Thought I'd get in early by announcing details of the Engage Super League Grand Final for 2009, and it comes as no surprise whatsoever that St Helens and Leeds Rhinos will face each another yet again for a third successive season at the Theatre Of Dreams on Saturday 10th October. Tickets for the Leeds Rhinos V St Helens Grand Final 2009 are already available for purchase.But hang on... ain't 2009 going to be the strongest, the toughest and the most competitive Super League ever, with so many competing teams in with a golden opportunity of lifting the trophy and becoming champions? If you believe all the bullshit hype on Sky Sports and elsewhere, you might arrive at such a conclusion. If you're equipped with even a rudimentary knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of each club in Super League, you'll know that there's St Helens, Leeds and the rest who are just there to make up the numbers.
There are five divisions in Super League in 2009.
Super League Division 1: St Helens and Leeds.
Super League Division 2: Daylight!
Super League Division 3: Hull, Hull KR, Wigan, Warrington, Bradford, Wakefield, Harlequins, Castleford, Catalans and Huddersfield.
Super League Division 4: Daylight!
Super League Division 5: Celtic Crusaders and Salford.
Even the bookies agree with this as they quote both St Helens and Leeds at odds of 11/10 or Evens to win the Super League crown this season. Hull are the third favourites at 22/1, Wigan are 33/1, Bradford 50/1, Warrington 66/1 and Catalans 200/1. Celtic Crusaders and Salford are so embarrassingly poor they don't even rate a quotation.
In my most esteemed and sagely opinion, St Helens and Leeds of Super League Division 1 will both finish in the Top 2 yet again
By my calculations, there are only 2 fixtures remaining this season which will have any significant bearing on where the silverware will end up this season. And they are?
1. Leeds Rhinos V St Helens, Challenge Cup Round 4, Sunday 5th April, 2009.
2. Leeds Rhinos V St Helens, Super League Grand Final, Saturday 10th October, 2009.
The winner of (1.) above may suffer some kind of Super League handicap as they switch focus to the Challenge Cup once a month and take their eye off the Super League ball, so to speak, but they'll still finish 1st or 2nd on the ladder and contest the Grand Final. For St Helens, this 4th Round clash on Sunday is their Challenge Cup Final. If they beat Leeds at Headingley, they'll win the Cup again for the 4th year in succession
Exciting innit?
Not really.
I believe Huddersfield are emerging as Saints main title rivals this season.
ReplyDeleteThey made the correct choice in going for a coach with NRL level experience.
I think its a sad reflection of the poor quality of coaching in SL that a coach who was deemed surplus to requirements in the NRL, can turn a team of deadbeats into title challengers.
Coaching, or lack of, is the single biggest issue affecting the quality of SL IMO.
The Chairmaker
Result: Huddersfield 6 Leeds 34
ReplyDeleteHuddersfield remain in Super League Division 3 and will battle it out for a play-off spot among the also-rans.
It is Saints who are Leeds "ONLY" title rivals this season (not the other way around) and they will face Leeds at Old Trafford again in October. And it is Saints who have yet to prove they are capable of beating Leeds in a Grand Final at Old Trafford.
My money is still on Leeds to make it 3 SL titles in a row.
The Grand Final of the Rugby Engage Super League will be played between St Helens and Leeds Rhinos on the 10th of October at Old Trafford.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.clbuzz.com/st-helens-vs-rhinos-rugby-2009-super-league-grand-final-live-results-highlights/
salford beat 3 out of teh 4 top teams this year in saints leeds and the giants. Not a bad effort for a promoted team but the license system should be longer instead of 3 mabye 5 years to let the clubs develop from that 5th divsion to sides that can compete week in week out like in the nrl.
ReplyDelete