Finals Week 3
Leeds Rhinos 36 d. Wigan Warriors 6

2007 engage English Super League Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: United Kingdom > National > First Grade Competition: engage English Super League

Bryan Fletcher announces retirement
Sat October 6, 2007
Former Australian Test forward Bryan Fletcher has announced his retirement following Wigan's 36-6 loss against Leeds in the Preliminary Final resisting the temptation for one final seaso at the Roosters.

Fletcher played for the Roosters on 125 occasions between 1997 and 2002 with his last match being the 2002 Grand Final victory against the Warriors where he scored a try. Fletcher moved across to Souths for three years and played 45 matches for the Rabbitohs before heading across to the UK in 2006.

During his two years at Wigan, Fletcher played in 53 matches giving him a grand total of 223 matches in the NRL and Super League competitions.

Fletcher made his Test debut for Australia in 1999 and played in eight Tests over a five year period with his last appearance at the International level coming in 2003 when he was at Souths. Fletcher also took part in 14 State of Origin matches for NSW over the same period.

The offer to have one final season at the Roosters was tempting, but in the end Fletcher decided against it.

Fletcher said after last nights match, "Unfortunately that's it. My decision was made a month ago. I've spoken to Freddie about it.

"I knew at the back of my mind it was going to be too hard to play on. I couldn't have done the training. I wouldn't want to do that to Freddie."

Commenting on his two seasons at Wigan, which ended in a big loss, Fletcher said, "I've no regrets at all," he said. "In fact I wish I had done it earlier. I've thoroughly it and my family have enjoyed it. Wigan have been great, they've looked after us.

"I suppose in five or 10 years I can look back and say I got to play for Wigan. They are probably the biggest rugby league club in the world."

Wigan coach Brian Noble said, "He'd like to go round a game but he's struggling and I think he'll have to retire."

Fletcher's Australian team-mate Shane Millard has almost certainly played his last match of Rugby League after battling through the latter rounds with a painful knee injury, which requires a 9th option.

Former New Zealand International David Vaeliki has also played his last match for Wigan after announcing that he'll play rugby union in France.

The 36-6 result may have been a disappointing way for Fletcher to bow out of the game, but he's had a fine career playing for his State and Country and has also won a Premiership.

Fletcher's decision not to have a swansong season under one of his former team-mates will be disappointing to the Roosters supporters who have fond memories of his feats during his six seasons at Bondi, but he leaves at a time when he's still on top of his game after overcoming the odds for both the Roosters and Wigan to achieve his success.


Ruthless Leeds ends Wigan's streak to book Grand Final spot
Sat October 6, 2007
Source: www.superleague.co.uk

Leeds Rhinos demonstrated a ruthless streak to bring an end to Wigan Warriors' daring play-off run and book a meeting with defending champions St Helens in the engage Super League Grand Final.

Captain Kevin Sinfield kicked 16 points as the Rhinos eased to an impressive 36-6 victory that ensures coach Tony Smith will end his fourth and final season as he finished his first, with a Grand Final appearance.

Their trip to Old Trafford next Saturday will be their fourth but their first meeting with St Helens in a final in the Super League era.

The Warriors unforgettably overturned a 30-6 deficit to beat Bradford in their opening play-off tie and came from behind in their win at Hull last week to keep alive their dream of becoming the first team to reach the Grand Final from sixth place.

But they trailed 16-0 at half-time after being outplayed by a rampant Rhinos and only briefly threatened another comeback when Pat Richards scored and converted a try on 55 minutes.

Leeds, determined from the outset to make up for their agonising semi-final defeat at Saints, were the dominant team throughout and emphasised their superiority against tiring opponents with three tries in the final quarter.

They opened the scoring on 12 minutes with a penalty from Sinfield, who maintained his record of scoring in every game this year, and went on to boss the show.

The Rhinos first unlocked the Wigan defence when Great Britain prop Jamie Peacock skipped out of Iafeta Palea'aesina's attempted tackle and full-back Brent Webb was in support to race 40 metres unchecked for his 22nd try of the season.

Sinfield added the conversion and kicked a second penalty after former Leeds hooker Shane Millard was punished for a high tackle on Kylie Leuluai to make it 10-0.

Winger Scott Donald was then denied by an ankle tap from Wigan centre Phil Bailey but Leeds scored their second try four minutes before the break when substitute second rower Ali Lauitiiti capped an impressive entrance by powering his way over from short range.

With memories of the Warriors' sensational fightback at Odsal still fresh in the mind, Leeds knew they could not relax.

They thought they had put the game beyond their visitors two minutes into the second half when they pounced on a stray pass from Wigan second rower Gareth Hock.

Stand-off Danny McGuire tapped the loose ball towards the line but slow-motion replays showed he lost control just short of the line and video referee Phil Bentham disallowed the try.

With Peacock setting a superb lead up front and Rob Burrow causing problems with his tricky footwork, the Rhinos continued to look the more threatening side but suddenly Wigan produced a try out of nothing to give themselves hope.

Danger man Trent Barrett raced onto a kick over the Rhinos defence by his half-back partner Thomas Leuluai and full-back Richards was on his inside to take the final pass.

Richards, Super League's leading scorer, converted his own try to cut the deficit to 10 points as the game entered the final quarter.

But it was only a fleeting fightback, with Leeds quickly re-asserting control through the growing influence of Sinfield.

He broke from halfway to set up Burrow for the first of his brace of tries and put in a sliderule kick for Webb to claim his second.

Wigan centre Darrell Goulding had a try disallowed and they had second rower Gareth Hock placed on report for a challenge on hooker Matt Diskin before Leeds finished in total control.

Burrow dashed past tired limbs for his second try and Sinfield converted to make it seven goals from seven attempts and also put over two late drop goals to complete the emphatic victory.

Report source: www.superleague.co.uk

Article: Smith eyes final flourish

Fri October 5, 2007
• Bumper crowd expected for eliminator
  
Fri October 5, 2007
• Headingley Insight: Leeds v Wigan
  
Sun September 30, 2007
• Rhinos fans begin to snap up eliminator tickets
  

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