Super League Top 10: Late Winners
This week's Super League top 10 focuses on the best last-minute winners. It was difficult to narrow this down to just 10, and sadly a lot of fantastic moments will miss out!
10. Wigan 27-28 Bradford (2005)
70 minutes. Wigan 27-12 Bradford. Game over, right? Not right. Wigan held Bradford at an arm’s length throughout this match and never looked like losing, until a stunning fightback turned the game on its head.
No-one would have predicted this comeback. Apart from one punter, who backed it a 499/1!
8. Hull KR 32-30 Hull FC (2012)
7. Bradford 38-42 Leeds (2007)
6. Wigan 20-19 Bradford (2000)
5. Castleford 23-22 St Helens (2017)
Whilst the ending is part of Castleford folklore, the game itself was arguably the finest play-off to date. It started perfectly for Castleford, as they opened an 8-point lead, but found themselves behind at half time.
Castleford wrestled back control and led by 12. It looked to be enough, until a stirring St Helens fightback looked to have won the game with under two minutes remaining.
Implausibly, Castleford with the final kick levelled with a penalty. Not content with one try and the match-levelling penalty, Luke Gale then slotted the drop goal to send Castleford to their first ever Grand Final.
4. Bradford 18-19 St Helens
The opening stages of this Grand Final were so one-sided that it appeared that Bradford were set to record back-to-back landslide triumphs on the big occasion. But defensive lapses meant that they inexplicably trailed at the break.
The second half turned into the battle we all expected, with the sides locked up at 18-18 going into the final 10 minutes. After what seemed like endless missed drop goal attempts, from players usually masters at the skill, Sean Long was the hero, kicking the winning drop goal with 30 seconds to go.
That was surely the end of the drama? Not quite. With the final tackle of the game, Joynt fell over. Or, committed an unpunished voluntary tackle. The version of events differs depending on whether you ask a Bradford or St Helens fan.
Without question, the most dramatic and controversial Super League Grand Final we have seen.
3. Huddersfield 16-20 Leeds (2015)
The final day of the 2015 season saw a three way battle for the League Leaders Shield. This was the situation going into the final day.
Despite drawing at half time, Wigan turned it around and recorded a comprehensive victory. This put Huddersfield out of the reckoning for first, but they opened an 8-point lead over Leeds. With three minutes remaining, the table looked like this and the helicopter carrying the Shield had started its journey to Wigan.
But there was one last twist. A Danny McGuire chip, a Scott Grix misread, a Ryan Hall pounce. The stadium collectively gasped and Leeds had won it! The helicopter turned around and League Leaders' Shield returned to Huddersfield.
2. Hull KR 18-19 Salford (2016)
With Hull KR's Super League status hanging by a thread, Gareth O' Brien missed the ensuing conversion. That sent us to golden point, which was over before it started, with O' Brien nailing a huge drop kick to send Salford fans delirious and Hull KR fans sinking.
1. St Helens 16-11 Bradford (2000)
St Helens had possession but were pinned in their own half. Then followed a stunning nine-pass move, going 60 metres to the right, then back to the left, then 90 metres upfield to grab the most unlikely of victories.
Dwayne West, who entered the field in the 78th minute was a huge contributor, with a brilliant break down the left wing. An incredible high in an otherwise forgettable St Helens career.
It was a nine pass move. It should have been 10. But Chris Joynt knew he had the legs and didn't need to pass to speedster Anthony Sullivan to finish.
Words cannot do it justice. You'll have seen it before. Super League's most dramatic and finest moment. It encapsulates why we love sport. Here it is one more time, in all its glory!
We hope you enjoyed our countdown of Super League's most dramatic endings. Do you agree with our list? Would you have them in a different order? Is there a moment that you cannot believe we have overlooked? Let us know in the comments!
10. Wigan 27-28 Bradford (2005)
70 minutes. Wigan 27-12 Bradford. Game over, right? Not right. Wigan held Bradford at an arm’s length throughout this match and never looked like losing, until a stunning fightback turned the game on its head.
Jamie Peacock and Stuart Fielden narrowed the gap, before
Michael Withers crossed with the last play of the game to narrow the gap to
just one point. Paul Deacon kicked the conversion to give Bradford the most
unlikely of victories.
No-one would have predicted this comeback. Apart from one punter, who backed it a 499/1!
9. Salford 30-31 Warrington (2016)And, with 109 seconds remaining, Bradford’s Iestyn Harris sends the booming pass that frees Michael Withers who scores the try that enables Paul Deacon to coolly land the angled conversion for an astonishing 28-27 win. pic.twitter.com/H6bJnuToaI— Sky Sports Rugby League (@SkySportsRL) February 25, 2020
Warrington went into this match unbeaten in 2016, but all
hopes of that run continuing looked to have evaporated when they found
themselves trailing by 30 points to 12 by the hour mark.
The Wolves then staged an incredible turnaround, with three
tries in six unbelievable minutes, stunning the hosts and pulling them level.
This left 14 minutes for either side to find a winner.
It looked like a draw was on the cards before Chris Sandow
stepped up and nailed a stunning 40 yard drop goal to keep the Wire undefeated.
8. Hull KR 32-30 Hull FC (2012)
This is another one to file under “did it really happen?”.
Oh yes, it did.
The first day of the Magic Weekend 2012 looked to be ending
in a bit of a damp squib. Hull FC led by 30-16 going into the final 15 minutes
of the match and seemed on course for derby glory.
Hull KR grabbed tries in the 68th and 72nd
minute, albeit one from a suspiciously forward-looking pass, not spotted by
Steve Ganson. A man who is no stranger to controversy at the Magic Weekend!
