Sports18 September, 20262 min read
York Valkyrie Beat Leeds Rhinos 12-0 To Reach Women’s Super League Grand Final Vs Wigan Warriors
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
York Valkyrie book Women's Super League Grand Final spot with 12-0 win over Leeds Rhinos Tries by Liv Wood and Adaoha Akwiwu, plus Tara-Jane Stanley's conversion
York reach Grand Final
York Valkyrie reached the Women’s Super League Grand Final after beating Leeds Rhinos 12-0 at AMT Headingley Stadium, with tries from Liv Wood and Adaoha Akwiwu and points from Tara-Jane Stanley. The BBC match report said York will meet reigning Women’s Super League champions Wigan Warriors in the Grand Final, following York’s semi-final win at Leeds. Sky Sports described the opening 21 minutes at Headingley as scoreless before York’s Liv Wood scored in the 22nd minute, with Stanley converting for the first points.
Sky Sports also said Stanley struck a penalty for an 8-0 lead three minutes from the end of the first half, and York wrapped up victory through Akwiwu’s try for a 12-0 advantage. The BBC added that the only downside for York was that influential stand-off Tara-Jane Stanley will miss the September 27 meeting with Wigan at the Brick Community Stadium after failing a head injury assessment.
Disallowed tries and HIA
The BBC said Leeds rallied in the second half after Stanley had a try disallowed for a knock-on and Megan Pakulis was denied by a Ruby Bruce tackle, before Georgia Elliston’s try was disallowed for obstruction by a team-mate.
Sky Sports similarly described Video Ref decisions ruling out scores, including that Stanley’s try was disallowed when replays showed she lost control in the act of scoring and that Elliston’s try was ruled out for obstruction.
After the match, Sky Sports quoted York head coach Leon Pryce saying, "This is unbelievable. Nobody gave us a chance."
Sky Sports also reported the Grand Final blow for York, with the news that Stanley had failed a Head Injury Assessment (HIA), ruling her out of the Grand Final.
In the other match framing, Serious About Rugby League said York took the lead through Liv Wood after just 20 minutes and that a major blow was that playmaker Tara-Jane Stanley failed a HIA, meaning she will be ruled out of next week’s Grand Final.
Wigan set for Grand Final
Wigan Warriors qualified for the Grand Final after winning the League Leaders Shield in the Women’s Super League, automatically earning home advantage for the big game, according to Serious About Rugby League. Serious About Rugby League said York will visit Wigan Warriors for the Grand Final next Sunday, and it framed the matchup as York trying to prevent the Warriors from securing the treble for the second year in a row. Sky Sports set the Grand Final date and venue as Sunday September 27 (5.30pm kick-off) at the Brick Community Stadium, with the match live on Sky Sports.
The Guardian did not cover this match, but Sky Sports added that Wigan Warriors will have three players shortlisted for the 2026 Woman of Steel, naming Jenna Foubister, Eva Hunter and Megan Williams. Serious About Rugby League said the three shortlisted players all hail from Wigan and listed the nominees as Jenna Foubister, reigning Woman of Steel Eva Hunter, and Megan Williams, with all three expected to be in action for the Grand Final against York.