Given how Leeds have never beaten Wigan in a major final in the 125-year history of rugby league, they may not have minded having to wait 17 years to play the Warriors in a Grand Final again.
But for the first time since the inaugural Old Trafford showpiece in 1998, these two great rivals will meet in the final once more next Saturday - with Leeds trebly motivated to win. There is not just the quest to win the Super League title for the first time since 2012, nor the aim to secure a first treble since St Helens’ in 2006.
This year, three of the greatest players to pull on a Leeds shirt will end their rugby league careers at Old Trafford, with the captain Kevin Sinfield heading to rugby union after this game and the forwards Jamie Peacock and Kylie Leuluai retiring from playing in the biggest game of the year. Had it not been for Sinfield producing a 40/20 which turned the course of their semi-final against St Helens on its head on Friday, Leeds may not have been preparing for the Grand Final at all.
Sinfield, ever the professional, was quick to shrug off all the talk of fond farewells and sentiments. “This isn’t about me or JP or Kylie, there’s a dressing room full of lads who wanted to win that semi-final,” he said.
“We have a fantastic group who want to win no matter what. To win this last game at Headingley in front of people who’ve supported me for the last 20 years is a nice way to say goodbye to my Rhinos’ career here. That semi-final was one of the toughest games I’ve been involved in, but I’m just delighted to be able to get to Old Trafford again.”
