Women's Super League title on the line this Sunday

Leeds Rhinos Women and York City Knights Ladies meet in a final for the first time on Sunday as the two clubs battle it out to become Betfred Women’s Grand Final Champions at the Totally Wicked Stadium, kick off 3.30pm.

York are aiming to lift their second piece of silverware this season and a first Grand Final title against the Rhinos, who they have beaten twice this season. Two time winners Leeds on the other hand are competing in their fourth Grand Final and are aiming to reclaim the title they lost to St Helens last year.

Find out more about the match below:

Opposition Profile

The League Leaders’ Shield winners York City Knights Ladies have been the team to beat from the minute the 2022 regular season kicked off.

Coached by Lindsay Anfield, who led Castleford Tigers to the 2019 Grand Final, the Knights laid out their ambitions early in the year by recruiting international names such as the experienced Tara Jane Stanley as well as young upcoming talent Hollie Dodd. Complementing the squad’s homegrown talent, including co-captain Katie Langan, who has been at the club since its inception, the Knights created an intimidating squad that has beaten every team in the top tier of Women’s Rugby League at least once this year.

Only St Helens have managed to beat York in the league as they broke a five match winning run that saw the Knights defeat Wigan, Leeds, Saints and Huddersfield twice. The loss set up a tense finish to the league season but Anfield’s side got the job done at Headingley with a 24-14 win over the Rhinos. A week later, their 12-4 win over Wigan Warriors saw Andrade and Kelsey Gentles, who was a try scorer in Castleford’s 2019 Final defeat to Leeds, cross the white line to book the Knights’ place in the Final.

It has been no surprise that Stanley, co-captain Sinead Peach and Dodd, who have all played every league game for the Knights this season, have all been nominated for this year’s Woman of Steel award too, along with St Helens duo Jodie Cunningham and Amy Hardcastle and Leeds’ Georgia Roche.

2022 Squad

Key Head to Head

Two players that will be fighting it out for a chance to represent England at the upcoming World Cup, Fran Goldthorp and Tara Jane Stanley, will be the focal points of both Leeds and York’s attacks in the Grand Final.

Stanley has brought her experience, ability and try scoring to York and based on her performances there is no surprise that she has been nominated for the Woman of Steel award. Ever-present for the Knights in the league, she has led the try scoring with eight in nine games, as well as kicking 30 goals and one drop goal. Her points tally is the best out of the Knights squad (93) as she has been back at her best in 2022.

She was instrumental in York’s previous win over Leeds, scoring two tries and kicking four goals, and will be one to watch again this Sunday.

For a 19-year old, Fran Goldthorp is one of Leeds’ most experienced players when it comes to Grand Finals. In her debut campaign with the club, her double against the Tigers in the 2019 Grand Final earned the winger the Player of the Match award and last year, her 20 tries during the season helped Leeds back to the Final after the COVID break.

This season, her try scoring efforts has topped the charts again for the Rhinos as she has 13 tries in all competitions and ten in the league. Last time out against the Knights, her two tries weren’t enough to help Leeds to victory, but the full back has scored some crucial tries during the course of the season, none more so than against St Helens.

League Records

2018 - Leeds Rhinos 80 York City Knights 0 (Home)

2018 - York City Knights 6 Leeds Rhinos 50 (Away)

2019 - York City Knights 0 Leeds Rhinos 50 (Away)

2019 - Leeds Rhinos 30 York City Knights 0 (Game abandoned at half time due to injury) (Home)

2021 - Leeds Rhinos 68 York City Knights 16 (Home)

2021 - York City Knights 4 Leeds Rhinos 14 (Away, Play Offs)

2021 - Leeds Rhinos 22 York City Knights 18 (Neutral, Semi Final)

2022 – York City Knights 24 Leeds Rhinos 10 (Away)

2022 – Leeds Rhinos 14 York City Knights 22 (Home)

Milestones

Caitlin Beevers

Outside back Beevers can reach two club milestones on Sunday. She can become the first player to score 50 tries for the club if she crosses twice against the Knights, plus she only needs six points to reach 200 points for the Rhinos.

Zoe Hornby

Forward Hornby can hit a club milestone in the Grand Final

In the Betfred Women’s Super League, Hornby is six points away from reaching 50 points, meanwhile for the Rhinos, she is two points away from reaching 50 club points.

Dannielle Anderson

Having returned to action in 2022, Dannielle Anderson can also join Hornby on 50 Rhinos points.

The prop, who was a part of the Rhinos’ inaugural squad in 2018, is six points away from the milestone.

Tickets and More Information

Tickets and travel are now on sale for Leeds Rhinos Women vs York City Knights in the Betfred Women's Super League Grand Final at Totally Wicked Stadium on Sunday 18th September.

Ticket Prices

Totally Wicked North Stand (Reserved seating, undercover)

Adult £10

Concession (65+) £5

Concession (17 to 22) £5

Juniors (under 16) FREE

Wheelchair Accessibility Tickets

Wheelchair disabled tickets can be ordered via the RFL by emailing ticketing@rfl.co.uk.

Official Coach Travel

Leeds Rhinos will be running official coach travel to the Totally Wicked Stadium for the Betfred Women's Super League Grand Final. Coach travel is priced at £20 per person.

For more information, click here.