent from Sutcliffe, Singleton, Kheinhorst and others leads one to believe good times are ahead.
But this was the last season for the golden agers. Going into the semi final last Friday, Peacock knew, as did Kylie, that this would be their last game at headingley. Also Sinfields last game for the Rhinos. I've posted up a you tube video of the second half so need not describe how historic a victory this was.
Now, on Saturday comes the grand final at old Trafford to try seal the treble. To go out this way would be poetry. To make it even more significant, throughout Leeds golden era they have never met Wigan in a final. Seventeen years ago in jason robin sons last game before Union retirement I watched Leeds lose the first ever grand final. I had just moved to frome and struggled to find a pub ready to put it on. Leeds lost in an even game to a mercurial Robinson try. Not since then have they met in a grand final. This Leeds team are on the verge of the greatest achievement of the clubs history. All tickets are sold out. If they complete this hat trick of trophies, no one can argue that they have been the sports greatest ever team. Wigan won a series of challenge cups during an era where there was no salary caps. Their fortunes have dropped a little since having to play fair teams of equal wages, where skill and coaching, talent and Braun have been all that seperates. The Wigan style of play is far more disciplined. Based on Australian statistical rigidity. Against Leeds that play a more creative, expansive game. This is the biggest game in Leeds RL history. A night of legend. A time for heroes.


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