2004 Super League Grand Final Explained

Year:2004
Super League Grand Final
Home:Leeds Rhinos
Away:Bradford Bulls
Home Abbr:LEE
Away Abbr:BRA
Home Half1:10
Home Half2:6
Home Total:16
Away Half1:4
Away Half2:4
Away Total:8
Date:16 October 2004
Stadium:Old Trafford
Location: Manchester
Mom Title:Harry Sunderland Trophy
Mom: Matt Diskin (Leeds Rhinos)
Anthem Title:Headliners
Anthem:Heather Small
Referee:Steve Ganson
Attendance:65,547
Network:Sky Sports
Commentators:Eddie Hemmings
Commentators2:Mike Stephenson
Tournaments:Super League Grand Final
Last:2003
Next:2005

The 2004 Super League Grand Final was the 7th official Grand Final and conclusive and championship-deciding game of Super League IX. It was held on Saturday 16 October 2004, at Old Trafford, Manchester, and was played between Leeds Rhinos, who finished top of the league after the 28 weekly rounds, and Bradford Bulls, who finished second after the weekly rounds.

Background

width=175 TeamPldWDLPFPAPDPts
1 Leeds Rhinos2824221037443+59450
2 Bradford Bulls282017918565+35341

Route to the Final

Leeds Rhinos

Leeds finished top of the table to qualify for a home match in the semi-finals. The play-off structure matched them against the team finishing second - Bradford. Bradford won the semi-final meaning Leeds had to win the elimination final against Wigan to qualify for the grand final. In the elimination final they raced past Wigan 40–12 to set up a rematch against Bradford.

Round!width="150"
OppositionScore
scope=row style="text-align:center"Qualifying Semi-Final Bradford Bulls (H)26-12
scope=row style="text-align:center"Elimination Final Wigan Warriors (H)40-12
Key: (H) = Home venue; (A) = Away venue.

Bradford Bulls

By finishing second in the table Bradford qualified for the semi-finals but had to play the league leaders, Leeds, away with the winners going straight through to the grand final. In the game at Headingley Bradford won 26–12.

Match details

Bradford's Leon Pryce was unable to play due to a shoulder injury, he was replaced by Paul Johnson.[1]

Andrew Dunemann was left out of the Leeds side.[1] Danny McGuire was partnered by Kevin Sinfield in the halves.[1] The pre-match entertainment was performed by singer Heather Small

Leeds RhinosPositionBradford Bulls
1 Richard MathersFullback1 Michael Withers
2 Mark CalderwoodWinger Stuart Reardon
3 Chev WalkerCentre Paul Johnson
4 Keith SeniorCentre4 Shontayne Hape
5 Marcus BaiWinger5 Lesley Vainikolo
13 Kevin SinfieldStand Off6
6 Danny McGuireScrum half7 Paul Deacon
Danny WardPropJoe Vagana
9 Matt DiskinHooker9 Robbie Paul
16 Ryan BaileyProp Stuart Fielden
Chris McKenna2nd Row11 Jamie Peacock
14 Ali Lauitiiti2nd Row Logan Swann
David FurnerLoose forward Lee Radford
7 Rob BurrowInterchange Karl Pratt
Willie PochingInterchange Jamie Langley
Barrie McDermottInterchange Rob Parker
11 Jamie Jones-BuchananInterchange Paul Anderson
Tony SmithCoach Brian Noble

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Clockwatch: Bradford v Leeds . BBC . BBC Sport . 2004-10-16 . 2009-07-11.