TODAY'S #ThrowbackThursday looks back to 16 years ago when the all-conquering Saints team visited Old Trafford on the eve of the 2006 Grand Final.

Saints, coached by Daniel Anderson, had already won the Challenge Cup and League Leaders' Shield - topping the table eight points clear of seconf placed Hull FC.

They were a class apart that year, but following the injury-affected end to the 2005 campaign, Saints had unfinished business.

 Bernard Platt captured the players in relaxed mood when on the familiarisation exercise at Manchester United's home dressing room.

Pictured here on the left is stand off Leon Pryce, who would go on to score the crucial try just before the break after a tight first half. 

That long-range score gave Saints a lead that they would never relinquish

Next to him is Australian superstar Jamie Lyon, on the eve of his final game of two-year stint at Knowsley Road.

Ace centre Lyon had lit up Super League - winning the Man of Steel award the year before - but the Grand Final success was the pinnacle of time in the red vee.

In the middle is the vastly under-rated Willie Talau - and his notable contribution to the success was not simply the try he scored just after the break, but also the big hit he put on Shaun Briscoe late in the game that led to Keiron Cunningham's touchdown.

Talau's try was created by the long, looping pass of the man next to him - loose forward Jason Hooper.

Hooper had earned his place in the team that year - with his abrasive, no-nonsense approach and willingness to do all the dirty work being a key component of Saints' dominance. 

Skipper Sean Long, on the far right of the picture, had his usual strong influence on the game with his kicks wide yielding tries in each half for wingers Francis Meli and Ade Gardner.

Long was hailed by the coach as "basically the best player I have coached."

It was to prove Long's fourth and final Grand Final success.