Super League Grand Final: Wigan Warriors 10-2 Catalans Dragons - Cherry and Whites seal sixth title
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Super League: Wigan Warriors beat Catalans Dragons to win sixth title
Betfred Super League |
|---|
Wigan (2) 10 |
Try: Marshall Goals: Smith 3 |
Catalans (2) 2 |
Goal: Keighran |
Wigan Warriors earned a sixth Super League Grand Final win courtesy of a commanding second-half display against Catalans Dragons.
In a high intensity first half, Adam Keighran and Harry Smith cancelled each other out with a penalty apiece.
Liam Marshall crossed for the game's only try 10 minutes after the break as the Warriors made their man advantage count from Tom Davies' yellow card.
Smith's late penalty sealed it for Wigan as Catalans ran out of steam.
Victory for Wigan was their first in a Super League Grand Final since they overcame Warrington in 2018 and was their first appearance in the end-of-season showpiece since their dispiriting late defeat by St Helens in 2020.
Catalans' second appearance in three seasons once again ended in defeat. However, the French side showed great steel in a tiring first period before ultimately falling short.
All square after bruising first half
A bruising first half ended in a low-scoring 2-2 stalemate, with Catalans slightly depleted by second rower Paul Seguier coming off worse in a tackle and leaving the field with a severely bloodied head after just 13 minutes.
The biggest moment of the first period came when the Dragons were reduced to 12 after 19 minutes when Keighran saw yellow for upending Kai Pearce-Paul in a tip tackle.
That the Warriors only prospered from the boot of Smith during Wigan-bound Keighran's spell in the sin bin spoke to how little either side was either risking or giving away.
Once Les Dracs were back to a full complement, an end-to-end finish to the first half began, with Keighran eventually kicking the penalty that led to them going in level at the break.
But it was Wigan who threatened most to edge ahead at the hooter, with Marshall being thwarted by Catalans veteran Mitchell Pearce, who put in a sensational try-saving tackle to deny him on the wing.
Marshall try the difference for Wigan
Liam Marshall (left) scored a hat-trick of tries for Wigan Warriors in their semi-final against Hull KR and his try proved decisive in the Super League Grand Final seven days later
Just three minutes into the second half, Catalans had Davies sent to the bin for pulling back Marshall as Wigan dashed upfield, and the Warriors almost made their advantage count soon after.
Man of Steel Bevan French touched down in the corner but his celebrations were cut short as referee Liam Moore ruled out the effort for a forward pass in the build-up.
However, Wigan did not have to wait long to be rewarded for their attacking start to the second half.
A swift set of passes and a last-ditch offload from Liam Farrell allowed Marshall to slide over, continuing his fine form having scored a hat-trick of tries against Hull KR in last week's semi-final to set up their trip to Old Trafford.
Smith guided the Warriors home with his penalty, capping off a remarkable run for the club under head coach Matt Peet and giving outgoing chairman Ian Lenagan cause for celebration as he steps down from his role.
Peet wraps up the full set of silverware
Victory at Old Trafford capped off a remarkable two seasons in charge for Wigan Warriors boss Peet as he completed the set of domestic silverware since his arrival at the club.
Following Adrian Lam's exit, during which they had pushed St Helens to the brink in a heartbreaking 2020 Super League Grand Final before a more lacklustre 2021 campaign, Peet has coolly steered the ship and restored Wigan's place as the team to be feared after their bitter rivals Saints had held that status since 2019.
His first triumph came in the Challenge Cup just months after taking charge when he steered Wigan to victory over Huddersfield Giants at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Those there that day knew that real change was happening at Wigan, yet St Helens' dominance ran into another season and another shot at a Grand Final came and went.
But 2023 was different and, despite a losing start to the season away at Hull KR and an inconsistent middle to the campaign, it was their end-of-term run-in which proved decisive.
A winning run of nine league games to end the regular season culminated in wrapping up the League Leaders' Shield at town rivals Leigh - no mean feat given how impressive the Leopards have been under Lam in 2023.
That remarkable run earned Wigan a bye week going into the play-offs and any worries that this might quell their momentum were soon ended when they swept aside Hull KR 42-12 last week.
During such an edgy Grand Final, it was Peet who got his tactics right. Wigan pushed Catalans right from the restart and ditched the defensive and cautious stance which both teams adopted in the first period.
It was a high risk, high reward strategy but ultimately as soon as referee Liam Moore showed the yellow card to Davies it was Wigan's game to lose, and the result never realistically looked in doubt for the duration of the second half.
Tomkins and co reach the final curtain
Sam Tomkins brings down the curtain on his career having won on three occasions in a Super League Grand Final, but it was not to be on Saturday
Catalans' Sam Tomkins bows out after Les Dracs' loss, ending a remarkable career which has seen him win three Super League Grand Finals, all of which came with Wigan.
The former England captain, and one of the greats of the Super League era, announced his retirement at the end of the season earlier in 2023 and has been in impeccable form during this campaign.
His moment of brilliance to find the space to score the decisive try in the dying moments of Catalans' semi-final victory against St Helens helped set up a blockbuster Grand Final against his former club.
Likewise, his team-mate Pearce hangs up his boots following a 17-season career which saw the Australian arrive in the south of France with an NRL Premiership in his locker and braced for more silverware.
It was not to be for the pair, however, as the curtain closes on the careers of two of the greats from both hemispheres.
Catalans pushed as far as they could, but their failure to create chances and indiscipline proved to be their undoing.
You can only imagine that coach Steve McNamara is plotting a third Grand Final in 2024 or beyond, regardless of how things ended on Saturday.
Wigan said farewell to chairman Lenagan, who announced earlier this season that he would step down and since then he has seen the Cherry and Whites end St Helens four-year reign as champions by winning the League Leaders' Shield and now claiming Grand Final glory.
Forward Pearce-Paul also caps off his Super League career with a win on the biggest stage before he ventures to the NRL with Newcastle Knights next season.
Wigan: Field; Miski, King, Wardle, Marshall; French, Smith; Dupree, O'Neill, Ellis, Farrell, Pearce-Paul, Smithies.
Interchanges: Powell, Isa, Havard, Mago.
Catalans: Tomkins; Davies, Ikuvalu, Keighran, Johnstone; May, Pearce; McMeeken, McIlorum, Taukeiaho, Whitley, Seguier, Garcia.
Interchanges: Bousquet, Morgue, Navarrete, Ma'u, Romano.
Sin bin: Keighran (19), Davies (43)
Referee: Liam Moore.