1999 Super League Grand Final

The 1999 Super League Grand Final was the Second official Grand Final conclusive and championship-deciding game of the Super League IV season. The match was played between St. Helens and Bradford Bulls on Saturday 9 October 1999, at Old Trafford.

1999 (1999) Super League Grand Final  ()
12 Total
BRA 60 6
ST H 26 8
Date9 October 1999
StadiumOld Trafford
LocationEngland Manchester
Harry Sunderland TrophyNew Zealand Henry Paul ( Bradford)
RefereeStuart Cummings
Attendance50,717
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters
Commentators
← 1998
2000 →

Background

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Super League IV retained the top five play off after the success of the previous years Grand Final. The league was expanded to 14 teams with Wakefield Trinity Wildcats and Gateshead Thunder both made their debuts in Super League although Gateshead Thunder and Sheffield Eagles both left the league after merging with Hull FC and Huddersfield Giants respectively. Bradford Bulls finished as League Leaders for the first time since they finished top in Super League II as Champions.

Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
1   Bradford Bulls 30 25 1 4 897 445 +452 51
2   St. Helens 30 23 0 7 1034 561 +473 46

Route to the Final

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Bradford Bulls

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By finishing first in the regular season, Bradford automatically qualified for the play-off semi-final. They were drawn at home to St Helens and in a one-sided game, they brushed St Helens aside 40–4 to qualify for the Grand Final.

St Helens

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The play-off system in use only gave the league leaders a bye to the semi-finals. St Helens had finished second so had to play a qualifying play-off first. Drawn at home to Leeds Rhinos St Helens won 38–14 to go through to the semi-final. This was an away fixture to Bradford where they were beaten 40–4. 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 Saints' third play-off game was a home tie against Castleford Tigers where they won through 36–6.

St Helens
Round Opposition Score
Qualifying Play-off   Leeds Rhinos (H) 38-14
Qualifying Semi-Final   Bradford Bulls (A) 40-4
Final Eliminator   Castleford Tigers (H) 36-6
Key: (H) = Home venue; (A) = Away venue.

Match details

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9 October 1999
Bradford Bulls   6 - 8   St. Helens
Tries: Henry Paul
Goals: Henry Paul
Report
Tries: Kevin Iro
Goals: Sean Long (2)
Old Trafford, Manchester
Attendance: 50,717
Referee: Stuart Cummings (Widnes)
Bradford Bulls Position St Helens
  Stuart Spruce Fullback   Paul Atcheson
  Tevita Vaikona Winger   Chris Smith
 Scott Naylor Centre   Kevin Iro
  Michael Withers Centre   Paul Newlove
5   Leon Pryce Winger   Anthony Sullivan
6   Robbie Paul Stand Off 6   Paul Sculthorpe
7   Henry Paul Scrum half 7   Tommy Martyn
  Paul Anderson Prop   Apollo Perelini
9   James Lowes Hooker 9   Keiron Cunningham
  Stuart Fielden Prop   Julian O'Neill
  David Boyle 2nd Row   Fereti Tuilagi
  Bernard Dwyer 2nd Row   Sonny Nickle
13   Steve McNamara Loose forward 13   Chris Joynt
  Paul Deacon Interchange   Paul Wellens
  Nathan McAvoy Interchange   Sean Long
  Mike Forshaw Interchange   Sean Hoppe
  Brian McDermott Interchange   Vila Matautia
  Matthew Elliott Coach   Ellery Hanley

References

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