Super League Grand Final: Who Will Win Rugby League’s Ultimate Prize?

The 2018 Super League Grand Final will take place at Old Trafford, the home of Manchester United, on Saturday 13th October and rugby league’s biggest and most successful teams will be quietly confident of competing in the showpiece. Last year, the Leeds Rhinos ran out 24-6 winners against the Castleford Tigers and Brian McDermott’s side could feature in Super League’s big event this season.

St Helens are looking very strong indeed as we approach the halfway stage of the season; Justin Holbrook’s men are currently sitting pretty at the top of the table. Saints have lost just two Super League games so far in 2018 and it would take a brave man to back against the 13-time English champions. They’ve scored more points (454) and conceded fewer (164) than any of their Super League rivals.

Rugby league has been prominent in the North West for some time now; Super League’s showpiece has been held at Old Trafford every year since 1998. Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium has hosted the Magic Weekend in years gone by and the region has been central to the sport’s rise in popularity. The Super League campaign is well and truly starting to heat up in the race to reach Old Trafford.

The success of local teams Wigan Warriors, Warrington Wolves and St Helens has helped to raise the profile of the sport too. The Wolves have featured in three Grand Finals since 2012 and Steve Price’s side are climbing the Super League ladder after a slow start to the season – another run to Old Trafford could be on the cards. As of May 16th, Warrington are 5/1 in the latest rugby league odds with William Hill to lift the famous trophy.

Meanwhile, Wigan are also right in the mix after winning 11 of their 13 Super League games so far this season. Shaun Wane will be quietly confident of leading his troops to Grand Final glory after a difficult 2017 campaign. The Warriors are arguably the most complete team in English rugby league and they will take some stopping in their pursuit of success. Wigan fans will be eyeing up an Old Trafford return for Super League’s big event.

Or the men? pic.twitter.com/sena4UH7WF

— Wigan Warriors ???? (@WiganWarriorsRL) May 13, 2018

Or perhaps the Castleford Tigers, last year’s beaten finalists, will go one better in 2018. The Tigers played some scintillating, attacking rugby last season but fell short against the Leeds Rhinos at Old Trafford. Daryl Powell’s men are currently fifth in the table after racking up an impressive eight wins so far this year. It wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see the Tigers back in action at the Theatre of Dreams.

Rugby fans in the Manchester area will be keeping a close watch on the latest Super League news, results and rumours as the season starts to heat up. The race for Old Trafford is well and truly on and it would be foolish to write anyone off at this stage of the campaign. With the likes of St Helens, Wigan and Warrington fighting it out at the top of the table, it could be another memorable year for Super League and it might be the best Old Trafford Grand Final yet.