My favourite match - Leeds Rhinos hero Kevin Sinfield on the 2012 Grand Final

Headingley legend Kevin Sinfield can’t remember most of his favourite game.
Kevin Sinfield is treated after being knocked out in the 2012 Grand Final.Kevin Sinfield is treated after being knocked out in the 2012 Grand Final.
Kevin Sinfield is treated after being knocked out in the 2012 Grand Final.

The Rhinos captain was knocked out in the second half of Leeds’ epic 2012 Super League Grand Final win over Warrington Wolves and the rest of the game is a blur.

Sinfield got back up to inspire his team to a shock 26-18 victory over the Challenge Cup holders as Rhinos retained the trophy they had won against St Helens 12 months earlier.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Sinfield, who had scored a try and three goals before his head knock, landed two more kicks and was named man of the match, winning the Harry Sunderland Trophy for the second time in his career, following Leeds’ Old Trafford win over Saints three years earlier.

Sinfield recovered to lift the trophy. Picture by Steve Riding.Sinfield recovered to lift the trophy. Picture by Steve Riding.
Sinfield recovered to lift the trophy. Picture by Steve Riding.

“It’s a tough one, because there’s a few games I really like and I remember and I can’t remember half of this one,” Sinfield said of his favourite game.

“All the big games and Grand Finals are special for different reasons.

“2015 was great, 2004 was great and some of the big games we had at Headingley over the years when it was a full house and the stadium was bouncing, they were really special as well.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“But it is more the circumstances surrounding [the 2012 title decider] than remembering elements of the game - getting smashed by Warrington in the Challenge Cup final, finishing fifth again and working our way through the play-offs.”

Sinfield, Jamie Jones-Buchanan and Ryan Bailey were all Grand Final winners for the sixth time. Picture by Steve Riding.Sinfield, Jamie Jones-Buchanan and Ryan Bailey were all Grand Final winners for the sixth time. Picture by Steve Riding.
Sinfield, Jamie Jones-Buchanan and Ryan Bailey were all Grand Final winners for the sixth time. Picture by Steve Riding.

Leeds had a mixed year, suffering their third successive Wembley loss when they went down 35-18 to Warrington in the Cup decider, just six weeks before the Grand Final.

As in 2011, Leeds finished fifth in the table and won away to the league leaders, Wigan Warriors this time, in the final eliminator, thanks to a late Sinfield penalty goal.

Warrington, coached by ex-Leeds boss Tony Smith, had finished second, nine points ahead of Rhinos and were expected to celebrate their first Grand Final with a win.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We were facing a team who had never won the Grand Final, but were massive favourites and we went and did it again,” Sinfield recalled.

Danny McGuire leads Rhinos' victory song in the Old Trafford changing rooms. Picture by Steve Riding.Danny McGuire leads Rhinos' victory song in the Old Trafford changing rooms. Picture by Steve Riding.
Danny McGuire leads Rhinos' victory song in the Old Trafford changing rooms. Picture by Steve Riding.

“It’s everything about it, the circumstances, the build-up and what had gone on that year.

“We’d had a tough year, but it was a really good team performance.”

Leeds went 6-0 behind after just four minutes - Richie Myler, now at Rhinos, getting Warrington off to a flying start with the opening try - but touchdowns by Sinfield and Ben Jones-Bishop, plus three goals from the captain, opened an eight point lead.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Warrington wiped that out in the final three minutes of the half, making it 14-14 at the break.

Sinfield was flattened in a clash of heads with opponent Michael Monaghan two minutes after into the second period and Leeds went 18-14 behind soon afterwards.

At that stage it looked like the trophy was heading to HJ Stadium, but Rhinos hit back through tries by Carl Ablett and Ryan Hall to seal a stunning win.

Sinfield recalled: “I remember getting up after the challenge and banging my head again straightaway, which as we know now is really, really dangerous.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The second one caused me more problems, although I didn’t get knocked out that time. I remember feeling dazed and a bit cartoony, where you see stars and birds flying around your head.

“It’s probably not a bad thing I don’t remember what came after that.”

Concussion protocols have been strengthened in the eight years since that famous night at Old Trafford and nowadays Sinfield would not have been allowed to play on.

He said: “All those changes have been made for the right reasons.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I think the fact we were still under the old rules and regulations probably makes it really special. It is great to look back at that game.”

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. These are challenging times but the team at the Yorkshire Evening Post need your support more than ever in the weeks ahead.

While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you. In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you - wherever possible and providing it is safe for you to do so - to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Inevitably falling advertising revenues will start to have an impact on local newspapers and the way we continue to work during this period of uncertainty. So the support of our readers has never been more important as we try to make sure that we keep you connected with the city you live in during this time. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. We need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Our team of trusted reporters are working incredibly hard behind the scenes- from kitchen tables and spare bedrooms - to look at how we can do this and your continued support to the YEP will help to protect its viability in the days and weeks ahead.

For more details on our subscription offers please visit www.localsubsplus.co.uk/YEP, email [email protected] or call us on 0330 4033004

Thank you

Laura Collins

Editor

READ MORE: https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/opinion/were-therewithyou-now-your-yep-needs-your-support-too-laura-collins-yep-editor-2521777