2020 Super League Grand Final

The2020 Super League Grand Finalwas the23rd official Grand Finaland championship-deciding game ofSuper League XXV.The game was won 8–4 bySt Helensover their local rivalsWigan Warriors.Due to theCOVID-19 pandemic,it was the firstSuper League Grand Finalnot held atOld Trafford.

2020(2020)Super League Grand Final()
Wigan Warriors St Helens 4 8
1 2 Total WIG 0 4 4 STH 2 6 8
Date	27 November 2020
Stadium	KCOM Stadium
Location	Hull
Harry Sunderland Trophy	James Roby(St Helens)
Jerusalem	Laura Wright
Referee	Chris Kendall
Attendance	0
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters	Sky Sports Fox League

Stadium selection

Initially,Old Traffordwas confirmed as the venue for the2020 Super LeagueGrand Final, with thePremier LeagueschedulingManchester United's tie againstSouthampton,on the same day, to be played away atSt Mary's Stadiumin order to allow Old Trafford to accommodate the Grand Final. However with an increasing number of positiveCOVID-19tests in rugby league players and match postponements approaching the game, Manchester United and the Super League withdrew from the agreement on 17 October as Old Trafford would be unable to accommodate a change in date with them hostingİstanbul BaşakşehirandParis Saint Germainmidweek either side of the Grand Final weekend in theChampions League.On 22 October it was announced that the game would be played at theKCOM Stadium,Hull on Friday 27 November with an 8pm kick-off.Criticism was met with the selection of KCOM as the venue, with some people saying it was a poor attempt to expand rugby league's reach, whereas other were saying it was the most iconicSuper Leaguestadium and that stadium selection did not matter as fans were not allowed to attend.

Background

The two finalists finished first and second in the regular season with Wigan winning 13 of their 17 games and St Helens 12 out of 17. These league positions earned both clubs byes to the second (semi-final) round of the play-offs and home advantage in their semi-final matches.

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PP	WPCT
1	Wigan Warriors	17	13	0	4	408	278	146.8	76.47
2	St Helens	17	12	0	5	469	195	240.5	70.59

Route to the final

Wigan Warriors

Wigan finished first in the regular season, to claim their firstLeague Leaders Shieldsince2012,and a first trophy for head coach,Adrian Lam.In their semi-final they playedHull F.C.the lowest ranked winning team from the elimination finals. Wigan won the match 29–2, with tries fromJoe Burgess,Harry Smith,Zak Hardaker,Jake BibbyandBevan Frenchto reach the grand final, for an 11th time.

Round	Opposition	Score
Semi-final	Hull FC(H)	29–2
Key:(H) = Home venue; (A) = Away venue; (N) =Neutral venue.

St Helens

Reigning and defending champions St Helens finished second in the regular season againstCatalans Dragonsthe higher ranked winning team from the elimination finals. St Helens won the match 48–2, to reach the grand final, for a record 12th time.

Round	Opposition	Score
Preliminary Final	Catalans Dragons(H)	48–2
Key:(H) = Home venue; (A) = Away venue; (N) =Neutral venue.

Match details

27 November 2020

Wigan Warriors	4–8	St Helens RFC
Tries:Bibby66’ Goals:Hardaker(0/2)	Report	Tries:Welsby80' Goals:Coote(2/2) 40'(pen), 73'(pen)

KCOM Stadium,Hull Attendance: 0 Referee:Chris Kendall(Huddersfield)

Wigan Warriors		Position	St Helens
6	Bevan French	Fullback	1	Lachlan Coote
23	Jake Bibby	Wing	2	Tommy Makinson
1	Zak Hardaker	Centre	3	Kevin Naiqama
4	Oliver Gildart	Centre	22	Jack Welsby
5	Joe Burgess24'38'	Wing	5	Regan Grace
7	Thomas Leuluai	Scrum-half	6	Jonny Lomax
31	Jackson Hastings	Stand-off	7	Theo Fages
19	Joe Bullock15'51'60'	Prop	8	Alex Walmsley29'61'
9	Sam Powell	Hooker	9	James Roby
38	Brad Singleton25'54'	Prop	32	James Graham20'
11	Willie Isa	Second-row	11	Zeb Taia
12	Liam Farrell	Second-row	20	James Bentley
17	Oliver Partington38'60'	Loose forward	14	Morgan Knowles35'
8	Tony Clubb15'29'	Interchange	12	Dominique Peyroux58'
15	Joe Greenwood24'51'		13	Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook29'61'
13	Sean O'Loughlin29'54'77'		15	Matty Lees20'58'
16	Morgan Smithies25'77'		16	Kyle Amor35'
	Adrian Lam	Coach		Kristian Woolf

Both teams normal kit colours are red and white, but with Wigan having finished higher in the league, they were the 'home team' which meant that they were playing in their normal red and white colours, with St Helens playing in their alternate blue and white kit.

The game was the lowest scoring grand final in the history of Super League, but has been described as one of the greatest and most dramatic grand finals.

In a game dominated by defences, there was no scoring until the last minute of the first half, when St Helens were awarded apenaltyfor ashoulder chargebyMorgan SmithiesonLachlan Coote.Coote took the kick himself to give St Helens a 2–0 half-time lead.The closest effort to a try had seen Wigan'sZak Hardakerprevented from scoring by five St Helens defenders, when he was held-upover the St Helens goal line after 28 minutes

The second half continued in the same fashion, with scoring opportunities limited. St Helens thought they had scored on 55 minutes, whenZeb Taiagrounded a kick fromJames Roby,but refereeChris Kendalldisallowed the try foroffside,a decision confirmed by video refereeBen Thaler.

Wigan'sJake Bibbyfinally scored the firsttryof the game, after 66 minutes when he touched down in the corner. Hardaker's conversion attempt bounced off the crossbar to give Wigan a 4–2 lead. With less than 10 minutes left, St Helens were awarded another penalty asJackson Hastingswas adjudged to havehigh tackledTheo Fages.Coote made his second successful kick to level the scores up at 4–4.In the 78th minute, Wigan were awarded a penalty when Theo Fages was ruled offside. From just inside the Saints half of the field, Hardaker's kick drifted right of the goalposts, leaving the scores tied. As the game went into its final seconds, Saints wingerTommy Makinsonattempted adrop goal,and as the hooter sounded the end of the game, the ball bounced back off the goal post, and bounced into the Wigan in-goal area, where St Helens centreJack Welsbyout-sprinted Wigan fullbackBevan Frenchto score the match winning try.