2003 Super League Grand Final

2003 (2003) Super League Grand Final  ()
12 Total
BRA 421 25
WIG 66 12
Date18 October 2003
StadiumOld Trafford
LocationEngland Manchester
Harry Sunderland TrophyEngland Stuart Reardon ( Bradford Bulls)
RefereeKarl Kirkpatrick
Attendance65,537
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters
Commentators
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The 2003 Super League Grand Final was the 6th official Grand Final conclusive and premiership-deciding match of Super League VIII. Held on Saturday 18 October 2003 at Old Trafford, Manchester, the game was played between Bradford Bulls and Wigan Warriors. The match was refereed Karl Kirkpatrick and watched by a crowd of 65,537, with Bradford winning 25 - 12.

Background

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Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
1 Bradford Bulls 28 22 0 6 878 529 +349 44
3 Wigan Warriors 28 19 2 7 751 555 +196 41

Route to the Final

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Bradford Bulls

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Bradford finished top of the table so qualified straight to the play-off semi-final. They were drawn at home to Leeds Rhinos and won 30–14 to qualify for the grand final.

Wigan Warriors

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Wigan finished third in the table so had to play their way through three rounds of play-off matches. In the elimination play-off they beat Warrington 25–12, the semi-final saw them beat St Helens 40–24 and then in the elimination final they beat Leeds Rhinos 23–22 to set up the final against Bradford.

Wigan
Round Opposition Score
Elimination Play-off Warrington Wolves (H) 25-12
Elimination Semi-Final St Helens (H) 40-24
Elimination Final Leeds Rhinos (H) 23-22
Key: (H) = Home venue; (A) = Away venue.

Match details

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Bradford Bulls Position Wigan Warriors
England Stuart Reardon Fullback 1 England Kris Radlinski
2 Tonga Tevita Vaikona Wing 2 Republic of Ireland Brian Carney
Republic of Ireland Michael Withers Centre 3 England Martin Aspinwall
New Zealand Shontayne Hape Centre England David Hodgson
5 Tonga Lesley Vainikolo Wing 5 Australia Brett Dallas
England Karl Pratt Stad Off England Sean O'Loughlin
7 England Paul Deacon Scrum half 7 England Luke Robinson
New Zealand Joe Vagana Prop New ZealandQuentin Pongia
9 England James Lowes Fullback 9 England Terry Newton
10 England Stuart Fielden Prop England Craig Smith
Australia Daniel Gartner Second Row England Mick Cassidy
11 England Jamie Peacock Second Row England Danny Tickle
England Mike Forshaw Loose forward 13 England Andy Farrell
England Leon Pryce Interchange England Paul Johnson
6 New Zealand Robbie Paul England Mark Smith
England Lee Radford England Gareth Hock
England Paul Anderson Republic of Ireland Terry O'Connor
England Brian Noble Coaches England Mike Gregory

World Club Challenge

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Having won the championship, the Bradford Bulls were to play 2003 NRL season premiers, the Penrith Panthers in the following February's World Club Challenge.

References

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