St Helens 0-0 Leeds (1800 BST)
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By Sam Lyon
4 min: Another huge Leeds kick on the fourth tackle pushes Saints back and Ade Gardner is felled on the first tackle 10 yards from his own try line. Leeds look bang up for this, but Paul Wellens retrieves his own kick after it is charged down to restart to the six.
2 mins: Great kick and chase from Leeds on the fourth tackle and immediately the Rhinos forwards are right in the Saints' faces, James Graham wearing a meaty one from Rob Burrow.
1 min: St Helens kick off...
1759: Out come the teams and the noise from what looks a pretty darn packed Old Trafford is pretty incredible. We're moments away...
1756: Welsh songstress Katherine Jenkins (dribble) is doing her thang out on the Old Trafford pitch as the players approach the tunnel. All 26 starters look the picture of focus and determination - but their insides are doing a Riverdance I reckon, no doubt about it.
"A lot of people are of the belief the rain is going to help Leeds, but I think it's going to help St Helens. They've got a more powerful forward pack."
Hull KR coach Justin Morgan on BBC 5 Live sports extra
"Disaster! The wife insists I accompany her out at 1900 BST so I'll miss the second half. Any suggestions?"
sirkeithmumby on 606
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Mate, follow it right here on this commentary on your mobile or PDA. Failing that, it's all about D-I-V-O-R-C-E son.
1751: Right, with the teams about to make their way out onto the pitch, there's just about time for my prediction - as if it counts for anything other than a wasted bet. I'm going with Saints - on an unbeaten run of 23 matches, lest we forget - to win by six, with Matt Gidley my tip for the Harry Sunderland Trophy. But, let's be honest, the fact I'm tipping St Helens should lift the spirits of anyone following the Rhinos today, especially in the rain...
"The pre-match enterainment is almost over, with all of the participants soaked to the skin. Old Trafford has filled considerably and the two teams have completed their warm-up routines. Leeds skipper Jamie Peacock looked extraordinarily focused."
BBC Sport's Paul Fletcher at Old Trafford
1743: A straw poll of the hospitality suites suggest Saints fan and comedian Johnny Vegas is backing his own team - shock - while England cricketer and Bradford supporter Ryan Sidebottom is tipping Leeds Rhinos. Either way, the dancing juice has clearly been flowing and spirits are high. Not a bad way to enjoy the match I suppose.
1740: "I know they are red-hot favourites, but this game has the recipe for being one of the great games. In my mind, I don't believe in favourites - that's for the punters and bookies. It is 50-50. One thing I know for certain is when the two teams run on the field and everyone looks at the scoreboard, both teams will have a zero underneath their name. We have trained well and prepared well this week. We are quietly confident we can perform well on the night."
Leeds boss Brian McClennan
"I've got Ј10 on the first score being a St Helens drop goal... Come on Sean, don't let me down!!"
CherryPie on 606
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1735: "I don't feel any sentiment - I don't want to buy into that. I've had a couple of send-offs in the town and I've enjoyed the last week of training. But I'm certainly not shedding any tears. There's business to be done. We're all very professional and very honest at St Helens and I'm sure it will stay that way until the end of the game. It's been a tremendously successful season so far but the icing is Saturday."
St Helens coach Daniel Anderson
"I arrived at the ground nice and early, such was my excitement, and I was not suprised to see the supporters milling around from as early as 1500 BST. I think it's fair to say that more than a few of them have been getting stuck into a long day out on the sauce and the banter in and outside the stadium is rocking between the fans. Not ideal weather for boy band Scouting for Girls to bust some moves to, though... And there are still plenty of empty seats too."
BBC Sport's Paul Fletcher at Old Trafford
1728: So, Lee Smith comes in to cover for Brent Webb at full back for Leeds, with Ryan Hall out on the wing. The surprise, though, is that there is no place in the St Helens side for prop Jason Cayless despite his recovery from a knee injury. What do we make of that?
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"Bonjour Sam, we have flown in from Liverpool airport for the game and the atmosphere is building like a Dubai building site! Pryce and Graham will be huge for Saints tonight and I predict Saints to win by at least 12, at least 500,000 pints to be drunk and, yes, I will be scouting for girls. COME ON YOU SAINTS!"
Luke inside OT via text
1723: The teams are in people...
St Helens: Wellens, Gardner, Gidley, Talau, Meli, Pryce, Long, Graham, Cunningham, Hargreaves, Gilmour, Wilkin, Flannery.
Replacements: Roby, Fozzard, Clough, Fa'asavalu.
Leeds: Smith, Hall, Ablett, Senior, Donald, McGuire, Burrow, Leuluai, Diskin, Peacock, Jones-Buchanan, Ellis, Sinfield.
Replacements: Lauitiiti, Bailey, Scruton, Kirke.
Referee: A Klein (Great Britain)
"I think the Rhinos will desperately miss Webb, but if their forwards can match Saints', they should be ok!!"
cherrywarrior on 606
"I hope my ambitious bet on Jamie Jones-Buchanan as MOM is money well spent. He has to have a massive game to get in the England Team, anyone agree?"
rhinos88 on 606
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"What's the atmosphere like down there at the min then mate? Is the ground filling up?"
rlref08 on 606
It's filling up nicely apparently mate, though our man at the ground Fletch is still not sure whether OT will hit capacity. There are some tickets still available at the gates, we believe. Still, the crowd are lapping up a bit of good ol' fashioned pop music blaring out of the stadium speakers - rest assured, the place will be jumping come 1800 BST.
1717: "A strong wind is swirling around Old Trafford and, predictably, persistent rain to say the least as well. Veteran commentator Ray French reckons this could have a big impact on the result but, nonetheless, most people are tipping Saints to win."
BBC Sport's Paul Fletcher at Old Trafford
"You think you are worried greenwichlufc... I have the Sky engineer working on my box now so I may not even get to see the game... Very nervous!"
Paula, Kent via text
1711: Let's get this out of the way early - the trophy's St Helens's for the taking isn't it? It's Daniel Anderson's last match as Saints coach, the Rhinos went down by 28 points to the same opposition just a fortnight ago, Jason Cayless has been passed fit for a Saints side aiming for a second title in three seasons and Leeds have been rocked by the loss of the influential full-back Brett Webb. Right?
That said, wasn't it a similar story last year? And we all know what happened then, don't we...
1705: Oh - and don't forget, I want your biggest and bravest chat on 606 or via text on 81111. Make it good and I'll make you famous. Where will the game be won and lost? Who will be the key players? Just how many pints of the good stuff will the fans at Old Trafford get through this evening? And just how will the crowd cope with being whipped into a frenzy by the likes of Scouting for Girls and Katherine Jenkins? All massive, MASSIVE questions...
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"I'm not sure I can watch. I have a bad feeling. I might just go for a two-hour walk with my phone turned off!"
greenwichlufc on 606
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1700: It simply doesn't get any bigger or better than this does it?
The long domestic season is over, the heartache and the romance of the play-offs have been played out and the talking is finally about to stop. Welcome, ladies and gents, to the Super League Grand Final.
Just league leaders St Helens and defending champions Leeds Rhinos remain - and with Old Trafford sure to be packed to the rafters, we are looking at what promises to be a classic. Are you ready?
(BBC)
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