2008 Super League Grand Final

The 2008 Super League Grand Final was the 11th official Grand Final and conclusive and championship-deciding match of the Super League XIII season. Held on Saturday 4 October 2008, at Old Trafford, Manchester, the match was between League Leaders St. Helens and defending champions from 2007 Leeds Rhinos.

2008 (2008) Super League Grand Final
Leeds Rhinos celebrating their victory after the full-time whistle
St. Helens Leeds Rhinos 16 24
1 2 Total ST H 6 10 16 LEE 12 12 24
Date	4 October 2008
Stadium	Old Trafford
Location	Manchester
Harry Sunderland Trophy	Lee Smith ( Leeds Rhinos)
Headliners	Scouting for Girls
Referee	Ashley Klein
Attendance	68,810
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters	Sky Sports
Commentators	Eddie Hemmings Mike Stephenson
Super League Grand Final ← 2007 2009 →

Background

Further information: 2008 Super League season results

	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
1	St. Helens	27	21	1	5	940	457	+483	43
2	Leeds Rhinos	27	21	0	6	863	413	+450	42

Route to the Final

St Helens

Round	Opposition	Score
Qualifying Semi-Final	Leeds Rhinos (H)	38–10
Key: (H) = Home venue; (A) = Away venue; (N) = Neutral venue.

Leeds Rhinos

Round	Opposition	Score
Qualifying Semi-Final	St Helens (A)	38–10
Elimination Final	Wigan Warriors (H)	18–14
Key: (H) = Home venue; (A) = Away venue; (N) = Neutral venue.

Match details

4 October 2008 18:00 UTC+1

St. Helens	16 - 24	Leeds Rhinos
Tries: Graham 6' Gidley 43' Gardner 59' Goals: Long (2)	Report	Tries: Smith 24' Hall 37' McGuire 49', 63' Goals: Sinfield (4)

Old Trafford, Manchester Attendance: 68,810 Referee: Ashley Klein (Australia)

St Helens		Position	Leeds Rhinos
1	Paul Wellens	Fullback	5	Lee Smith
	Ade Gardner	Winger	22	Ryan Hall
	Matthew Gidley	Centre	19	Carl Ablett
	Willie Talau	Centre	4	Keith Senior
	Francis Meli	Winger	2	Scott Donald
	Leon Pryce	Stand Off	6	Danny McGuire
	Sean Long	Scrum half	7	Rob Burrow
10	James Graham	Prop	8	Kylie Leuluai
9	Keiron Cunningham (c)	Hooker	9	Matt Diskin
	Bryn Hargreaves	Prop	10	Jamie Peacock
	Lee Gilmour	2nd Row	11	Jamie Jones-Buchanan
12	Jon Wilkin	2nd Row	12	Gareth Ellis
13	Chris Flannery	Loose forward	13	Kevin Sinfield (c)
14	James Roby	Interchange	14	Ali Lauitiiti
	Nick Fozzard	Interchange	16	Ryan Bailey
	Paul Clough	Interchange	17	Nick Scruton
	Maurie Fa'asavalu	Interchange	18	Ian Kirke
	Daniel Anderson	Coach		Brian McClennan

The coin to see who kicked off was tossed by 12-year-old, James Baxter who won the opportunity through a competition through the leagues sponsor Engage.

2009 World Club Challenge

Main article: 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 Eagles on 1 March 2009 in the World Club Challenge.