Jamie Peacock on Super League's 5000th game

In his latest Daily Mirror column, Jamie Peacock reflects on some of his most memorable Super League games following the competitions 5000th game. 

With last night’s Warrington and Leeds contest being the 5,000th Super League game, I’ve had a crack at singling out the three best matches I’ve been involved in in the competition over the years.

There’s been some amazing Super League games. But, and in no particular order, one of the first ones that stands out in my mind is the 2002 Grand Final against St Helens with Bradford Bulls.

It was great to play in. I still think it’s one of the best Super League games since it all began back in 1996.

That was one of the greatest-ever Saints teams and, at Bradford, we had some amazing players, too.

We just couldn’t beat them in major finals.

We ran them very close that night and, of course, there was that controversial moment at the end with Chris Joynt’s voluntary tackle denying us the chance to win it.

But that’s what sport’s all about isn’t it? Big controversy and drama. That moment left people leaving, talking about what could have been and what should have been.

I knew Joynty well. And it was definitely a voluntary tackle!

Obviously, I’m bound to say that and Saints players will say otherwise. But, when I watch that game back now, Saints had such a better game-management than us. And that’s the reason they won.

It was a stand-out match, though, nip and tuck all the way, two very good sides and that drama at the end.

Next, and the most brutal game I played in, was the 2007 play-off with Leeds against Saints.

It was a really low-scoring contest finishing 10-8 but one of the most intense, physical games I’ve ever played in in Super League.

When you list the packs both teams had, it was as good as it got in world rugby at that time.

They had James Graham, Keiron Cunningham, Jason Cayless and Lee Gilmour. We had Kev [Sinfield], Gaz [Ellis], Jonesy [Jamie Jones-Buchanan] and Kylie [Leuluai].

Both sides had begrudging respect for each other but also hatred, all wrapped up into the bitterest of rivalries. When you have a great rivalry in sport, it brings out the best in people; it pushes the boundaries and standards and that game stood out for me for its physicality. It was like a Test match. And Saints just edged it by a couple of points.

Lastly, of course, it has to be the Hally one.

That night at Huddersfield Giants in 2015 - and just because we were out on our feet as a team. Even the helicopter had given up on us!

Read the full column on the Daily Mirror website.