Grand Final
St Helens 26 d. Hull FC 4

2006 engage English Super League Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: United Kingdom > National > First Grade Competition: engage English Super League

Saints topple Hull FC in Grand style
Sun October 15, 2006
St Helens have won their fourth Super League Grand Final, this one in style defeating newcomers Hull FC 26-4 in front of a record crowd of 72,575 for a Grand Final.

The match was played in front an incredible atmosphere at Old Trafford in Manchester, the full house ensuring a great occasion.

It was Hull FC's first Super League Grand Final, and despite being heavily defeated they showed no signs of being overawed by the occasion, the Saints were simply a class above the rest of the field in Super League 2006 - that they were never going to be stopped.

Hull FC showed no signs of nerves making a terrific start to the match as St Helens dug deep and held out a number of impressive raids.

The closest they got to scoring was in the 8th minute as Gareth Raynor charged down the left wing to attempt to score in the corner, but the cover by Wellens and Lyon barrelled him into touch moments before placing the ball.

Unfortunately for Hull FC, they dominated the entire first 15 minutes of the match but were unable to post any points. That proved to be an early back breaker as the Saints converted basically their first real opportunity of the match. Sean Long showing his years of experience weighted a brilliant deft cross kick to find Francis Meli for the first try of the Grand Final. The conversion was unsuccessful.

Hull repelled another Saints attack and then hit back themselves through centre Sid Domic. It was brilliant lead up work by Cooke, kicking early in the count for Motu Tony to collect and find Domic who fended off Francis Meli to score. Hull FC also failed to convert, locking the scores at 4-all.

The rest of the first half remained in deadlock as both sides failed to give an inch, but in the shadows of halftime St Helens delivered the most critical blow of the Grand Final. If you were looking for a turning point this would be it.

A high tackle put Hull FC hot on attack with little time remaining. But on the first tackle ran the play wide with an obstruction ensuing as two Hull players got in each others way. The man with the ball submitted - often leaving this play unpenalised as there was no advantage made. But the referee saw differently and St Helens got the penalty.

From the restart Leon Pryce showed exceptional pace to find a gap in the Hull FC defence and race 40m to score. Jamie Lyon kicked the sideline conversion to send St Helens into halftime ahead 10-4.

Unfortunately for Hull FC it was not a scoreline deserved of their efforts in the first half and it must have been a serious mental blow.

And if the second half was any indication it most certainly was.

It was a patient start by both sides in the opening to the second half, but in the 49th minute St Helens blew the match wide open through a try to Kiwi centre Willie Talau. Former St.George-Illawarra forward Jason Hooper made the break and found Talau on the outside for the try.

Lyon failed to convert, but the Saints were out by 10, 14-4.

Hull needed to be the next to score, but their hearts were broken only five minutes later. Talau almost crossed for his second before Long bombed into the corner, a brilliant juggling catch by Ade Gardner saw the Saints winger touch down for a great try. It was all over for Hull.

In the 62nd minute St Helens scored again through Kerion Cunnigham, scoring his 150th try for the club to send the Saints ahead 26-4.

Thankfully Hull didn't drop their bundle and see the scoreline blow out, but they failed to make any further inroads either as St Helens counted down the clock for a famous victory.

The match was close throughout except the periods before and after halftime where St Helens showed their experience and class to sink a couple of critical blows to Hull's hopes. They were on the back on brilliant efforts from Sean Long, Leon Pryce and Ade Gardner - and on the grand stage of Old Trafford, that is what was required by Hull to stand a chance. While they showed their class by not being overawed by the occasion, St Helens gave them a lesson on what is required to go that one step further.

Hopefully for Hull FC, it is the stepping stone for bigger and better things. For the Saints, it makes them the most successful club of the Super League era as they farewell prop Paul Anderson from the game.


Old Trafford sell out on the cards
Fri October 13, 2006
With only less than 1000 tickets left available for Saturday's Super League Grand Final, it appears the grand final at Old Trafford will be a sell out.

So far over 72,000 tickets have been sold as St Helens face Hull FC in the decider.

Speaking on the RFL website, RFL's Director of Marketing Simon Malcolm:

"There has been unprecedented demand for tickets for Saturday's match and the capacity crowds generated in the last three seasons have already been surpassed thanks to the extension of Old Trafford.

"We would now say to any supporters who have not yet secured their seats to do so without delay and be part of what will be a new crowd record for the engage Super League title decider.

"There are less than a thousand seats available and we feel sure any fans who attend will enjoy a truly memorable occaission"

Fri October 13, 2006
• Super League Grand Final History
  
Wed October 11, 2006
• Hull FC Grand Final Squad & Peter Sharp's Comments
  

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