# 1998 Super League Grand Final

The 1998 JJB Super League Grand Final was the first staging of the Super League Grand Final and the conclusive and championship-deciding game of 1998's Super League III, and the first Grand Final of the Super League era. It was held on Saturday 24 October 1998, at Old Trafford, Manchester, United Kingdom. This was the first time the League Championship had been decided by play-off since the 1972–73 Championship Final. The game was played between Wigan Warriors and Leeds Rhinos.

## Background

JJB Sports Super League III was the official name for the year 1998's Super League championship season, the 104th season of top-level professional rugby league football in Britain, and the third championship run by Super League. The League format changed in 1998 and the championship became a play off series to determine the Super League champions, similar to the way the Premiership was played a few seasons earlier. This meant the first Final to determine the British champions since the 1972–73 season. Huddersfield Giants, the league's bottom club was saved from relegation in 1998 due to the expansion of the league to fourteen teams in Super League IV.

### Route to the Grand Final

| | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
| 1 | Wigan Warriors | 23 | 21 | 0 | 2 | 762 | 222 | +540 | 42 |
| 2 | Leeds Rhinos | 23 | 19 | 0 | 4 | 662 | 369 | +293 | 38 |

#### Wigan Warriors

By finishing first in the regular season, Wigan qualified directly to the play-off semi-finals. They were drawn against Leeds at home and beat their eventual Grand Final opponents 17–4.

#### Leeds Rhinos

The play-off system in use only gave the league leaders a bye to the semi-finals. Leeds had finished second so had to play a qualifying play-off first. Drawn at home to Halifax Blue Sox Leeds won 13–6 to go through to the semi-final. This was an away fixture to Wigan where the Rhinos were beaten 17–4. However this loss did not end their season. The losers of the qualifying semi-final got another chance by playing the winners of the other semi-final in a final eliminator. Therefore Leeds' third play-off game was a home tie against St Helens where they cruised through 44–16.
Leeds :
| Round | Opposition | Score |
| Qualifying Play-off | Halifax Blue Sox (H) | 13-6 |
| Qualifying Semi-Final | Wigan Warriors (A) | 17-4 |
| Final Eliminator | St Helens (H) | 44-16 |
| Key: (H) = Home venue; (A) = Away venue. |||

## Match details

* 24 October 1998
| Wigan Warriors | 10–4 | Leeds Rhinos |
| Tries: Robinson Goals: Farrell (3) | Report | Tries: Blackmore |
* Old Trafford, Manchester Attendance: 43,533 Referee: Russell Smith (Castleford)
| Wigan Warriors | Wigan Warriors | Position | Leeds Rhinos | Leeds Rhinos |
| 1 | Kris Radlinski | Fullback | 1 | Iestyn Harris (c) |
| 2 | Jason Robinson | Winger | 22 | Leroy Rivett |
| 3 | Danny Moore | Centre | 3 | Richie Blackmore |
| 4 | Gary Connolly | Centre | 4 | Brad Godden |
| 5 | Mark Bell | Winger | 5 | Francis Cummins |
| 6 | Henry Paul | Stand Off | 13 | Daryl Powell |
| 7 | Tony Smith | Scrum half | 7 | Ryan Sheridan |
| 16 | Terry O'Connor | Prop | 8 | Martin Masella |
| 9 | Robbie McCormack | Hooker | 21 | Terry Newton |
| 10 | Tony Mestrov | Prop | 25 | Darren Fleary |
| 17 | Stephen Holgate | 2nd Row | 11 | Adrian Morley |
| 20 | Lee Gilmour | 2nd Row | 17 | Anthony Farrell |
| 13 | Andy Farrell (c) | Loose forward | 12 | Marc Glanville |
| 25 | Paul Johnson | Interchange | 24 | Marcus St Hilaire |
| 12 | Simon Haughton | Interchange | 14 | Graham Holroyd |
| 14 | Mick Cassidy | Interchange | 27 | Andy Hay |
| 8 | Neil Cowie | Interchange | 20 | Jamie Mathiou |
| | John Monie | Coach | | Graham Murray |