2004 Super League Grand Final

16 October 2004 · Old Trafford, Manchester

2004 Super League Grand Final ▾

2004 Super League Grand Final result: Leeds Rhinos def. Bradford Bulls, 16-8, at Old Trafford, Manchester on 16 October 2004.

Sourcing caveat: Bradford's second try was originally unresolved after two dedicated research passes found no source naming the scorer; it has since been confirmed as Lesley Vainikolo. Attendance corrected to 65,547 (was previously recorded as 65,537). No verified direct post-match coach quotes could be located in the sources checked for this Grand Final.

Result

TeamScore
WinnerLeeds Rhinos16
Runner-upBradford Bulls8

Attendance: 65,547

Super League 2004 — full season ladder & finals series

PosClubPWDLPFPADiffPts
1Leeds Rhinos2824221037443+59450
2Bradford Bulls282017918565+35341
3Hull FC281927843478+36540
4Wigan Warriors281747736558+17838
5St Helens2817110821662+15935
6Wakefield Trinity Wildcats2815013788662+12630
7Huddersfield Giants2812016518757-23924
8Warrington Wolves2810117700715-1521
9Salford City Reds288020507828-32116
10London Broncos287120561968-40715
11Widnes Vikings287021466850-38414
12Castleford Tigers286022515924-40912

Qualified for the finals series — top 6 ("Top-Six"/Page play-off format) that season.

Finals series

Elimination Play-off

DateResultVenueAttendance
24 Sep 2004Hull FC 18–28 Wakefield Trinity WildcatsKC Stadium, Hull10,550
25 Sep 2004Wigan Warriors 18–12 St HelensJJB Stadium, Wigan20,052

Qualifying Semi-Final

DateResultVenueAttendance
2 Oct 2004Leeds Rhinos 12–26 Bradford BullsHeadingley, Leeds21,225

Elimination Semi-Final

DateResultVenueAttendance
1 Oct 2004Wigan Warriors 18–14 Wakefield Trinity WildcatsJJB Stadium, Wigan16,179

Elimination Final

DateResultVenueAttendance
8 Oct 2004Leeds Rhinos 40–12 Wigan WarriorsHeadingley, Leeds20,119

Grand Final

DateResultVenueAttendance
16 Oct 2004Bradford Bulls 8–16 Leeds RhinosOld Trafford, Manchester65,547

Permalink to this season's ladder page →

Match officials

RefereeSteve Ganson

Scorers

Leeds RhinosTries: Matt Diskin — minute unconfirmed; Danny McGuire — minute unconfirmed
Goals: Kevin Sinfield (4/4)
Bradford BullsTries: Lesley Vainikolo — minute unconfirmed; Shontayne Hape — minute unconfirmed
Goals: Paul Deacon (0/2)

Teams

Leeds RhinosBradford Bulls
21Richard MathersFullbackMichael Withers6
18Mark CalderwoodWingStuart Reardon17
5Chev WalkerCentrePaul Johnson16
4Keith SeniorCentreShontayne Hape4
22Marcus BaiWingLesley Vainikolo5
13Kevin Sinfield (c)Five-eighthIestyn Harris18
6Danny McGuireHalfbackPaul Deacon7
8Ryan BaileyPropJoe Vagana8
9Matt DiskinHookerRobbie Hunter-Paul (c)1
19Danny WardPropStuart Fielden29
3Chris McKennaSecond RowJamie Peacock12
29Ali LauitiitiSecond RowLogan Swann13
11David FurnerLockLee Radford11
Substitutes
7Rob BurrowKarl Pratt15
16Willie PochingJamie Langley19
20Jamie Jones-BuchananRob Parker27
10Barrie McDermottPaul Anderson10
Tony SmithCoachBrian Noble

Harry Sunderland Trophy

Matt Diskin (Leeds Rhinos). Diskin won the Harry Sunderland Trophy — Super League's Grand Final Man of the Match award, not renamed the Rob Burrow Award until 2024 — after scoring one of Leeds' two tries from hooker.

Match context

Leeds Rhinos beat Bradford Bulls 16-8 at Old Trafford, winning their first-ever Super League Grand Final title — having lost the competition's inaugural 1998 decider to Wigan Warriors. Tries from Matt Diskin and Danny McGuire, plus a faultless Kevin Sinfield kicking display (4/4), put Leeds in control; Bradford's Shontayne Hape and Lesley Vainikolo tries kept the margin close, but Paul Deacon missed both conversions. Bradford had already beaten Leeds in that year's Qualifying Semi-Final, so this Grand Final was a rematch that went the other way; Bradford reversed the result in the corresponding 2005 Grand Final. Matt Diskin won the Harry Sunderland Trophy.

Sources

Data last verified: 11 August 2026.

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