The 1999 Super League Grand Final was the Second official Grand Final conclusive and championship-deciding game of the Super League IV season. The match was played between St. Helens and Bradford Bulls on Saturday 9 October 1999, at Old Trafford.
Background
Super League IV retained the top five play off after the success of the previous years Grand Final. The league was expanded to 14 teams with Wakefield Trinity Wildcats and Gateshead Thunder both made their debuts in Super League although Gateshead Thunder and Sheffield Eagles both left the league after merging with Hull FC and Huddersfield Giants respectively. Bradford Bulls finished as League Leaders for the first time since they finished top in Super League II as Champions.
TeamPldWDLPFPAPDPts1 Bradford Bulls302514897445+452512 St. Helens3023071034561+47346
Route to the Final Bradford Bulls By finishing first in the regular season, Bradford automatically qualified for the play-off semi-final. They were drawn at home to St Helens and in a one-sided game, they brushed St Helens aside 40–4 to qualify for the Grand Final.
St Helens The play-off system in use only gave the league leaders a bye to the semi-finals. St Helens had finished second so had to play a qualifying play-off first. Drawn at home to Leeds Rhinos St Helens won 38–14 to go through to the semi-final. This was an away fixture to Bradford where they were beaten 40–4. However this loss did not end their season. The losers of the qualifying semi-final got another chance by playing the winners of the other semi-final in a final eliminator. Therefore Saints' third play-off game was a home tie against Castleford Tigers where they won through 36–6. + St Helens Round Opposition Score Qualifying Play-off Leeds Rhinos (H)38-14 Qualifying Semi-Final Bradford Bulls (A) 40-4 Final Eliminator Castleford Tigers (H)36-6 Key: (H) = Home venue; (A) = Away venue.
Match details
Bradford BullsPositionSt Helens Stuart Spruce Fullback Paul Atcheson Tevita Vaikona Winger Chris Smith Scott Naylor Centre Kevin Iro Michael Withers Centre Paul Newlove5 Leon Pryce Winger Anthony Sullivan6 Robbie Paul Stand Off6 Paul Sculthorpe7 Henry Paul Scrum half7 Tommy Martyn Paul Anderson Prop Apollo Perelini9 James Lowes Hooker9 Keiron Cunningham Stuart Fielden Prop Julian O'Neill David Boyle 2nd Row Fereti Tuilagi Bernard Dwyer 2nd Row Sonny Nickle13 Steve McNamara Loose forward13 Chris Joynt Paul Deacon Interchange Paul Wellens Nathan McAvoy Interchange Sean Long Mike Forshaw Interchange Sean Hoppe Brian McDermott Interchange Vila Matautia Matthew Elliott Coach Ellery Hanley
References
External links 1999 Super League Grand Final at rlphotos.com