The1998 JJB Super League Grand Final was thefirst staging of the Super League Grand Final and the conclusive and championship-deciding game of 1998'sSuper League III, and the firstGrand Final of theSuper League era. It was held on Saturday 24 October 1998, atOld Trafford, Manchester, United Kingdom. This was the first time the League Championship had been decided by play-off since the1972–73 Championship Final. The game was played betweenWigan Warriors andLeeds Rhinos.
JJB SportsSuper League III was the official name for the year 1998'sSuper League championship season, the 104th season of top-level professionalrugby league football in Britain, and the third championship run by Super League. The League format changed in 1998 and the championship became a play off series to determine the Super League champions, similar to the way the Premiership was played a few seasons earlier. This meant the first Final to determine the British champions since the1972–73 season.Huddersfield Giants, the league's bottom club was saved from relegation in 1998 due to the expansion of the league to fourteen teams inSuper League IV.
By finishing first in the regular season, Wigan qualified directly to the play-off semi-finals. They were drawn against Leeds at home and beat their eventual Grand Final opponents 17–4.
The play-off system in use only gave the league leaders a bye to the semi-finals. Leeds had finished second so had to play a qualifying play-off first. Drawn at home toHalifax Blue Sox Leeds won 13–6 to go through to the semi-final. This was an away fixture to Wigan where the Rhinos were beaten 17–4. However this loss did not end their season. The losers of the qualifying semi-final got another chance by playing the winners of the other semi-final in a final eliminator. Therefore Leeds' third play-off game was a home tie againstSt Helens where they cruised through 44–16.
Manchester
Wigan)
Leeds Rhinos
Halifax Blue Sox (H)
St Helens (H)
Iestyn Harris (c)
Danny Moore
Richie Blackmore
Terry O'Connor
Martin Masella