RUGBY UNION: SUPER LEAGUE GRAND FINAL: LONG DROP OF GENIUS

SEAN LONG'S injury-time drop goal swept Saints to their third Grand Final success in four years to retain their crown as "Kings of the Super League" era.

But furious Bradford boss Brian Noble claimed the world champions were robbed in a controversial finish.

Saints have now won eight trophies since 1996 as they maintained their big match hoodoo over the Bulls.

A magnificent contest looked set to go into extra time until "Mr. Cool" Long calmly slotted over the most important goal of his life.

Then Bradford claimed they should have been awarded a kickable penalty with 10 seconds left when Saints skipper Chris Joynt made a voluntary tackle.

Veteran hooker Jimmy Lowes led the furious protests to referee Russell Smith.

And Bradford boss Brian Noble slammed:"It was a gutless decision by the official. It should have been a penalty. I don't blame Jimmy for being annoyed. We were the better team despite gifting Saints two tries.

"I can't understand why Stuart Fielden conceded a penalty when Saints made it 18-18 because it was only accidental with the ball ricocheting off a team-mate at speed."

Bulls skipper Robbie Paul added:"The ref's calls proved crucial and it was disappointing because we were so dominant."

Joynt tried to defuse the row saying: "Bradford players were jumping up and down in protest but as I drove in the ball they pulled out of the tackle. The ref knew what was going on."

Match commissioner Ray Tennant said: "A voluntary tackle is still in the rulebook but the referee obviously thought Joynt was still moving and that's why a penalty wasn't awarded."

Long, who has missed much of the season through injury, led the celebrations at Old Trafford last night despite a top show from Bulls scrum-half Paul Deacon.

Bradford have lost three Challenge Cup finals to their arch rivals in 1996, 1997 and 2001 with Grand Final heartbreak in 1999 and now 2002.

Saints also lifted the League title in 1996, beat Wigan in the Millenium Grand Final and then swept to the World Club Championship in 2001 to leave the rest of their rivals squirming with envy.

And who would back against Ian Millward's "marvels" crowing again in February by sinking Aussie champs Sydney Roosters in the next World showdown?

Long, who missed two earlier drop attempts, said: "It was third time lucky but I had been practising the kicks all week.

"I thought I'd blown it when I missed with my second shot and it was one of the toughest games I've ever played in."

Bradford dominated the opening half hour but only led 8-0 with Scott Naylor grabbing their solitary try in front of a record 61,138 Grand Final crowd.

Then the Bulls tossed away control with schoolboy defensive howlers to inexplicably trail 12-8 at the break.

Saints had notched touchdowns through the irrepressible Mike Bennett and Long, who also booted two goals.

Bradford were upset at a Deacon try that was ruled out by video referee Gerry Kershaw but have only themselves to blame for the interval deficit with Huddersfield-bound Brandon Costin the chief culprit.

The Bulls needed an early score in the second-half to restore confidence and skipper Robbie Paul came up trumps racing 30 metres after smart off-loads by heavyweights Paul Anderson and Brian McDermott.

Then Michael Withers, man-of-the-match in last season's Grand Final, added the third Bulls try in the 47th minute after slick handling by Deacon and Naylor.

Deacon converted the first try to make it 18-12 and set up a dramatic finale.

Brian McDermott's poor pass to Lowes put the Bulls back under pressure with Man of Steel Paul Sculthorpe held short before Long sent Martin Gleeson over.

Long's miss-hit conversion attempt left Saints trailing by 18-16 before the Great Britain scrum-half levelled the scores after 65 minutes.

This was from a penalty after Fielden was adjudged to be offside in front of the posts.

Unsung hero Bennett was outstanding for Saints with a non-stop tackling stint and he also bagged his side's first try.

Long missed a straight-forward drop goal attempt nine minutes from time before Deacon was off target with a one pointer for the Bulls.

Sculthorpe and Deacon were then short with drops from half-way in a frantic finish before Long struck gold.

Saints now pocket pounds 290,000 as Grand Final winners with the added double bonus of a tour match against New Zealand next Friday and a crack at Aussie champs Sydney Roosters for the world crown in February.

Bradford have to settle for pounds 185,000 as runners-up.

Saints, who finished top of Super League on scoring difference from Bradford, were on pounds 6,000 a man and Long proved the man of the moment to earn his team-mates the jackpot.

A titanic contest was anticipated between the last two world champions and easily the best two sides in Super League this season.

And the record crowd weren't disappointed with the showdown living up to expectations!

Saints lost Great Britain full-back Paul Wellens after only two minutes with a suspected fractured cheekbone which looks set to rule him out of the Kiwi Test series.BRADFORD Tries: Naylor, Paul, Withers. Goals: Deacon 3.

ST HELENS Tries: Bennett, Long, Gleeson. Goals: Long 3. Drop Goals: Long.

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