Saints target treble in Grand Final against York

St Helens have won the Women's Challenge Cup and the League Leaders' Shield so far in 2024

Betfred Women's Super League Grand Final

Date: Sunday, 6 October Kick-off: 16:30 BST Venue: Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens

Coverage: Live text and radio commentary on BBC Sport website and app

Sunday's Women's Super League Grand Final pits two of the most formidable sides in the league against each other.

St Helens, this season's Women's Challenge Cup holders and League Leaders' Shield winners, face reigning champions York Valkyrie.

Saints have been the form side in the Women's Super League this term and are chasing a historic treble.

Matty Smith's side are chasing their second Women's Super League title, having already won a second League Leaders' Shield having recorded 13 victories in 14 regular-season fixtures in 2024.

St Helens also won this season's Challenge Cup at Wembley, retaining the trophy by beating Leeds Rhinos.

Saints, who beat Wigan Warriors in their play-off semi-final, earned home advantage for the Grand Final having sealed top spot.

For Saints hooker Tara Jones - who has juggled her playing responsibilities with her refereeing career - one of the sweetest parts of challenging for the treble is proving their doubters wrong.

"At the start of the year we did lose a couple of key players to other clubs so others outside of our group might have written us off a little bit and didn't put us up there," she told the BBC Radio 5 Live Rugby League podcast.

"Hopefully we've proven them wrong with the silverware we've lifted so far.

"The girls have stuck together and I'm really proud of the group but that falls into the backroom staff and coaches as well, they do everything they can to put us in the best position."

'We're keen to keep hold of our title'

York Valkyrie go into Sunday's showpiece with the aim of defending their title, having beaten Leeds 16-6 in last year's Grand Final.

They are hoping to be the first side to retain their title since the formation of the Women's Super League in 2017.

It has been an injury-hit campaign for York, however, and they eventually finished in third position in the table.

They sealed their spot in the final by beating the Rhinos again - this time in a narrow 12-10 tussle at Headingley.

"We're keen to keep hold of it but it's going to come down to 6 October and who wants it more on the day but we'll be fighting to keep it," stand-off Sade Rihari said.

"It's always difficult going to St Helens' home but we're going to prepare well, refocus and look back and review on some of the Saints games and improve from there."