The Sporting Day: English Super League Final

St. Helens are in pursuit of history. They are in pursuit of glory. They are chasing what has never been achieved and may never be achieved again. This Saturday, Greenwich Mean Time, the Saints of St. Helens and Lancashire and will meet the Rhinos, of Leeds and Yorkshire, at Old Trafford, where fate will be determined and a champion crowned.

St. Helens are the undisputed heavyweights of the English rugby league game. They are the big dog on the block. They are financially unrivalled, they are engorged by grand historical deeds and they compile a playing roster of the best. Since the Super League era began in 1996, the Saints have been crowned champions five times and have held aloft the vaunted Challenge Cup six times. In that period they have had six players crowned the Man of Steel, including tough-as-nuts hooker James Roby this season. The Saints also won BBC team of the year award last season as well as BBC coach of the year. They would stand with any other team in any other sport in terms of dominance over the last decade.

This weekend they will field one of the great sides in the long and illustrious history of English rugby league. In the dynamite backline is champion halfback Sean Long, electric five-eighth Leon Pryce, speedster Ade Gardner, international fullback Paul Wellens and former Newcastle ballplayer Matt Gidley. Up front the Saints will field a near-international pack that includes Man of Steel winner James Roby, New Zealand prop Jason Cayless, four hundred gamer Keiron Cunnigham, utility Lee Gilmour and mean prop Nick Fozzard. That is a team to match any in the world of nearly an era. And that is the team that will be chasing an unprecedented League-Cup double-double, a feat that would mark them as one of the greatest teams in history.

Standing in there way is Leeds, the pride of Yorkshire and the most supported rugby league team in England. One of the strongest sides in the game, Leeds have been fighting for supremacy for time immemorial. But that glory has been hard to come by in the Super League era with only one title and plenty of opportunities left behind. 2007 will, for fans, be the beginning of a new era. A new era of success and silverware and sensation. The pride of the gold and yellow.

While St. Helens are fielding a side for the ages, Leeds are not throwing out a bunch of hacks and kids. They are fielding a talented side that are capable of matching the Saints up front and out wide. Kevin Sinfield is one the most malleable players in the game and is always a threat. Jamie Peacock and Jamie Jones-Buchanon are the future of the England pack. And Danny McGuire is one of the most brilliant number sixes in the world. Throw in Aussies Brent Webb and Scott Donald and you have a star-studded side.

And they have the momentum and the benefit of match fitness. They were sensational against Wigan in the preliminary final and would take much more out of their 10-8 defeat to St. Helens on the last weekend in September than the Saints would have. Leeds also have a big edge over St. Helens this season, giving the Saints a touch-up twice.

Having said all that, it does appear St. Helens have a date with destiny. Giving away only 4 ½ points looks the bet. It would take a man of strong intestinal fortitude to bet against that star studded St. Helens side.

© 2007 Punting Ace.com