KCOM Stadium to host Super League Grand Final - even if Hull FC beat Wigan Warriors in semi'

The East Yorkshire venue was chosen - ahead of contenders including Leeds Rhinos’ Emerald Headingley - last month when the play-offs were expected to involve the top four teams.

Hull were out of contention at that stage, but qualified as the lowest ranked side when the competition was expanded to the leading six on the league table two weeks ago.

They won at third-placed Warrington in an elimination play-off last week and visit league leaders Wigan Warriors in the first semi-final on Thursday.

A win then would give them home advantage in the Grand Final, against either St Helens or Catalans Dragons, on Friday, November 27.

Rhinos crashed out of the play-offs at the first hurdle against Catalans Dragons last Friday, but Super League chief executive Robert Elstone said there won’t be a change of venue. “We elected to go to KCOM when it was still top-four and Hull were highly unlikely to do that,” Elstone admitted.

“That was a factor, however, we are contracted to KCOM and we will be going to KCOM.”

The Grand Final has been staged at Old Trafford since it was introduced in 1998, but Manchester United’s schedule - and the fact it will be played behind closed doors - forced a change this season. Elstone insisted: “A huge amount of work is going into making KCOM look brilliant.

“A substantial budget has been applied to creating a really special television event and we are targeting a record television audience for that event. We want to make it a special occasion, we are contracted there and we will be going to KCOM.”

The stadium has staged just one Super League fixture behind closed doors, when Castleford Tigers were beaten 48-6 there a month ago.

Headingley, St Helens and Warrington have been used for televised double-headers played without a crowd. With Thursday’s semi-final being played at Wigan, wooden-spooners Hull KR will be the only club not to host a fixture since Super League resumed at the start of August.

Support the YEP and become a subscriber today. Enjoy unlimited access to local news and the latest on Leeds United, With a digital subscription, you see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Click here to subscribe.