Wigan Warriors are set to take on Catalans Dragons in the Super League Grand Final as the French club follow in the footsteps of Leeds Rhinos, Warrington Wolves, Bradford Bulls, St Helens and opponents Wigan as the sixth club to play in more than one Grand Final.
It is their second Grand Final appearance compared to 12 for Wigan and usually the club with a longer Grand Final history have the edge.
But this time that’s not as applicable. Wigan’s side is vastly different from their last Grand Final appearance in 2020 and even more so since their last win.
In fact a member of the team who won that day will be playing for the opponents Catalans: Sam Tomkins.
The fullback goes into the game with only Liam Farrell winning more Grand Finals than him. The French side have plenty of players left over from the 2021 Grand Final defeat to St Helens furthermore their spine is more experienced in big games.
This will be Jai Field and Harry Smith’s Grand Final debut and Bevan French’s first as a stand-off. Brad O’Neill is also debuting at Old Trafford whilst Sam Tomkins and Michael McIlorum are well versed in Grand Finals, Mitchell Pearce has won a Grand Final in the NRL and Tyrone May played in the 2021 NRL Grand Final.
This could be a potential concern for Wigan but their performance against Hull KR should give them confidence.
Wigan Warriors and Hull KR collided knowing they would meet Catalans Dragons at Old Trafford if they came away with the win.
The Warriors went into the game as favourites as they did at the home of Leeds Rhinos earlier this year when they lost to Hull KR in the Challenge Cup semi-final to set up the first Wembley final without Leeds, Wigan, St Helens and Warrington Wolves since 1986.
The Robins knew if they won they would set up the first Grand Final ever without St Helens, Leeds or opponents Wigan.
The Cherry and Whites got off to a flying start as Liam Marshall crossed the whitewash just two minutes into the game. A sweeping move through the Wigan backline found the ball in Jai Field’s hands, and the fullback burst through a gap and sent Marshall in for the games first try.
Field turned from provider to scorer as he put his name on the scoreboard in the sixth minute. A Harry Smith kick caused chaos in the Robins back line, and with a bit of luck the ball hit Field’s shin and he pounced on the ball to score.
Marshall made KR pay for a piece of ill-discipline as he slid over for his brace. The winger wrong footed three defenders on the left edge and extend Wigan’s lead to 16 points with just 12 minutes played.
Hull KR capitalised on a poor piece of handling from Abbas Miski to get their first points of the afternoon, as Elliot Minchella powered over from short range.
As was the case in the first half, Marshall scored with just two minutes played in the half. A kick from Harry Smith was swatted back by a Wigan hand, and another kick from French fell perfectly into Marshall’s hands for the winger to score his third.
Another Harry Smith cross-field kick caused chaos for the Hull KR defence, but this time it directly led to a try. Smith’s kick was swatted back by Kai Pearce-Paul and it fell directly into French’s hands who put it on a plate for King and the centre gleefully dived over to score on his final appearance at the DW in Cherry and White.
Jai Field grabbed a well deserved brace to score Wigan’s sixth try. Quick feet from prop Patrick Mago created a crack in the Robins line, and Field burst through it to score.
Not to be outdone by his partner on the other edge, Abbas Miski grabbed his 28th try of the season.
