Three former Super League Grand Final winners shared their memories of the big day with skysports.com
The Grand Final, Saturday 5.30pm, Sky Sports 1
Saturday's Grand Final at Old Trafford will be the 10th since the play-offs were introduced. Three former winners shared their memories of the big day with
skysports.com
Michael WithersThe Bradford Bulls full-back scored three touchdowns in 20 minutes to make history and become the first and, so far, only player to score a Grand Final hat-trick as the Bulls crushed Wigan 37-6 in 2001.
"We were pretty confident beforehand and it helped that we had been through the pressure before. In 1999 we were favourites to win but lost 8-6 to St Helens but in 2001 we didn't let the hype get to us.
Brian Noble (the former Bradford coach) normally gets his big speech out of the way and on the actual day of the game he likes to keep it very simple.
I remember the first half of that game everything just came together. We didn't do anything flash, we just took our chances.
I was fortunate to get a hat-trick that day but I really didn't have to do a lot. I remember the first try came from a break by Henry Paul and I just got on the end of it.
Henry made a break for the second try which I managed to finish and I think I got across to finish a move for the third. Wigan were a good team, but the game was as good as over by half-time because we led 26-0.
Adrian Lam scored a try in the second half for Wigan which helped keep our minds on the job.
I obviously received a lot of attention for the hat-trick which was nice but it was also as special victory because my dad and sister had come over from Australia to watch."
Paul Deacon The Bradford scrum-half kicked a Super League record seven goals, including one drop goal to help inspire the Bulls to a 25-12 Grand Final success against Wigan in 2003
"Brian (Noble) had a knack of staying really relaxed for the week before a big game and to be honest I really enjoyed the week before a Grand Final. Personally I remember not making a very good start as I missed the tackle on Danny Tickle who scored the first try to give them a 6-4 half-time lead.
Apart from that I gave a good controlled performance, I kicked a few goals and I remember it for the drop goal I scored but that day we played well as a team. I remember the game most though for it being James Lowes' last game as hooker for Bradford and he scored the last try of the game on his last match for the club.
The most important thing in the Grand Final is to do the little things right. Things like the last plays and the kicking game are vital."
Barrie McDermott The big prop inspired Leeds to their first and so far only Grand Final victory in a bruising 16-8 defeat of Bradford Bulls in 2004.
"Looking into our players' eyes that day and the unity and trust we had as a squad I knew it was going to be the day for the Rhinos.
"It was also important that 11 of the 17 players that day were either from Leeds or had come through the system and they were proud to wear the blue and amber.
"Bradford scored an early try (through Lesley Vainikolo) and Matt Diskin responded by going over from acting half back for Leeds.
"Kevin (Sinfield) was always very confident with his kicking and he always expects himself to score. He earned his stripes that day and he gave us a 10-4 half-time lead.
"Shontayne Hape scored early in the second half for Bradford, but we were still confident and Danny McGuire got a late touch down to win it for Leeds.
"I was brought on to give the team a lift after 20 minutes and I think they had confidence in me. I'd been in too many encounters with Bradford never to write them off, but I also remember looking across in the last ten seconds to the bench and seeing the likes of Andrew Dunnemann and Francis Cummings, players not even in the 17, arm in arm with the rest of the players. That was special. Since I won the 1999 Challenge Cup I had wanted the Super League Ring and I'd finally won it at the age of 32."
