History will be made on Saturday evening when St Helens and Leeds Rhinos continue their storied Old Trafford rivalry. For a record-extending fifth time, the Saints and the Rhinos will square off in the Grand Final: the most frequent meeting of any two sides in the 25-year history of the Super League Grand Final.
It has been over a decade since they last met, with the two clubs enjoying periods of success since then that, incredibly given the fact they contested four out of five Grand Finals between 2007 and 2011, never saw them cross paths in the seven times between them they have reached Old Trafford since. This is how the previous four meetings went down: St Helens supporters may be mindful to look away now.
2007: Leeds 33-6 St Helens
The first meeting between the two sides in the Grand Final produced the most dominant scoreline in favour of the Rhinos. The Saints had swept all before them in the previous year of 2006, completing a remarkable and historic treble. But Leeds bounced back in 2007 to deny the Saints a second successive title.
Although the game was finely poised at half-time, with the teams drawing 6-6, what happened after the break was anything but the same. Leeds scored 27 unanswered points, with tries from Ali Lauitiiti, Scott Donald, Lee Smith and Jamie Jones-Buchanan to run out comfortable winners.
St Helens had never lost a Grand Final before this game, winning in 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2006. They would return to Old Trafford for the next four years though - and come up short every single time, on three occasions against Leeds.
2008: Leeds 24-16 St Helens
The two sides were only split by a point at the end of the Super League season, with St Helens finishing first ahead of Leeds in second. But the Grand Final produced the same outcome as the previous season, with the Rhinos winning a second consecutive title.
The Saints had actually won a qualifying semi-final 38-10 against Leeds to earn a week off before Old Trafford, and despite taking an early lead at Old Trafford courtesy of a try from James Graham, the Rhinos hit back again.
Lee Smith - the winner of the Harry Sunderland Trophy - and Ryan Hall crossed for tries, while Danny McGuire bagged a brace to secure another title for Leeds.
2009: Leeds 18-10 St Helens
2009 saw Super League history, as the Grand Final had the same two teams competing in it for a third consecutive season. And just like in the previous two meetings, it was Leeds, once again, who defied the Saints to win a third league title in a row.
Lee Smith was once again on the scoresheet, scoring twice in his final appearance before heading to rugby union. His second try came eight minutes from time, by which point Leeds led 11-10 after an engrossing 72 minutes of play. Kevin Sinfield's drop goal was all that split the sides before Smith struck a decisive blow.
Kyle Eastmond scored all ten of St Helens' points, on a night which marked the final Saints appearances for club legends Sean Long and Lee Gilmour.
2011: Leeds 32-16 St Helens
Leeds didn't reach Old Trafford in 2010, ending their hopes of a fourth consecutive league title - something the current crop of St Helens stars themselves are bidding for on Saturday evening.
The Saints did get to the Grand Final, losing to Wigan Warriors - and the following year in 2011, they suffered the ignominy of a fifth straight Old Trafford defeat, this time once again at the hands of their great rivals from across the Pennines.
Leeds, who finished the season in fifth - just like this year - led 8-2 at half-time. But they were at their brilliant best after the break, with tries from the likes of Brent Webb and Zak Hardaker securing a comfortable victory and yet another title for the Rhinos.
That sole first half try, by the way, was arguably the greatest in Old Trafford history: Rob Burrow's unforgettable mazy solo run to the line.
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