Rhinos stalwart Jamie Peacock insists both Leeds and St Helens deserve their places in Saturday's Grand Final.
Leeds veteran insists finalists are there on merit
Jamie Peacock insists both Leeds and St Helens deserve their places in Saturday's Grand Final even though they might not have been the best teams throughout the regular season.
Saints put together back-to-back wins over defending Engage Super League champions Wigan to reach a sixth consecutive appearance at Old Trafford, while the Rhinos are the first team to reach the title decider from fifth place.
While Wigan and Warrington faltered at the crucial stage, Leeds and St Helens have discovered their best form at the right time and England captain Peacock believes that makes them worthy finalists.
"Saints have put in two stellar performances to beat Wigan and we've had to play some good opposition as well," he said.
On merit
"We might not have finished highest in the table but we're definitely there on merit, on our performances over the last four or five weeks."
Saints have made Old Trafford their second home but the place holds happier memories for Peacock, who holds the record for most winning appearances there having won three Grand Finals with Bradford before his move to Leeds.
He has also twice tasted defeat and will equal Leon Pryce's record of nine Grand Final appearances following St Helens coach Royce Simmons' decision to leave the former Bradford stand-off out of his squad.
Simmons has decided not to call on the vast experience of Pryce, who has played very little rugby in his injury-hit final season with the club, and will instead rely on the fledgling half-back pairing of Jonny Lomax and Lee Gaskell.
Gaskell is one of seven players in Saints' 19-man squad who have yet to appear in a Grand Final and, according to Peacock, that will negate any psychological advantage stemming from Leeds' hat-trick of Old Trafford triumphs over them.
Past has no bearing
"The past will have no bearing this weekend," he said. "We've got good associations and happy memories of this place but it seems like different eras.
"There are two different coaches and a few different players as well."
The final promises to be an emotional affair, with veteran Australian hooker Danny Buderus playing his final game for Leeds and England prop James Graham making his farewell appearance for St Helens.
Saints will be attempting to succeed where they failed 12 months ago, when they so desperately wanted to send Keiron Cunningham out on a high, but Peacock warns that sentiment alone will not lift the spoils.
"St Helens have probably spoken about what they want to do for James and I'm sure they're going to be putting that extra effort in but they tried to do that for Keiron last year," he said. "It only takes you so far.
"We want to send 'Bedsy' out on a winning note as well, so there are other factors which add spice to the game."
