Summary

  • FT: Wigan Warriors 10-2 Catalans Dragons

  • Wigan win first Super League title since 2018 and sixth in total

  • Liam Marshall try and three Harry Smith goals are enough for Warriors in tight game

  • Wigan add Grand Final win to their League Leaders' Shield success

  • Ex-England captain Sam Tomkins on losing side before retiring against former club

  • Catalans, who finished second in table, lost second Grand Final in three seasons

  1. WIGAN WIN SUPER LEAGUE TITLEpublished at 19:52 British Summer Time 14 October 2023
    Breaking

    FT: Wigan 10-2 Catalans

    Warriors win the Grand Final for the sixth time in their history.

    After a physical and close first half, the Cherry and Whites seized control of the game in the second half.

    Liam Marshall scored the only try of the game, with Harry Smith's penalty goal proving enough to give Wigan the cushion they needed to close out the game.

  2. Postpublished at 80 mins

    Wigan 10-2 Catalans

    There are a few celebrations from the Wigan camp on the touchline.

    Wigan have the ball and the hooter is almost upon us.

  3. Postpublished at 79 mins

    Wigan 10-2 Catalans

    Adam Keighran tries to burst through the Wigan lines but Bevan French is there on halfway to take him down.

    The kick from Tyrone May on the last is too long.

    The Warriors are almost there.

  4. Postpublished at 78 mins

    Wigan 10-2 Catalans

    Wigan fans in fine voice in the stands.

    They know the Super League title is almost there, to add to their League Leaders' Shield.

    Catalans have the ball 15 metres from their own line and need a miracle.

  5. Postpublished at 77 mins

    Wigan 10-2 Catalans

    What happened there?

    Arthur Mourgue gets inside the Wigan 10-metre line but then decides to kick on the fourth tackle.

    The support wasn't there, the kick goes long and the moment goes for Catalans.

    Wrong decision, to the frustration of Steve McNamara in the stands.

  6. Postpublished at 19:49 British Summer Time 14 October 2023

    Wigan 10-2 Catalans

    Jay Freeman
    BBC Sport at Old Trafford

    Wigan fans at Old TraffordImage source, PA Media

    58,137 in attendance at Old Trafford.

    For what it's worth, that looks about right. Most of that will be Wigan fans, who are in fine voice on what has turned out to be a very chilly evening indeed.

  7. Postpublished at 19:48 British Summer Time 14 October 2023

    Wigan 10-2 Catalans

    John Kear
    Wales coach on BBC Radio 5 live

    The second half has been Wigan's, it really has. They fully deserve their eight-point lead and you could argue they have been worth more than that in this second half.

    It has been a very accomplished performance from a young team that are still growing and getting better.

    This could be the start of Wigan's dominance for years to come.

  8. Postpublished at 76 mins

    Wigan 10-2 Catalans

    Catalans Dragons' Sam Tomkins in action in the Grand FinalImage source, PA Media

    A Sam Tomkins pass on the fifth tackle is a teaser and Liam Marshall goes for it but knocks on while stretching to receive it.

    Scrum to Catalans some 12 metres inside the Wigan half.

    The Dragons probably need to cross from this set of six.

  9. Postpublished at 74 mins

    Wigan 10-2 Catalans

    Sam Tomkins dinks a kick to the corner on the last and Tom Davies gets to it ahead of Liam Marshall.

    But Davies is held up by the Wigan defence and can't offload.

    Wigan get the turnover. Their defence has been supreme this evening.

  10. Postpublished at 72 mins

    Wigan 10-2 Catalans

    Catalans get a penalty at the breakdown and kick up towards halfway.

    It's almost now-or-never territory for Les Dracs.

  11. 'Dragons need to force it'published at 19:44 British Summer Time 14 October 2023

    Wigan 10-2 Catalans

    Stefan Ratchford
    Warrington Wolves full-back on BBC Radio Manchester

    There's a bit of frustration from Sam Tomkins after that pass - he's trying to tell his players what he wants them to do there.

    They need to start forcing their hand with 10 minutes left and eight points to find, They need to force it without coming up with errors off the back of it though.

    There's a real fine balance here for Catalans.

  12. Postpublished at 19:43 British Summer Time 14 October 2023

    Wigan 10-2 Catalans

    John Kear
    Wales coach on BBC Radio 5 live

    Wigan's Harry Smith playing in the Grand FinalImage source, PA Media

    I think Harry Smith has earned himself the Harry Sunderland Trophy as the player of the match.

    It's simply because his ends of sets have been far, far superior to anything the Dragons have thrown at them.

  13. Postpublished at 70 mins

    Wigan 10-2 Catalans

    Into the final 10 minutes of the Grand Final.

    Can the Dragons find any way through the Wigan defence - the best in Super League?

    Sam Tomkins tries to come up with a bit of magic but his pass goes straight into touch midway inside the Warriors half.

    It looks like there will not be a fairytale ending for the former England captain.

  14. Postpublished at 68 mins

    Wigan 10-2 Catalans

    Jai Field runs a great line on the final tackle to take him into the Catalans half.

    But the full-back is taken down and the French side get the ball back.

    Scrum-half Mitchell Pearce is off and Arthur Mourgue is on for the Dragons for the closing stages.

  15. Postpublished at 19:39 British Summer Time 14 October 2023

    Wigan 10-2 Catalans

    Jay Freeman
    BBC Sport at Old Trafford

    You get the feeling this might be it for Catalans, unless they can drastically turn this second half around.

    They've not looked quite as on it ever since the restart and time is against them.

  16. Postpublished at 66 mins

    Wigan 10-2 Catalans

    Catalans kick to the corner on the last tackle.

    No-one jumps for it but it's a knock-on by the Dragons and Wigan get the ball.

  17. Postpublished at 19:36 British Summer Time 14 October 2023

    Wigan 10-2 Catalans

    Kevin Brown
    Former Wigan and England half-back on BBC Radio 5 Live

    This will kick start Catalans into demanding that they move the ball around, chance their arm and ask some questions.

    There is 17 minutes of this game and season left and 17 minutes of Sam Tomkins' career left, and I'm sure they will not go down without a fight.

  18. 'Could Wigan have gone for the throat?'published at 19:36 British Summer Time 14 October 2023

    Wigan 10-2 Catalans

    Stefan Ratchford
    Warrington Wolves full-back on BBC Radio Manchester

    Catalans' Paul Seguier looks tiredImage source, PA Media

    It was a a big decision. They were six points ahead. Should they kick the two?

    Catalans look really tired, do Wigan go for the throat? They are looking like they are on the ropes - this kick gives them a bit of a rest.

    In the end I think going for the two was a smart decision.

  19. PENALTY: Wigan 10-2 Catalanspublished at 64 mins

    Harry Smith

    Wigan decide to take the points from 15 metres out to the right of the sticks.

    Harry Smith has his third successful kick of the evening.

    The Warriors have a bit of breathing space heading into the final 15 minutes.

    Catalans have a lot to do to deny Wigan an sixth Super League title.

  20. Postpublished at 62 mins

    Wigan 8-2 Catalans

    Juggling hands from Abbas Miski keeps the ball alive for Wigan on the fourth tackle inside the Dragons half.

    Then another high shot comes in - this time from Adam Keighran - and Wigan get the penalty.

    The centre gets a talking-to by referee Liam Moore but gets the benefit of the doubt.