Super league Grand Final Preview

There are some sports that just don't get the appreciation they deserve. Super League certainly comes under that. Maybe its because of its access that is given to it through the media. Sky Sports dominate the Super League action and the BBC tag along showing Challenge Cup action and highlights of the weekend games on a sunday. Sky also have the problem that they show there games on a Friday and Saturday night. Now i don't know many people who come in from a hard day of work and turn on the Super League for a night in with that lads. Due to the coverage Sky gives the sport, which in all honesty is very good the sport basically lives off the coverage so if you loose the broadcaster then the sport could die a death.

If you didn't already know the Super League Grand Final takes place at Old Trafford on Saturday between St Helens and Leeds to top two teams in the division. Now I must admit I haven't watched every game this season that has been on Sky. As i mentioned earlier the timing of the matches doesn't suit a uni student who likes a drink or two. But ever since I remember I have made sure I'm around for the Grand Final. It's the one day the sport has a chance to show whats its made of when the two top sides of the year meet in a winner take all match. No instead of doing a elongated preview of the match and mentioning players and terms that many of you may not follow, I'm just going to give you 10 facts that will give you some background into this years final. A dummies guide if you will.

1. This years final will take place between St Helens and Leeds Rhinos. These two went through a play off system between the teams who finished in the top six of the division.

2. These two sides have met only once in Super League grand Finals and that was last year as Leeds beat St Helens 33-6. This is now the tenth year that play-off system has been employed in the League with St Helens comeing out as winner in four of the nine occasions.

3. The two Grand Final teams have in them the two highest try scorers of the season. Adrian Gardner of St Helens has scored 26 tries while his Leeds counterpart Scott Donald has gone over 21 times. Both men will be eager to add to there tally on Saturday.

4. The teams have met three times this season and St Helens hold a 2-1 advantage. Leeds were the winners in the first match at the recruitment stadium 10-14. St Helens then won the return match at Headingley 12-26. However the big match of the season in the play-offs went St Helens' way as they as they came out 38-10 winners.

5. James Graham of St Helens is this years man of steel, effectively the player of the year. He is the forth consecutive St Helens player to win the award after James Roby, Paul Wellens, Jamie Lyon and Paul Sculthorpe.

6. Saturday's final takes place at Old Trafford home to Manchester United. The stadium boats the biggest capacity of any club football stadium in the country and gives and therefore it's the highest attendance for any Super league match in the enitre season. Due to the recent re-building work on the stadium the attendance is expected to break the current record of 72,582 set in 2006 when St Helens met Hull.

7. The two teams are truly the best two teams of the season. They boast the best two attacks in the division and the meanest two defenses. St Helens hold a points difference of 33 over their opponents but it shows how close the match could be between these two heavyweights.

8. This St Helens' sixth final appearance and they're looking for their fifth win while Leeds who appeared in the first ever final in 1998 are in there fifth final looking for their forth victory.

9. History is on St Helens' side five out of the nine years the team who has finished 1st has gone on to win the final, however they have only won it twice doing that combination. Leeds were in fact the last team to stop them doing the double as they beat them in the final last year after finishing second.

10. And finally a ticket for this years final can be purchased for as little as £16. The fans of course can sit together as their is no segregation between the fans. The police presence at an event like this is 20% less than at a normal match at Old Trafford.

So there you go a few facts that should set you on your way for this years Grand Final. Screw your Premiership action sit down a watch a decent game of Rugby,its value for money its exciting and know full well you can have a beer with the opposition after wards.