Summary

  • Leeds face Castleford in Grand Final at Old Trafford on 7 October

  • Ward and Mullally give Leeds early 12-0 lead

  • Ellis, Fonua and Manu put Hull in front but Sutcliffe restores Leeds' advantage

  • Leeds duo Rob Burrow and Danny McGuire playing final games at Headingley

  • Hull's defeat means an end to the retiring Gareth Ellis' career

  1. Until Old Trafford...published at 22:10 British Summer Time 29 September 2017

    Castleford v Leeds (Saturday, 7 October, 18:00 BST)

    Just two teams left.

    It promises to be a magnificent spectacle at Old Trafford, first against second in the Grand Final in eight days time.

    Thank you for joining me tonight, and thanks are due too to my colleagues Katie Whyatt and Steve Marshall for their support on this commentary.

    Until Old Trafford, goodbye.

  2. Relive all the actionpublished at 22:06 British Summer Time 29 September 2017

    FT: Leeds Rhinos 18-16 Hull FC

    Leeds joyImage source, PA

    What a great couple of semi-finals we have witnessed.

    If you missed anything at all tonight, you can catch up on the action with Steve Marshall's match report, which you can find on the Rugby League index.

    Unfortunately, our hyperlink button seems to have given up on the live texting system tonight, so it might take you a couple more clicks than usual.

  3. Postpublished at 22:01 British Summer Time 29 September 2017

    FT: Leeds Rhinos 18-16 Hull FC

    Kirk Dixon
    Former Hull FC and Castleford Tigers player on BBC Radio Humberside

    Hull have had a missed opportunity to reach a Grand Final. Leeds did what they had to do tonight but Hull will be disappointed with how they started the first half. They ultimately left themselves with too much to do.

    To win the Challenge Cup back-to-back is fantastic, but I think Hull will feel they haven't done themselves justice tonight. Hull and Castleford have been the best two sides this season but they couldn't find that edge tonight.

    You can't say it's been an unsuccessful season when you've won the Challenge Cup - but they said afterwards they wanted to reach the Grand Final. Someone said after that final that not reaching the Grand Final would be a "job half done", and you can't ignore that.

  4. Postpublished at 22:00 British Summer Time 29 September 2017

    FT: Leeds Rhinos 18-16 Hull FC

    Leeds head coach Brian McDermott on Sky Sports:

    "We've only had one more recruit from the team that was laughed at and ridiculed all last year [when Leeds finished ninth].

    "The one thing I've learned as Leeds head coach is to hold your nerve. Let everyone else whisper and talk about you and just do your job."

  5. Postpublished at 21:58 British Summer Time 29 September 2017

    FT: Leeds Rhinos 18-16 Hull FC

    Leeds scrum-half Rob Burrow on Sky Sports:

    "I'm thrilled to have been on this pitch many many times and to go out on a high is extra special.

    "Castleford are a very very good team, and we'll need to lift it again if we're going to win next week."

  6. 'A fantastic season'published at 21:57 British Summer Time 29 September 2017

    FT: Leeds Rhinos 18-16 Hull FC

    Richard Stead
    BBC Radio Humberside Commentator

    Final whistleImage source, Getty Images

    It has been a fantastic season, but Hull were so desperate to get to a Grand Final. I would argue this Leeds team wouldn't be in the top three or four Leeds teams we have seen over the years, but they've stopped Hull tonight.

  7. Postpublished at 21:56 British Summer Time 29 September 2017

    FT: Leeds Rhinos 18-16 Hull FC

    Hull FC head coach Lee Radford on Sky Sports:

    I thought we had a couple of opportunities in that last five or 10 minutes but we just didn't execute well enough.

    Ultimately, just not quite good enough on the night and I'd like to wish Leeds Rhinos all the best next week and Castleford obviously.

    It's about taking your opportunities, and I just thought if we could have constructed the sets a bit better, we could have taken the spoils.

  8. Postpublished at 21:53 British Summer Time 29 September 2017

    Richard Mathers
    Former Leeds Rhinos player on BBC Radio Leeds

    What a Grand Final that is going to be.