This pulled Hull KR back to within two points. It looked
like it would be a brave effort in defeat before Hodgson found some space and
finished a stunning solo score.
7. Bradford 38-42 Leeds (2007)
The second Steve Ganson Magic Weekend moment on this
list comes from the very first of those occasions.
This game had 13 tries, a Brent Webb hat-trick and a
controversially disallowed 77th minute try for Bradford, but is
solely remembered for its unforgettable ending. Bradford were leading by two
points before conceding an incorrectly awarded penalty for accidental offside.
This gave Leeds the chance to snatch a point with a 45m
penalty from Kevin Sinfield. He hit the crossbar, the ball fell to Jordan
Tansey, who pounced to snatch both points. Replays then showed Tansey was
several yards offside.
This denied Bradford the chance to go to the top of the
Super League table. They have never returned their since. Super League’s most
controversial moment?
6. Wigan 20-19 Bradford (2000)
This game was played against the backdrop of an enthralling
battle for top spot. Bradford had to win to maintain any hope of securing first
place.
And it looked as though they were going to. Wigan were
trailing in this match for its entire duration. At one stage they fell 19-2
behind.
Bradford defended well throughout the entire match but were
hamstrung by two sin binnings, leaving them with 11 men and unable to hold off
a Wigan fightback.
It took a last-minute Kris Radlinski try, created by the
brilliance of Steve Renouf, and a conversion by Andy Farrell to snatch victory.
It was a crucial win as Wigan secured top spot.
5. Castleford 23-22 St Helens (2017)
If this is only fifth, then rest assured, the top four are something special!
Whilst the ending is part of Castleford folklore, the game itself was arguably the finest play-off to date. It started perfectly for Castleford, as they opened an 8-point lead, but found themselves behind at half time.
Castleford wrestled back control and led by 12. It looked to be enough, until a stirring St Helens fightback looked to have won the game with under two minutes remaining.
Implausibly, Castleford with the final kick levelled with a penalty. Not content with one try and the match-levelling penalty, Luke Gale then slotted the drop goal to send Castleford to their first ever Grand Final.
4. Bradford 18-19 St Helens
The opening stages of this Grand Final were so one-sided that it appeared that Bradford were set to record back-to-back landslide triumphs on the big occasion. But defensive lapses meant that they inexplicably trailed at the break.
The second half turned into the battle we all expected, with the sides locked up at 18-18 going into the final 10 minutes. After what seemed like endless missed drop goal attempts, from players usually masters at the skill, Sean Long was the hero, kicking the winning drop goal with 30 seconds to go.
That was surely the end of the drama? Not quite. With the final tackle of the game, Joynt fell over. Or, committed an unpunished voluntary tackle. The version of events differs depending on whether you ask a Bradford or St Helens fan.
Without question, the most dramatic and controversial Super League Grand Final we have seen.
3. Huddersfield 16-20 Leeds (2015)
The final day of the 2015 season saw a three way battle for the League Leaders Shield. This was the situation going into the final day.
Despite drawing at half time, Wigan turned it around and recorded a comprehensive victory. This put Huddersfield out of the reckoning for first, but they opened an 8-point lead over Leeds. With three minutes remaining, the table looked like this and the helicopter carrying the Shield had started its journey to Wigan.
Leeds gave themselves hope with a try and the gap was narrowed to two points. Then, a penalty. Sinfield decided to kick for goal. This would see Leeds miss out on first place, but secure a home play-off semi final:
But there was one last twist. A Danny McGuire chip, a Scott Grix misread, a Ryan Hall pounce. The stadium collectively gasped and Leeds had won it! The helicopter turned around and League Leaders' Shield returned to Huddersfield.
Leeds and Wigan went on to battle in the 2015 Grand Final with the Rhinos coming out on top in a tight tussle!
2. Hull KR 18-19 Salford (2016)
Truly unbelievable. Hull KR leading by 8 points against Salford in the Million Pound Game after 78 minutes, anything else but Salford relegation seemed impossible. Even when Niall Evalds got a try back, it looked to be nothing more than a consolation. Hull KR's Facebook admin certainly thought so!
Salford had one more set of six. One last chance. They broke downfield with Josh Griffin as the Hull KR nerves started to jingle. Salford spread the ball and Greg Johnson levelled the match.
With Hull KR's Super League status hanging by a thread, Gareth O' Brien missed the ensuing conversion. That sent us to golden point, which was over before it started, with O' Brien nailing a huge drop kick to send Salford fans delirious and Hull KR fans sinking.
1. St Helens 16-11 Bradford (2000)
It could only be this couldn't it? A titanic Super League play off between St Helens and Bradford was going to the wire. It looked to have been settled by a late Henry Paul drop goal.
St Helens had possession but were pinned in their own half. Then followed a stunning nine-pass move, going 60 metres to the right, then back to the left, then 90 metres upfield to grab the most unlikely of victories.
Dwayne West, who entered the field in the 78th minute was a huge contributor, with a brilliant break down the left wing. An incredible high in an otherwise forgettable St Helens career.
It was a nine pass move. It should have been 10. But Chris Joynt knew he had the legs and didn't need to pass to speedster Anthony Sullivan to finish.
Words cannot do it justice. You'll have seen it before. Super League's most dramatic and finest moment. It encapsulates why we love sport. Here it is one more time, in all its glory!
We hope you enjoyed our countdown of Super League's most dramatic endings. Do you agree with our list? Would you have them in a different order? Is there a moment that you cannot believe we have overlooked? Let us know in the comments!
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