Super League play-offs: Eight classic matches from the archives

It's a new era for the Super League play-offs after the introduction of the revised system and the Super 8s, but the two games in prospect still offer potential for a couple of classics as the teams do battle to make it to the Old Trafford decider.

Ahead of Thursday and Friday's semi-finals, we look back at eight previous play-off belters...

Leeds 16-23 Castleford: 1999 elimination semi-final

The introduction of the play-offs in 1998 proved a great success, but without any real shock results.

However, the 1999 version showed teams they could put together a run to go deep in the competition regardless of their final league position.

It was Castleford who were the early trailblazers. The Tigers had finished fifth and were playing knockout rugby league from the very start, but they went to Wigan in the first round and dumped out the Warriors.

That set up a trip to Headingley to face Challenge Cup winners Leeds Rhinos, who were looking to give outgoing coach Graham Murray a successful send-off.

It didn't go according to plan. Just 10 minutes in and Cas were 12-0 up thanks to tries from Michael Eager and Adrian Vowles.

The sides then traded penalties, but Leeds looked to have rescued the game thanks to two quick Francis Cummins tries in the second half, both brilliantly converted by Iestyn Harris.

The Leeds fans relaxed, having seemingly broken the Tigers' spirits, but Cas had other ideas.

Aaron Raper dropped a goal to put them in front and with five minutes left, they sealed a famous win.

Second-rower Dale Fritz burst through a gap to scoot over and Danny Orr converted to dump out the Rhinos. 

St Helens 16-11 Bradford: 2000 qualifying play-off

It was second v third at Knowsley Road as both sides attempted to earn a place in the semi-finals. And those who turned up witnessed one of Super League's most famous moments.

The game itself was no classic; indeed Bradford were edging a scrappy affair at half-time thanks to a try from Jamie Peacock.

St Helens hit back after the break, Sean Hoppe and Tommy Martyn going over to establish a 10-4 lead, but Bradford looked to have nicked an important away win thanks to Leon Pryce's stunning try and a Henry Paul drop goal.

The Bulls led 11-10 with just four seconds left on the clock, but Saints refused to give up. Sean Long started the last play by chipping the ball out wide. Kevin Iro then started a passing move and Saints shipped it through six pair of hands.

When Long found Dwayne West in space, Eddie Hemmings started to get more than a little excited in the commentary box, producing the famous line, "it's wide to West!"

West then broke down the touchline, feeding Chris Joynt who outstripped the defence to score.

Cue pandemonium from the home crowd, Eddie and Stevo and everyone in the St Helens coaching box. Bradford coach Matthew Elliott famously fell off his chair in disbelief at Super League's most famous try. 

Leeds 22-23 Wigan: 2003 elimination final

Daryl Powell's young Rhinos had impressed all season, but their failure to get past Bradford left them facing a Wigan side at Headingley in an elimination final showdown for Old Trafford.

The two sides put on a thrilling display. Leeds had opened up a 14-4 lead despite a spectacular try from Sky Sports' very own Brian Carney.

Tries from Danny McGuire and Rub Burrow and three Kevin Sinfield goals had given Leeds control, but Wigan struck back through Sean O'Loughlin. Burrow and O'Loughlin then exchanged tries, both going over for their second of the game, before another Sinfield penalty put Leeds 20-16 in front.

Carney then produced another magical moment, beating six defenders in a scintillating break from his own 20 to snatch the lead back, but Sinfield's penalty with five minutes to go looked to have sent the game to extra-time.

Mike Gregory's side had other ideas. Danny Tickle dropped a goal to win it and ensure the Cherry and Whites became the first side to reach Old Trafford after finishing third in the regular competition. 

Leeds 17-18 Warrington: 2006 elimination play-off

Not many people fancied sixth-placed Warrington when they travelled to Headingley for the first round of the play-offs.

Leeds had disappointed in Tony Smith's third season by finishing third, but things were about to get even worse in a major shock.

The home team took an early 12-4 lead thanks to tries from Rob Burrow and Danny McGuire, and it would have been more had Clinton Toopi not dropped the ball with the line at his mercy.

Warrington took advantage, Lee Briers cutting the lead with a penalty before Michael Sullivan got over.

Sinfield's boot kept Leeds in front but the Wolves levelled on the hour after Ben Westwood dived on a Briers kick.

With the tension mounting, Sinfield and Briers traded drop goals before Warrington worked another late chance for their mercurial half-back with extra-time on the horizon.