    Credit to Hull, who have had a great season, and Gareth Ellis, who is retiring - what a professional he has been.

    These sides have played rugby the right way this season, and there have been 34 warriors out there tonight who've put their heart and soul into this. The Rhinos, after the tough year they had last year, have been sensational and consistent all season.

    Gareth Ellis holds off Kallum WatkinsImage source, PA
  9. Full-time: Leeds Rhinos 18-16 Hull FCpublished at 21:50 British Summer Time 29 September 2017

    Leeds are heading to the Grand Final!

    Mahe Fonua knocks on to end his side's hopes of a Challenge Cup and Super League double.

    Leeds have a date with Castleford at Old Trafford to prepare for.

  10. Postpublished at 79 mins

    Leeds Rhinos 18-16 Hull FC

    Into the last minute.

    Is there one last twist in this tale?

  11. Postpublished at 79 mins

    Leeds Rhinos 18-16 Hull FC

    Both sides must be absolutely exhausted.

    They're marching up and down field with ease, but neither side can break through on the final tackle.

    Leeds kick into touch on the fifth tackle. This could be Hull's last chance and they're starting from only a couple of metres away from their own line.

  12. Postpublished at 78 mins

    Leeds Rhinos 18-16 Hull FC

    ...but they can't turn the territory into crucial points.

    Hull march right back at their opponents, but Josh Bowden knocks on to concede possession.

  13. Postpublished at 77 mins

    Leeds Rhinos 18-16 Hull FC

    Marc Sneyd with another testing kick...knocked back and gathered in by Leeds.

    Rhinos are making great territory on this possession too...

  14. Postpublished at 76 mins

    Leeds Rhinos 18-16 Hull FC

    Intelligent kick from Marc Sneyd on the fifth tackle, weighting his grubber kick perfectly to force Tom Briscoe to take the ball behind his line, where he's immediately smothered by Hull defenders.

    The visitors will get another chance from the goal-line drop-out.

  15. Postpublished at 75 mins

    Leeds Rhinos 18-16 Hull FC

    Richard Mathers
    Former Leeds Rhinos player on BBC Radio Leeds

    Leeds' attack has posed a lot of questions for Hull but they've survived with desperate, desperate defending. They have been unbelievable at times but their attack has been atrocious. I think Lee Radford's thoughts on that will be interesting at full time.

    Leeds need to dig deep - tiredness goes out the window when you're five minutes away from a Grand Final.

  16. Postpublished at 75 mins

    Leeds Rhinos 18-16 Hull FC

    Kirk Dixon
    Former Hull FC and Castleford Tigers player on BBC Radio Humberside

    Jamie Shaul has been really good at the back for Hull FC - he has diffused everything.

    He's taken difficult kicks well and used them to set Hull on the attack.

  17. Postpublished at 73 mins

    Leeds Rhinos 18-16 Hull FC

    And Leeds almost have the crucial fourth try!

    Danny McGuire's kick reaches Ryan Hall, but he's brought down on the final tackle just shy of the line.

    Leeds then concede a needless penalty with Hull starting their set deep inside their own territory. That will be a huge relief to Lee Radford's side.

  18. Postpublished at 72 mins

    Leeds Rhinos 18-16 Hull FC

    A Leeds attack breaks down, but Adam Cuthbertson - not usually known for his kicking - clips the ball forward very neatly, forcing Josh Griffin to gather behind his own line.

    Griffin does his best, but he's tackled in goal and Leeds will go forward again.

  19. Postpublished at 70 mins

    Leeds Rhinos 18-16 Hull FC

    Gareth Ellis looks like he's through a gap and possibly on his way to his second try of the night for Hull FC, but the whistle is blown for a forward pass.

    Again, it looks like the officials have made the right call.

  20. NO TRYpublished at 68 mins

    Leeds Rhinos 18-16 Hull FC

    It's clearly the right decision, as Jake Connor knocks the ball on trying to take in another testing kick before he got the ball down.

    I have not got a clue which way this game is going to go in the final 10 minutes or so.