Tryline Blog Watch Along #3

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We are now into our third week of the enforced off-season! To keep us going through it, the clubs, Sky Sports, BBC Sport and the RFL have been providing us with memorable moments! 

And of course we are no different! For the last 3 Saturday nights, we have looked back at a classic match from years gone by, from the YouTube archives. This Saturday, it was the 1998 Grand Final between Wigan and Leeds.

Firstly, if you're new to this, how it works:
The Teams 
These are the 34 players who lined up in the first Grand Final, many of whom are now coaches, TV pundits and even a club CEO!
A positive start for Leeds
It was Leeds who had the best of the first quarter, but they could not make the most of their chances.



However, after 24 minutes, Wigan's resistance broke and Richie Blackmore scored the first ever try in a Grand Final!

The Wigan Response
As the half went on, Wigan improved. Firstly, they went very close with Jason Robinson.


And then, the same man produced a piece of magic. It remains one of the most iconic tries in Grand Final history.

Half Time
It was a packed Sky Sports studio for the occasion! The moustached Shaun McRae, John Kear (with hair!) and new Leeds signing for 1999, Wendell Sailor 😖 joined Eddie and Stevo to discuss the action.

At half time, the Leeds Rhinos Academy side paraded around the field with their Grand Final trophy. It may have been the first, but certainly was not the last, time that some of these players would raise a trophy at Old Trafford! You may recognise some of the baby-faced stars!
Wigan Stretch the Lead
The consensus was that Leeds were unfortunate to be behind at half time, but it was Wigan who extended their lead early in the second half.
Minutes later, Mark Bell nearly gave Wigan a two score advantage!
Heating Up...
It was a very tense match and at one stage threatened to boil over!
Chances Galore! 
Wigan had their chances to kill the game, but couldn't take them... 


 You felt that Leeds might get one more chance. And they did, but Ryan Sheridan was denied!
Full Time!
As time ticked by, Leeds started to lose their discipline and with it, the game!




Post Match
As the game ended, the captains spoke with Sky Sports, with the contrast in emotions evident.

The match-winning try came from Jason Robinson, who won the Harry Sunderland Trophy.
Then, the moment Wigan fans had been waiting for - the trophy lift!

We hope you enjoyed this week's look back, although I'm sure it was more enjoyable for Wigan fans than it was for Leeds fans. However, I suspect that the game we are planning to review in two weeks time may be a bit more of a happy memory for the Rhinos!

Next week though, as it is Easter, we look back at a classic Good Friday Hull derby!

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