WHAT a season it has been for Jodie Cunningham.
Fresh from picking up the Woman of Steel prize, the Warringtonian loose forward played a key role in helping St Helens win the Women’s Super League Grand Final on Sunday.
Starting the game alongside fellow ex-Cardinal Newman student Emily Rudge, Penketh’s Tara Jones and another Warringtonian in Danielle Bush, the trio helped Saints to a 28-0 victory over Leeds Rhinos.
Tara Jones thanks fans after the Grand Final. Picture by SWPix.com
And they did it in front of a crowd of 4,235 at Headingley – a record for a women’s rugby league match in this country.
It did not all go to plan for Cunningham, who was sin-binned in the first half for a professional foul after stopping a quick play-the-ball.
The game was scoreless at that point but after Leah Burke’s try had put Saints ahead while they were down to 12, Cunningham produced the game’s standout moment when she returned.
She scored a superb long-range try to put her side 10-0 up at the break and they eventually cantered away to victory in the second half, with Bush also adding a try in the corner after the break.
It completes a treble for the Saints women, who already had the Challenge Cup and League Leaders’ Shield in their possession.
Cunningham, Rudge and Jones are all likely to be involved in the England women’s squad to face France in a Test match in Perpignan on October 23.
Jodie Cunningham lifts the Women's Super League trophy. Picture by SWPix.com
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