The Super League Grand Final preview: Everything you need to know ahead of Hull KR’s and Wigan Warriors’ Old Trafford showdown

The biggest game of the Super League season is upon us, and tonight, Hull KR and Wigan Warriors will go to battle once again and compete for Grand Final glory.

The fixture is stacked with big talking points before a ball has even been kicked. From the fight between a first-ever treble and a maiden Super League treble, to Jared Waerea-Hargreaves’ successful suspension appeal, to many England international places potentially being decided by big players stepping up, there are plenty of reasons to tune in and enjoy what is sure to be another exciting clash between the league’s two best sides.

Here is everything you need to know before the big dance at the Theatre of Dreams, from the latest injury news, to start time, to the key head-to-head battles that will take place on the field.

Everything you need to know about the Super League Grand Final

How, when and where to watch the Super League Grand Final:

Super League’s showpiece event will take place at Old Trafford, Manchester. Tickets are still available and can be purchased on the RFL website.

Coverage of the game will be produced Sky Sports. Their broadcast will start at 5pm, and there will be plenty of pre-match build up, with the likes of Jon Wilkin and Sam Tomkins providing their insight. No doubt there will be plenty of other special guests on their coverage too. Sky Sports+ and Sky Sports Main Event will be the two channels you need to tune into if you want to watch on Saturday night.

The game will kick off at 6pm (UK time). As for pre-match entertainment in the ground, Leeds-based indie band ‘The Pigeon Detectives’ will headline the entertainment in the build-up, and as always there will be a rendition of Jerusalem prior to the teams walking out onto the field.

Injury news:

Hull KR fans were given quite the scare last week, as they watched their star full-back, Arthur Mourgue, leave the field with 10 minutes to go in their victory over St Helens. In what looked to be something more serious, both Mourgue and coach Willie Peters has confirmed that the French international is fit and will play on Saturday night.

The same can’t be said for the Rovers’ retiring hooker, Michael McIlorum. After fracturing his ankle in August, the 37-year-old has been fighting to get back fit, and will want to go out on his own terms, ideally with a third Grand Final ring of his career. “We’ll give him till the end of the week,” Peters said on the former Warriors man during this week’s Grand Final press conference.

Meanwhile Wigan are at full strength, and have no injury concerns of their own. Tom Forber is the only player to be actually ruled out through injury, however it is highly likely that the young hooker wouldn’t have played anyway, with Brad O’Neill and Kruise Leeming ahead of him.

Hull KR vs Wigan Warriors form guide:

In the last five matches between these two sides, Wigan have taken the spoils on four occasions, the most notable being the Grand Final last year, in which they won 9-2. Wins in both league and cup give Wigan the edge, however their most recent meeting took place in August. The Rovers managed to earn a tight 10-6 victory at the Brick Community Stadium, as two penalty goals from Rhyse Martin gave Peters’ men the two points.

In terms of recent form, Wigan definitely look the stronger of the two. They have scored tries for fun and have blown teams away – Bevan French and Jai field being the main reasons why. Whereas KR have had a more troubled end to the season. Whilst they may have won four of their last five, their performances in those matches were all but convincing. A week off between Round 27 gave them a chance to rest up, and that break helped them last week against Saints.

It must be said that the Grand Final is renowned for throwing form guides and prior meetings out of the window. However, going off those two things, Wigan do look the stronger of the two, and are the bookmakers’ favourites to lift the title on Saturday.

Who to look out for:

As previously mentioned, the lethal pairing of French and Field will likely have their hands on the outcome of this game. They have proved time and time again that they can step up when it matters, and did so in the semi-final last week against Leigh Leopards.

Hull KR have their own talisman, 2024 Man of Steel winner and 2025 nominee Mikey Lewis has the ability to change a game on his own, however it is being able to execute that in these types of matches he has not been able to do just yet. It was his error that led to French’s try in the Grand Final last year, and he will not want that to happen again. If the Rovers want any chance of winning on Saturday, they need Lewis to have an exceptional game.

On the flanks, both teams have deadly finishers that know how to score when it matters most. Wigan’s Liam Marshall has eight tries in playoff games in his career, including the 2023 Grand Final. On the opposite wing, Joe Burgess is close behind him with seven. Two of those have come at Old Trafford, as he touched down in both the 2014 and 2015 finals.

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