Briers landed a 40-metre monster into the Western Terrace end to send the away fans wild as the Wolves completed a major upset. 

Bradford 30-31 Wigan: 2007 elimination play-off

In 2007, Wigan had only just sneaked into the play-offs, finishing in the sixth and final spot. Everybody wrote them off as they went to Odsal to face third-place Bradford in the elimination match.

Early in the second half, it seemed obvious why so many were tipping the Bulls. They led 30-6, thanks to five tries - three of them scored by David Solomona and one each by Tame Tupou and Iestyn Harris.

All Wigan had to show for their efforts was one Thomas Leuluai score and it looked like the Warriors were crashing out with barely a whimper.

But then Brian Noble's men found the spirit for an outrageous comeback. Trent Barrett started to assert his influence and Mark Calderwood soon went over for a four-pointer.

The winger followed that up with another and the Wigan fans started to believe after Harrison Hansen went over.

With seven minutes left, the Warriors completed the fightback, Calderwood racing clear to go over for his hat-trick try.

So 30-30 with just minutes to play, and there was only ever one winner at that stage. Pat Richards played the hero, dropping a goal to stun Bradford and send Wigan into the next round. 

Warrington 24-26 Leeds: 2011 play-off semi-final

The first of Leeds' brilliant runs from fifth to the Super League title came in 2011 and although they cruised past St Helens at Old Trafford, they had to survive a nail-biting semi-final against Warrington.

The Wolves had never reached Old Trafford, but they had a great chance to do so on home turf against a Leeds side they battered in the Challenge Cup final the season before.

Leeds led early on, Carl Ablett going over before Joel Monaghan and Chris Riley both crossed for tries. Ryan Hall got Leeds level, before the Wolves grabbed the lead again through Matt King.

On the hour mark, Leeds turned things round. First Rob Burrow scampered clear to put Ryan Hall over, before the scrum-half crossed himself to give Leeds the lead.

But with 10 minutes left, Warrington equalised at 24-24, Riley with his second score.

To add to the drama, Steve Ganson disallowed tries for both sides in the final 10 minutes as they searched for a winner.

Ganson's whistle did prove crucial in the end, awarding Leeds a penalty after Warrington strayed offside. Kevin Sinfield flexed those ice-cool nerves and slotted home the winning kick to send Leeds to Old Trafford once again. 

Wigan 12-13 Leeds: 2012 qualifying semi-final

A year later and Super League witnessed deja vu as Leeds struck again from fifth to win the title. Wigan were the victims in the semi-final this time as the Rhinos produced a smash-and-grab victory at the DW Stadium.

On a rainy night, Leeds controlled the ball better early on and took advantage of a Wigan handling error to take the lead. Kallum Watkins pounced on a loose ball in his own 20 and raced the distance for the first try.

Leeds continued to dominate before the break, Kevin Sinfield kicking two penalties and a drop goal for an 11-0 lead.

Wigan woke up after half-time, Thomas Leuluai setting up Harrison Hansen for a score before Brett Finch's clever pass sent over Pat Richards. The conversion put Wigan in front for the first time, but they couldn't hold on.

Late in the day, Sinfield's bomb was spilled by Jack Murphy and Liam Farrell was caught offside in the resulting melee.

For the second year running, Sinfield stepped up and banged over the winning goal to send Leeds to their fifth Grand Final in six years. 

Wigan 16-12 Warrington: 2014 play-off semi-final

Last year's Grand Final will always be remembered for all the wrong reasons, especially if you're a Wigan fan, but the Warriors had reached the showpiece occasion following a gripping win over Warrington in the semi-finals at the DW Stadium.

The sides played out a cagey first-half, as they traded tries; Joel Tomkins for the Warriors and Joel Monaghan for the Wolves.

Warrington did take the lead in the second half, Matty Bowen making a mess of a high kick, allowing Gareth O'Brien to collect and go over. But Wigan responded, Anthony Gelling getting on the end of a length-of-the-pitch move to finish off a sensational try.

Stefan Ratchford's penalty made it 12-12 and both sides went close with drop goal attempts to win it.

With three minutes to go, Dan Sarginson looked to have stolen it for Wigan, but his try was chalked off for a forward pass.

But just a minute later, Wigan did win it for real, Joe Burgess powering over in the corner to send the home fans wild and seal a return to Old Trafford.

You can watch Wigan v Huddersfield (Thursday) and Leeds v St Helens (Friday) live on Sky Sports 1 HD, both programmes starting at 7.30pm