Castleford Tigers against Leeds Rhinos is the first all-West Yorkshire Super League Grand Final since 2005.
This is the Tigers’ first-ever appearance at Old Trafford but Daryl Powell’s team are hot favourites to lift the trophy (4/7 with Stan James) and deny the Rhinos an eighth victory in British rugby league’s showpiece occasion.
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Leeds have a phenomenal record when it comes to Super League’s big prize. They’ve reached the final twice alongside their seven wins so the occasion certainly isn’t going to phase Brian McDermott’s men. In their last six Super League Grand Final victories, they’ve conceded an average of just over 14 points and that resilience when it matters was in evidence again in their semi-final victory this year over Hull FC.
The Rhinos have done remarkably well to reach the Grand Final having flirted with relegation this season and the match presents an unexpected opportunity for long-serving half-backs Danny Maguire and Rob Burrow to end their careers on a high. But McDermott’s men will have to turn the form book on its head to emerge triumphant as they’ve been beaten on all four occasions they’ve met their West Yorkshire rivals this year, including a 66-10 mauling by the Tigers in March – they are worthy underdogs (a general 7/4) and will be missing a key man in Stevie Ward.
Castleford scored 38 more tries than their opponents over the regular season and also conceded 15 less. They like to play on the front foot so it will be up to the Rhinos to keep things tight in midfield. Confidence is high at The Jungle, however, with Powell’s free-flowing side having won 18 of their last 20 Super League matches. They were easily the top points scorers in the regular season and have a kicking machine in Luke Gale, 2017 Super League Man Of Steel and the hero in their semi-final victory over St Helens.
The Tigers have swept all before them this year and I just can’t see them throwing all their hard work away in the Grand Final. I’d be prepared to back them at Evens with Paddy Power to overcome a 5.5pt deficit on the handicap, though it may be worth having a small saver on Leeds’ Maguire crossing the try-line (5/1 with Boylesports) as he’s done just that four times in his last five Grand Final appearances.
