Super League’s remaining play-off teams are just one win away from Old Trafford and two away from lifting the Grand Final trophy and whilst Hull KR are seen as the dark horses of the final four, who exactly are the favourites?
According to the bookmakers that would be Wigan Warriors with Matt Peet’s side firm favourites at 13/8, ahead of both Catalans Dragons and St Helens at 9/4 according the Super League sponsor Betfred.
That leaves Rovers as the 9/1 outsiders, a tag that they will relish, however the tag of favourites is one that Wigan Warriors have tried to distance themselves from despite what the bookmakers say.
Speaking with Serious About Rugby League the Wigan head coach Matt Peet was asked if he felt his side were favourites for the Grand Final given their League Leaders Shield success, to which he gave a blunt and swift response.
“No.”
However he did affirm that the Warriors would likely prevail should they put in season best performances, something they’ve seemingly done week on week at the moment in their streak of eight consecutive wins.
Peet explained: “I think we just have to aspire to get our best two performances this season in our next two games. If we do that I’ll be confident.”
Perhaps one of the key reasons why Peet distanced his side from the tag of favourites would be the current era of St Helens dominance, the Red Vee having won the last four Grand Finals and on a ten game winning streak in their ‘drive for five’.
Asked about that era of dominance Wigan’s skipper Liam Farrell explained the high esteem in which he holds St Helens when speaking on the BBC 5 Live Rugby League podcast.
“Yeah of course it is, no one wants to see the same team win so many times,” Farrell explained.
“Firstly I’ve got ultimate respect for that team just because of how well they’ve done over the last four years. It’s quite unbelievable but at the same time we’d love to knock them off.
“For me at the moment they have to be the favourites because they’ve won it so many times and they’re a very, very good team.”
Saints face the tricky task of knocking off Catalans in Perpignan on Friday night, something that Wigan did in devastating fashion recently, and something Leeds Rhinos did in last season’s play-offs.
Meanwhile Wigan welcome Hull KR to the DW stadium on Saturday in their bid to return to Old Trafford for the first time since 2020 when they lost to Saints courtesy of the infamous Jack Welsby try.
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