Both Sam Burgess and Daryl Powell have admitted that it’s a good thing for the game that there will be a new name on the Super League trophy come 8:00 pm on Saturday night.
Only five teams have ever won Super League and up until a year ago, before Hull KR’s success, that number sat at just four. Now, we’re guaranteed a sixth different winner with both Warrington and Wakefield going for a first-ever Grand Final win.
It will be Trinity’s first attempt a the feat but the fifth for Warrington, albeit it’s their first time back at Old Trafford since 2018.
The game also marks the first Super League Grand Final ever that doesn’t feature one of Leeds Rhinos, Wigan Warriors or St Helens, and such a unique final has led to very strong ticket sales and in the eyes of both coaches, it creates a very good spectacle.
Speaking at Tuesday’s Grand Final presser event, Daryl Powell said: “I think you said there’s freshness to it, and I think to a while back when it was Castleford’s first opportunity. There’s a bit of freshness to it, I think this is the same.”
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New Super League winners will be good for the game, Grand Final coaches explain
Fans certainly received Castleford making it to the Grand Final very well as that game in 2017 marked the last time that the big dance was attended by more than 70,000 fans, something that’s expected to happen again this Saturday.
Powell would admit that things aren’t quite changing to full parity, as seen in the NRL this year where last year’s wooden spooners Newcastle have made it to the Grand Final, but he’s admitted that Super League is levelling out somewhat.
He said: “I don’t know if it’s changing, the good teams are still going to be front teams. I just think that obviously the salary cap over a number of years has levelled things out slightly.
“Hull KR did an unbelievable job last year, and they did something pretty special last year and now you’ve got two teams with an opportunity to do something similar, and I’ll be excited for the game.”
Sam Burgess offered a similar verdict, stating: “It’s important, it’s good. It’s a salary cap sport, so you’d imagine there would be cycles [of different teams] but it doesn’t seem to be that way in Super League, it’s been dominated for a number of years by a few clubs but it’s great that both Warrington and Wakefield are in it this weekend. I think it’s good for the game.”
