A Catalans Dragons win would be a monumental moment for a sport in desperate need of something new
For almost five years, few teams have captivated British rugby league quite like St Helens. From the brilliance – on the field, at least – of Ben Barba’s short-lived spell with the club, to the dominance they have engineered in the past two seasons, it has not been difficult as a neutral to feel some level of affinity with the Saints.
But this Saturday the back-to-back Super League champions are cast very much in the role of villains. For the third time in five years a team will make their Grand Final debut when Catalans take to the field at Old Trafford. Castleford failed in 2017 against Leeds Rhinos, while Salford succumbed to the might of the Saints two years ago. This weekend, the stakes feel much higher for a sport in desperate need of something new.