BBC SPORT | Rugby League | Unbeaten Giants face final test



By Ray French BBC Sport rugby league commentator

Huddersfield Giants are the most worthy of odds-on favourites for Saturday's Northern Ford Premiership (NFP) Grand Final.

The Yorkshire side raced through the 28-match season unbeaten and finished more than a dozen points clear of their nearest challengers, Leigh Centurions.

Huddersfield will rely on the likes of Stanley Gene
Stanley Gene has Super League experience
Traditionalists would argue that record should already be enough to earn them a return to Super League.

Players' futures and even the financial viability of a club are at stake in the annual battle to gain entry into League's elite.

So a single, end-of-season clash between two of the leading teams is no way to settle the issue, they insist.

And yet the scramble to buy tickets for what is guaranteed to be an 11,100-sell-out at Widnes' Halton Stadium says the fans are in no mood to be denied this fascinating, 'winner take all' finale.

Giants make history

But should the Giants suffer their first defeat of the season on Saturday night, they will receive little sympathy from the Rugby Football League (RFL), as they contemplate a cash bonanza and a showpiece event.

There will be little sympathy too from their opponents Leigh, who suffered a similar fate themselves last season.

Both teams are playing for their livelihoods on Saturday

Bobbie Goulding
Leigh scrum-half

Having finished at the top of the league, nine points clear of Widnes, they did not even qualify for the Grand Final play-off.

The Centurions' international scrum-half, Bobbie Goulding, is well aware of the pressure mounting on both sides.

"Huddersfield may be the odds-on favourites to win but, though we know it will be tough, we believe we can beat them in a one-off match," he said.

"All the pressure is on the Giants, having finished as the league leaders."

NFP Grand Final Series results

And he added: "There is huge pressure on the players of both sides for many full-time contracts in the Super League are at stake.

"I've been told that I could earn a two-year contract to stay with Leigh if we win and many of our other players have been promised contracts as well if we succeed.

Leigh's former GB international Bobbie Goulding
Bobbie Goulding is playing for a contract extension
"Players in both the Huddersfield team and the Leigh team are playing for their livelihoods on Saturday."

The Giants' performances this year will see them go into this match in confident mood.

And they also have the pace and craft of former Super League stars Marcus St Hilaire, Stanley Gene and skipper Steve McNamara to pose problems for the Centurions' defence.

A full-time squad, as opposed to a part-time set-up at Leigh, should give the Giants the extra edge in fitness as the game enters its final, decisive stages.

But, over 80 minutes in a one-off encounter, Leigh have sufficient experience to snatch glory and march on to the Super League next year.

I am proud of what we have achieved this season

Tony Smith
Huddersfield boss

Having helped both Wigan and St Helens to two Challenge Cup Final wins apiece, ex-Great Britain star Goulding will not lack experience in guiding the Centurions in midfield.

And in centres Dale Cardoza and John Roper, full-back Neil Turley and pacy hooker Paul Rowley they have players who, by virtue of one individual effort, can swing the game Leigh's way.

Whatever the rights and wrongs of end-of-season promotion play-offs, no match has been more eagerly awaited by the fans and players of both teams.

Huddersfield boss Tony Smith has his own views on the "first past the post" principle for deciding promotion.

But he will have no complaints should Leigh upset the odds.

Smith opposes play-off system

Smith insisted: "Huddersfield know the rules for this season, will play by them, and will respect them.

"There will be no grumbles from us, whatever the outcome of this match.

"I am proud of what we have achieved this season but we are looking towards a very hard game with Leigh.

"They are a very good side and have ambition like ourselves."