We all wondered just what scale of history awaited us at Old Trafford, and in the end, as it so often has been in the history of Super League, it was St Helens who wrote the script. Nobody quite knew what to expect from a Catalans Dragons side making their Grand Final debut, and while they certainly didn’t buckle under the pressure of the biggest game in their history, there was just no accounting for the experience this magnificent Saints side possess on the grandest stage.
It was a final that had everything. Drama, controversial moments and unmissable, nonstop action. This was one of the great Grand Finals, but ultimately, it was a familiar outcome as this St Helens side underlined their status as one of the modern era’s finest sides, with this their third successive league title. They are only the second side in Super League history to achieve the feat, and how they were made to work for it.
A second try from Kevin Naiqama – in his last game for the club – with 14 minutes to go was the moment that ensured the trophy would return to St Helens once again, denying Catalans a first title just 15 years after they entered Super League as an unknown expansion club, given little chance of surviving, let alone thriving, by their critics. Their time may come again in the future but here, they were beaten by a side with just that fraction too much experience.
The pre-match intensity inside Old Trafford was certainly replicated on-field in the opening quarter of the match, with St Helens dominating most of the early exchanges. Their kicking game was far crisper, and defensively they were much the stronger of the two sides, repeatedly pinning Catalans back inside their own half. However, that pressure was stunted when James Maloney charged down a Lachlan Coote kick to put the Dragons on the front foot for the first time.
Two plays later, Catalans were ahead. A quick play-the-ball from Michael McIlorum caught the Saints defence off-guard in their first real test close to their own line, and Maloney took the penalty to put the league leaders ahead, despite having spent most of the opening 10 minutes camped on their own line. However, instead of shifting the momentum firmly in the French side’s favour, Maloney’s penalty stirred Saints into life.
They responded with real gusto, and eventually scored the try their dominance deserved when Jonny Lomax’s razor-sharp pass enabled Coote to free Naiqama. The centre still had work to do but despite the attention of three Catalans defenders, he grounded the ball in front of the Stretford End. Though Coote missed the conversion, St Helens led 4-2.
There were certainly no shortage of flashpoints between the sides, perhaps best illustrated by a clash between Sione Mata’utia and Maloney that could have easily led to a card for the former, after he appeared to throw a punch towards Maloney that appeared to land on the Australian. As the half wore on, Catalans appeared to tire defensively, but they dug in well to only concede two more points courtesy of a penalty from Coote.
Catalans responded with another penalty from Maloney, and when Saints rejected the opportunity to kick another goal after earning a penalty, and then failed to convert the resulting set, you wondered how big a moment it would be as the two sides headed into the break separated by just two points.
That looked to be a defining passage of play with 10 minutes of the restart. A crossfield kick from Josh Drinkwater found Fouad Yaha, but as he headed for the line, he was felled by Tommy Makinson, who became the first player in Grand Final history to be sin-binned. Four minutes later, Drinkwater kicked right, and Tom Davies patted back for Mike McMeeken, who touched down and allowed Maloney to convert. Suddenly, Catalans led 10-6.
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St Helens repelled further Catalans pressure while Makinson was in the sin-bin, and as the game entered the final quarter, the reigning champions made their decisive move. A Joe Batchelor break came to nothing but five minutes later, Catalans would not be as fortunate as a clever kick from Lomax found Naiqama on the angle. He collected, forced his way over the line and with Coote converting to make it 12-10, the advantage was back with the Saints.
There were late chances for Catalans to reply, but St Helens’ defence, as it has been so many times in these games in the past, held firm when it really mattered.