Leeds Rhinos have a stellar record in the Grand Final but Castleford are the favourites for this match after a superb season.
The Tigers finished top of the table to claim their first ever League Leaders’ Shield.
And they’ve been the real deal in the playoffs as well, edging St Helens 23-22 to boost their place in the final.
Leeds, meanwhile, have bounced back from narrowly avoiding relegation last season to post another decent campaign, finishing second behind Cas.
But the Rhinos lost have lost all four of this season’s games against Castleford.
This Grand Final could be a classic encounter. Follow all the action LIVE below…
Castleford 0-6 Leeds
Grand Final LIVE updates
20: Cuthbertson is off for Leeds. He look like he twisted his neck in an earlier tackle. Indeed, he’s gone straight to the physio room and is getting treated.
18: Cas got lucky there. Leeds showed just how clinical they can be and a better bounce would have let to a Watkins try.
As it is the Tigers charge back up the field, only for Watkins to clear the danger. He’s been one of the best players on the pitch so far.
17: TRY? Watkins makes contact with a wonderful McGuire kick. It’s perfectly executed move but has he grounded it? Another video replay. The referee gave a try initially and it looks inconclusive looking back. NO TRY!
16: How will Cas respond? They started so well but maybe some nerves crept in when Leeds started to come out.
It’s gotten a bit attritional in the centre of the park here. Shenton knocks on 30 metres from his own line. Leeds could capitalise…
12: TRY! Is it? It’s a high ball for Leeds’ Briscoe to get under and he beats two Cas men before wrestling it out of a Tigers hand and touching down. The video referee confirms the grounding. Leeds, despite being under the cosh, are ahead.
7: A nice little chip from Hall as Leeds creep forward and Cas are forced to ground under their own sticks. The goal-line drop out comes and Leeds have their foot int the game here.
Walker thinks he’s snuck through on the left but he’s taken down.
6: It’s been all Cas so far. They’ve got the territory and they’re keeping Leeds camped in their own quarter.
Eden breaks clear after Leeds lose the ball but he can’t keep his feet and loses the ball.
2: PENALTY to Cas. Singleton doesn’t bother trying to get out of a tackle and the cheers rise from the Cas fans. They’re camped on the Leeds line now with a full set to come.
Webster goes forward and is inches from the line. Leeds send him back. The kick goes left and a Rhinos man gathers it.
1: We’re underway at Old Trafford! Cas in orange, Leeds in white.
Leeds kick and Cas go through the tackles before lumping it forward themselves. No early mistakes, that’s what the coaches will have said.
Rockin’
We’re five minutes away from kick off and the stadium is already rocking. Well, sort of. Cas and Leeds fans are being treated to a ditty from Razorlight. I’d forgotten about them. Better than the Super Bowl this.
Now to some proper music. Well, Jerusalem. Leeds fans must think this is their anthem the amount of times they’ve heard it. Kick off coming next!
Danny McGuire
Danny McGuire and Rob Burrow are playing their last games for Leeds tonight.
Scrum-half McGuire said: “To win a Grand Final in my final game would be the fairytale finish and what dreams are made of.
“When we won there in 2015, it was the last time that Kevin Sinfield, Jamie Peacock and Kylie Leuluai played for the club.
“I remember having a beer with them afterwards and the satisfaction they must have felt is something I would love to experience on Saturday night.”
Daryl Powell
Castleford’s Daryl Powell played for Leeds in the 1998 Grand Final. He explains how he ended up at Cas.
“I agreed to step down and it was tough for me pretty much coming out of playing straight into the role of Leeds head coach,” the Super League Coach of the Year said.
“The responsibility of that is significant but I needed to coach so I went to rugby union and then Featherstone before the Castleford job came up in 2013. It all happened at the right time.
“I had a great time at Leeds and bare them no animosity at all, but beating them on Saturday night would cap off everything I’ve done in my career. I can’t put into words how special that would be.”
Leeds’ record at Old Trafford
Leeds enjoy their trips to Old Trafford.
They have won the Super League Grand Final a staggering seven times, even though they’ve topped the league just three times since 2004.
The Rhinos have lost just two Grand Final. The first was the inaugural showdown – a 10-4 loss to Wigan in 1998. The second was against Bradford back in 2005.
Last year Wigan beat Warrington 12-6 in a fairly miserable, tense encounter.
Whoever wins, the Super League trophy will be heading back to Yorkshire for a 12th time.
Zak Hardaker
We may as well get this over with now.
For those still unsure why Zak Hardaker has been left out the Castleford squad, you’re not alone!
Castleford’s statement is value. They said on Thursday: “Zak Hardaker is unavailable for selection due to a breach of club rules.
“The club will make no further comment at this point as full attention is focused on Saturday’s Grand Final.”
Harder played for Leeds for six years before leaving for Cas at the start of 2017.
Welcome
Hello and welcome to our live blog of the Super League Grand Final between Castleford and Leeds.
And let’s face it, there hasn’t been this much hype over a Grand Final in years!
Leeds are back (who would’ve thought it, eh?) while for Castleford this is unfamiliar territory.
They’ve never won rugby league’s biggest prize and are favourites heading into this clash.
It’s an all-Yorkshire affair in Manchester. It’s gonna be a corker!