Cunningham a Treble-shooter

St Helens 28 Leeds Rhinos Women’s Super League Grand Final

GARETH WALKER WOMAN of Steel Jodie Cunningham scored a stunning try and made another as St Helens swept up yet another title with the Betfred Women’s Super League Grand Final.

Full-back Cunningham (lifting the trophy, above) raced clear from inside her own half just before the break to give her side a two-score cushion they never looked like relinquishing at Headingley yesterday.

She also provided an assist for Danielle Bush’s late try as Saints powered to victory, with Chantelle Crowl (above) named player of the match.

The victory completes the Treble for Derek Hardman’s side after Challenge Cup and League Leaders’ triumphs and means St Helens have won five of the six trophies available to men’s and women’s teams in 2021. Cunningham – crowned the best player in the competition last week – said: “When I started playing I never dreamed of this. I hope there are little girls watching this saying they want to be a part of it because rugby league has given me everything.”

Cunningham’s afternoon started with a spell in the sin-bin for a professional foul but Saints held out in her absence then Leah Burke finished a kick from the outstanding Zoe Harris.

Cunningham scored before the break and the Rhinos’ resistance was broken when Harris and Burke repeated their trick. Amy Hardcastle, Harris and Bush completed the scoring in front of a record 4,235 crowd.

Coach Hardman added: “It means everything. People don’t realise how hard we’ve worked for two years.”