8 Oct 2023

Matchday Pack - Betfred Women's Grand Final

It's Grand Final day for Leeds Rhinos Women as Lois Forsell's take on York Valkyrie for the second time over consecutive seasons at the LNER Community Stadium live on Sky Sports, kick off 3pm.

Ahead of kick off, here's everything you need to know about the clash:

Squad News Recap

York

- Lindsay Anfield has named twelve members of last year's Grand Final side to take on the Rhinos. Eight players feature in their first Grand Final for the club, including Alisha Claton, Ashleigh Hyde, Rhiannion Marshall, Sade Rihari, Carrie Roberts, Jess Sharp, Aimee Staveley and Olivia Whitehead.

- Woman of Steel nominee Sinead Peach and reigning winner Tara-Jane Stanley headline the Valkyrie team. The duo, along with Tamzin Renouf and Lacey Owen, were part of the Castleford side that lost out to Leeds back in 2019 and York outfit last year; Owen in particular was a try scorer in the 2019 Final.

- Utility Georgie Hetherington and front-rower Alisha Clayton return to the preliminary squad after missing the Betfred Women's Super League Play-Off Semi-Final victory against Wigan Warriors.

- 2023 signings Staveley and Roberts have both been Grand Final winners with their former clubs (Leeds and St Helens), plus half back Rihari features in her first major final since arriving at the LNER from Salford. Marshall was a 2018 Finalist with Leeds.

- Prop Grace Field and outside back Bettie Lambert remain absent due to a knee injury and collarbone injury respectively.

Rhinos

- Eleven players who were part of last year’s Grand Final victory have been named in the squad. Seven players could make their first-ever appearance in a Grand Final, which includes Rhinos Academy graduates Caitlin Casey and Ruby Enright.

- Caitlin Beevers, who marked her return to the team in style in the semi final win over St Helens, won Player of the Match in the 2022 Final and is one of three Rhinos players to feature in every Grand Final for the club (Hanna Butcher and Sophie Nuttall are the other two).

- Fourteen players were in the squad who featured in this year’s Betfred Challenge Cup Final, but Kaiya Glynn and Bella Sykes could be set to play in their first ever Final with the club. Sykes in particular missed out on the Challenge Cup Final as she was cup tied with Huddersfield.

Recent Results

York

Semi Final - Won 22-6 vs Wigan Warriors

Round 10 - Won 60-4 vs Huddersfield Giants

Round 9 - Won 36-4 vs Wigan Warriors

Round 8 - Won 58-10 vs Warrington Wolves

Round 7 - Won 18-8 vs St Helens

Rhinos

Semi Final - Won 20-16 vs St Helens

Round 10 - Won 24-0 vs Wigan Warriors

Round 9 - Won 34-22 vs St Helens

Round 8 - Won 58-10 vs Warrington Wolves

Round 7 - Won 20-16 vs Huddersfield Giants

Form book

Super League Record: P12-W8-L3-D1

Last ten meetings vs York

York 12 Rhinos 12 (Round 6, 16/07/2023)

Rhinos 12 York 34 (Round 3, 09/04/2023)

Rhinos 12 York 4 (Grand Final, 18/09/2022)

Rhinos 14 York 22 (Round 10, 28/08/2022)

York 24 Rhinos 10 (Round 2, 05/06/2022)

Rhinos 22 York 18 (Semi Final, 26/09/2021)

York 4 Rhinos 14 (Play Offs Game 2, 29/08/2021)

Rhinos 68 York 16 (Round 1, 18/04/2021)

Rhinos 30 York 0 (Round 8, 04/08/2019)

York 0 Rhinos 50 (Round 5, 02/06/2019)

Last time out

Nothing could split the two sides in round six earlier this year as the points were shared in a 12-12 draw at the LNER Community Stadium.

Lucy Murray got the Rhinos' sole try of the first half as the Valkyrie responded to lead 12-4 at the break, but Zoe Hornby and Sophie Nuttall's second half scores tied the game up with under ten minutes to go. Although both sides had the chance at winning the game, time ran out to give both sides one league point.