Leeds or Huddersfield could host this year’s Grand Final

The title decider has been played at Old Trafford, in Manchester, every year since play-offs were introduced in 1998, but an alternative venue is being considered at the end of a season badly disrupted by coronavirus.

Just days after the Challenge Cup final, won by Leeds, was staged behind closed doors at the 90,000-seater Wembley Stadium, it has been revealed a working party is looking at options for a new Grand Final destination.

The Rugby Football League (RFL) stuck with Wembley after reaching what the governing body described as a “good deal” with the national stadium, but Super League are understood to have decided there are too many obstacles to enable their showpiece to go ahead at its traditional base, on Saturday, November 28.

The game is almost certain to be played behind closed doors and cost is an obvious factor, but the Champions League draw has also caused complications.

Though Manchester United are away on the proposed date of the Grand Final, European ties are scheduled for the Wednesdays immediately before and afterwards and ground staff say they need a week to properly prepare the stadium.

No official announcement has been made, but a Super League spokesman confirmed: “We are working through the different options.”

With less than six weeks to go, the matter has become a priority for Super League.

The rebuilt Headingley has hosted a series of Super League double-headers behind closed doors since the season resumed on August 2 and is an obvious choice, but would be ruled out if Leeds, who are currently fifth in the table, reach the final.

The top-four this year will qualify for knock-out semi-finals, leading straight to the title decider.

The working party are thought to be focusing on a northern football ground and John Smith’s Stadium, which has also hosted behind-closed-doors games this season, would be a natural candidate, but Huddersfield Town are due to host Middlesbrough that afternoon.

It is understood a change of day or new kick-off time have not been ruled out, but broadcasters Sky are likely to have a major say before a decision is made.

Meanwhile, two of the leading title contenders will effectively secure play-off places this week.

With growing doubt over whether a full fixture list can be completed before the end of the regular season, the RFL decided places will be determined by win percentage rather than the number of points gained, but teams need to play a minimum of 15 matches to qualify for the semi-finals.

Third-placed Warrington Wolves reached that target last Tuesday and leaders St Helens and second-placed Wigan Warriors can do likewise on Friday when they play Cup finalists Leeds and Salford Red Devils respectively.

Leeds are still two games away from qualification and fourth-placed Catalans Dragons have three fixtures to squeeze in.

Those sides have a meeting in Perpignan still to play, after it was twice called off for coronavirus-related reasons, but with Leeds reaching the Cup final it is looking increasingly unlikely that fixture will take place.

If teams have the same win percentage at the end of the season, positions will be decided by points percentage and if that does not separate them it will come down to the toss of a coin.

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