Grand Final Combined XIII
10 Oct 2019
It all comes down to 80 minutes, the 2019 Super League Grand Final will be decided come 8pm on Saturday night, will Salford Red Devils arise or will St Helens send Justin Holbrook back to Australia a winner?
Here is a combined XIII of the two squads that will come head to head at Old Trafford.
1. Lachlan Coote
A tough decision between Lachlan Coote and Niall Evalds, unfortunately there's only one place at full-back. I'm sure Salford's fans will not be happy with this decision, but Coote has been consistently excellent in the majority of the games this season with Saints only losing three games. Coote was only involved in their loss in Perpignan to Catalans Dragons.
2. Tommy Makinson
The best winger in the competition by far this year, the 2018 Rugby League Golden Boot winner carried on his international form from England's autumn series against New Zealand. Makinson scored the most tries in Super League (23) and was also the top metre maker (3803).
3. Kevin Naiqama
Kevin Naiqama made the 2019 Super League Dream Team in his debut season in Super League, the Fijian international's powerful running helped him score 17 tries, make 2091 metres and 85 tackles.
4. Jake Bibby
The 2019 Grand Final will be Jake Bibby's last game for Salford before he joins Wigan Warriors for the beginning of 2020, Bibby, has been one of the key performers in Salford's journey to the final. In 23 appearances, he has has scored 13 tries, made 2083 metres and 20 clean breaks.
5. Regan Grace
Regan Grace only missed two Super League games this season for St Helens in the regular season. He scored 20 tries, making 32 clean breaks and 2646.
6. Jonny Lomax
St Helens' fans will be disappointed that Jonny Lomax didn't make the Dream Team or Man of Steel nominees, but alongside Jackson Hastings, the halves would be a force to be reckoned with in this combined XIII.
🤩 Ian Watson: "It's something special, but we've got to embrace it.
"Big games, big moments, make big players."
👹 @SalfordDevils pic.twitter.com/YXoqiknfuU
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) October 10, 2019
7. Jackson Hastings
The 2019 Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel winner, and Fans' Entertainer of the Year winner, Jackson Hastings was the first name on the list. Hastings made more assists than any other player (36), made the most carries in Super League (563), and made 3763 metres.
8. Gil Dudson
Possibly, one of many of Salford's underrated performers this year, and what a turnaround it has been for the Welsh international, this time last year, Dudson had been relegated with Widnes Vikings. On Saturday, he'll be running out for Salford having already won the Grand Final with Wigan in 2013.
9. James Roby
James Roby was one of the favourites for Man of Steel and led the way at the beginning of the year, however, an injury to his hand hampered his chances of winning the award. In 17 appearances, Roby has made 655 tackles and 1392 metres, he's also won the Grand Final twice, that experience will surely help Saints.
10. Luke Thompson
One of the toughest, most powerful men in Super League, the St Helens prop, made over 2500 metres this year, and scored seven tries. Thompson was one of five Saints players to be named in this years Dream Team.
11. Josh Jones
Like Hastings and Bibby, Josh Jones will be leaving Salford after the Grand Final, however, his destination will be Hull FC. The second-rower made the Dream Team and showed his class in Salford's play-off series. In the regular season, he made 3383 metres and more tackle busts than any other Super League player (157).
12. Dominique Peyroux
Dominique Peyroux didn't make the Dream Team, Wigan's Liam Farrell made the cut instead of Peyroux, but he has been influential throughout the season for Justin Holbrook's men, his powerful tackle busts helping break through the defence for Saints.
13. Morgan Knowles
Morgan Knowles has made the Great Britain Lions Performance Squad with the squad to tour Australia set to be named next week. Knowles has been one of the most underrated players for Saints, however, his teammates value him highly.
Tickets for the 2019 Super League Grand Final will be available from the Manchester United ticket office located at Old Trafford.
