Rugby league does undiluted theatre as well as any sport on the planet.
Two dramatic playoff semi-finals saw tempers lost, patience prevail and the ultimate renewal of a famous Old Trafford rivalry.
It’s St Helens and Leeds Rhinos, in a Grand Final again. And absolutely nobody would have called this one a few months ago.
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What Leeds produced at Wigan on Friday night was sensational, and in keeping with their remarkable resurgence since Rohan Smith took over in the spring.
A disjointed, directionless bunch of misfits were limping towards a relegation battle until the arrival of the little-known Australian. Smith has pumped up the Leeds tyres, united smiles, and got the side playing with a ferocious tenacity to yield this most unlikely of returns to the big dance.
Few could argue if they ripped up the Coach of the Year shortlist and rushed through another version with Smith on it.
The manner of the Rhinos’ win at Wigan epitomised the belief and resilience that their coach has instilled. Outplayed, outfought and outclassed through 40 breathless minutes, Leeds defended heroically to limit their half-time arrears to just two points.
They had spent almost the entire half trapped near their own line, treading water in their own deep end, as their Grand Final-winning coach of 2008 and 2009 Brian McClennan used to describe such relentless defence.
And far from being drained by their rearguard exertions, Smith’s side emerged energised by it, striking Wigan with a ruthless counter-offensive, and pouncing on John Bateman’s moment of madness to seal an unlikely win borne purely out of belief. Leeds legend Danny McGuire claimed this was arguably this club’s greatest ever victory. And he’s better placed to comment than you or I, having played in most of the other contenders.
Bateman’s implosion was costly and not even he could argue with the straight red card for an awful late shot on Aidan Sezer that sees the Leeds scrum-half miss the Grand Final too. It will in all likelihood cost Bateman his World Cup place, with an impending ban of 3-5 games.
Referee Liam Moore got that big call spot on in an assured performance, yet the disciplinary controversy spiked again in St Helens’ win over Salford, with a couple of incidents sparking fierce debate.
The Red Devils were left heartbroken by a defeat that brought an immediate end to a stunning season, and although ultimately they just ran out of bodies and firepower, Paul Rowley’s side will feel hard done to.
Saints had already seen their England forward Morgan Knowles sin-binned for a nasty “chicken wing” tackle that will see him banned for the Grand Final, before winger Tommy Makinson was also sent to the naughty step late on for a professional foul that left Salford fans fuming.
Trailing 19-12 Makinson pulled Tim Lafai back as he chased after a kick. Referee Chris Kendall immediately produced the yellow but denied Salford the penalty try that would have left them just a point down with five minutes remaining and an extra man on the field.
It was a huge call as Makinson’s intent was obvious but to award the penalty try you have to be convinced Lafai would have reached the kick. Kendall wasn’t, and for Salford the game was up. For what it’s worth I think he called it correctly, with the ball skipping away from Lafai leaving a try possible, perhaps even likely, but absolutely not a guarantee.
It was devastating for Salford who worked wonders to stay in the contest without talisman Brodie Croft and the additional early loss of outstanding hooker Andy Ackers, knocked out by his own man in an over-excited Elijah Taylor. This will hurt Rowley’s team for a while, but they will return stronger for it, and should be incredibly proud of their year.
As for Saints and their disciplinary issues, Knowles’ two-match ban was as clear cut as anything. The club has incredibly opted to appeal the decision which as Leeds found out to their cost with Rhyse Martin, runs the very real risk of seeing the ban lengthened for a frivolous appeal.
Key half-back Jack Welsby did escape a ban for a huge hit which was deemed careless rather than reckless and will get his latest moment to shine on a platform that made him a Saints cult hero.
So a rivalry renewed, as Saints face Leeds for the big prize.
The champions are 80 minutes from an historic fourth successive Grand Final win but face an opponent who has inflicted maximum misery upon them under the Old Trafford lights.
Leeds met Saints four times in five years in the sport’s showcase game between 2007-11 and won the lot. Personnel may have changed but the scars will still be there for James Roby and co who will see this as their perfect opportunity to put those particular demons to bed.
The Rhinos though will feel inspired, both by their extraordinary rise from the canvas this season, and by seeing the women’s side clinch their Grand Final - at St Helens of all places - against York at the weekend. It was their first title since 2019, and they were underdogs too. There seems a real air of determination throughout Headingley right now.
As the respective Super League seasons reach their conclusion, don’t forget about the good stuff going on in the leagues below. The Betfred Championship’s top two host their semi-finals this weekend with hot favourites Leigh playing Batley and Featherstone welcoming York who shocked Halifax in their eliminator - an abrupt end to a promising season for Fax.
Rovers boss Brian McDermott will be an interested observer when Leeds and Saints go at it again no doubt, having masterminded a devastating period of Rhinos dominance of his own.
While in League One, Rochdale produced a dominant display in North Wales, live on The Sportsman on Saturday, to set up a semi-final with Doncaster, as Swinton wait in the final.
It’s a fantastic finish to the domestic season with the World Cup poised soon after.
*18+ | BeGambleAware
Pictures courtesy of swpix.com
