it was obvious that something was wrong when there were 2 interchanges left with 15mins to go, and Jammer off the pitch. Well tried, but just wasn't to be.

I was there. Billy B's two 75 yarders. Dave Bolton broken leg. Eric Ashton missed kick 13 -11 wasn't it?

We broke the gate down to get in that day. I'll send you a p.m. later to explain the circumstances (get your hankie out)

Think we got rid of a dozen last weekend - you need to up your game.

Always in Wigan's Shadow? Even on Ban Numbers? Sorry Mods, couldn't resist, and you gotta chuckle.

great final played by 2 great teams ,your young players will learn a lot from that experiance.

well done

I must be one of the few Wigan fans who genuinely has sympathy for Saints. It was a great effort and despite what the bookies said I thought Leeds were the clear favourites. Man for man they probably had the better team and have been under-performing all season so it's not too much of a surprise that they have come good.
There were so many young players in the Saints side that they were always going to be at a disadvantage in terms of experience but the youngsters stood up and gave it their all. I think the experience will benefit those players and to reach a Grand Final with so much disruption in the team is a very good achievement.

Good game guys, score should have been closer than it was and certainly doesn't reflect the game. You may be our greatest rivals but I admire the way you have played this season and your young players have come on leaps and bounds and that can only bode well for your future. See you next year

I have posted on the Leeds site, that i think this marks Leeds side (since probably 2005) as one of the all time great sides in an era.

While its annoying losing 5 in a row we are losing to a truly magnificent big game side.

I am also encouraged that none of our kids let us down. I thought Gaskell in particular was in the running for MOM.

Makinson also had a stormer, and his maturity for one so young is phenomenal.

M,
I think you need to watch the game again.
As you know I'm a big Gaskell fan but tonight he took a lot of wrong options. Also Soliola IMO goes in for the big tackle too often and finishes up missing it.
Saints pack came a poor second (I expected them to win the game for you) and as a consequence the young Saints halfbacks were dominated.


Oh and Scott Moore was awful.

And yet they have only finished top once in that period! Weird!

Finally something I agree with you on.

Feel free to still ban him though Simon

This Leeds team certainly are a great side who'll no doubt go down in history and rightfully so. But their inability to win the CC as a collective let's them down somewhat.

I thought Lomax was the worst offender when it came to taking the wrong options. Gaskell's decision making wasn't great but he did make the right call on occasions. There seemed to be a few times where the ball needed to be spread out to the right hand side where Lomax tried to take the line on himself.

A bit of leadership and organisation was needed which is probably why they are bringing in a new halfback.

You contributed to the best GF i have seen, at one point i thought you had won it , but Credit to Leeds they fought back and deserved it (in my opinion) in the end..
I was baffled that Bentham went to the VR for Makinsons try , i thought he had already called a drop out..maybe the laws were rewritten tonight

Classic final.

FIOS

I never knew you were a Wigan mod!

Gaskell went for personal glory on a few occasions when the pass may have resulted in a try..but I'm sure he will have gained valuable experience from tonight.

Credit to Saints, cracking GF, don't take any trolling from teams who didn't even make it to the GF. You have a very good young team and many more grand finals to come.

Was in the Saints end tonight pretty much with a Saints fan from uni and a first timer. Absolute cracking match. Didn't want Saints to win as much as I wanted Leeds to lose.



Losing Shenton seemed to be the turning point to me, Makinson was unlucky with the hall try, could be a quality full back in time.

I remember Billy's tries I 'we were sat over the wall on south stand near old score board end we had been moved from the sloap where they came out ,because of congestion.I remember Billy coming over to you Del Hodgkinson to shake his hand after the game

No gloating at all from me, that was a good old fashioned Grand Final from my point of view, like a game of chess n the first half, We survived your onslaught early second half and i think it might just of turned the tide there.

You can be proud of your boys, they all played well. You'll miss Mr Graham i think next season.

At least you got further than Wigan!!!

No chance. The cup doesn't even come close in comparison. It's a jolly good day out going to Wembley and winning but winning the Grand Final is everything and to win it four years out of five is incredible. In any other sport they'd be heralded as a dynasty and rightly so.

Best GF in years and as a Leeds fan i really felt for the Saints fans, almost wanting your boys to win. Almost.
Best of luck for 2012, hope to see you next year for round 5.

Brilliant Final. Leeds were on the ropes first 20 2nd half, and I said at the time that going for the 2 at 12-8 was the wrong call for me. Leeds were all over the show and a try there would have been it.

2 absolute belters for the CC and GF this year, a real credit to the sport.

Don't know where all the "great final" stuff is coming from - I thought the first half was pretty dull overall, and the last 20 minutes was a rout. So "great 20 minutes" it was then