Super League Grand Final: Wigan Warriors look to upset Catalans Dragons' hopes of 'fairytale' first title
- Published
Wigan Warriors have won five Super League Grand Finals while Catalans Dragons are hoping to claim their first title
Betfred Super League Grand Final: Wigan v Catalans |
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Venue: Old Trafford Date: Saturday, 14 October Kick-off: 18:00 BST Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio Manchester, plus live text on BBC Sport website & app |
Wigan Warriors and Catalans Dragons face each other in Saturday's Super League Grand Final at the end of a bruising season.
For Wigan, it is a chance to seal a Grand Final win at Old Trafford for the first time since 2018 and a sixth triumph in the Super League era.
Or will it be second time lucky for Catalans as they return to the Theatre of Dreams in search of a first title after defeat by St Helens in the showpiece two years ago?
BBC Sport takes a look at what's at stake under the lights in Manchester.
'The fairytale isn't playing, it's winning'
Sam Tomkins is no stranger to playing in a Super League Grand Final but can he finish his career with another title at Old Trafford?
Catalans' Sam Tomkins prepares to bow out after Saturday's game, ending a remarkable career which has seen him win three Super League Grand Finals, all of which came for Saturday's opponents.
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.
But can he end his career by consigning the Cherry and Whites to defeat under the Old Trafford lights?
Super League Grand Final: Players & coaches pay tribute to Sam Tomkins ahead of final game
"It's a massive opportunity for us and it makes everything worthwhile. It makes the winter days and the tough training in pre-season all worth it when you get to run out on this pitch," Tomkins told BBC North West Tonight.
"I couldn't have written this. If somebody had asked me how I would like to finish my time playing rugby league this would be it, playing Wigan in a Grand Final. I'm very lucky and I don't take it for granted, I know I'm in a very lucky position.
"This is why we do it. As athletes you compete to win and there's no bigger stage to win than in a Grand Final."
For Tomkins, the end goal is simple. Win in Manchester and take an historic first title back to the south of France.
"The fairytale isn't playing on Saturday, it's winning on Saturday," Tomkins added.
"It's massive for the club. We're unique in the fact that we're the only French team. We're young as a club, only 17 years old, compared to Wigan who are 150 years old.
"We won't have tens of thousands of them at Old Trafford on Saturday, but there will be hundreds of thousands of fans supporting us."
'Catalans have a quality spine'
Wigan Warriors chairman Ian Lenagan will step down from the club at the end of the season - will he witness his side win a Super League Grand Final in addition to the League Leaders' Shield prior to his exit?
Wigan have faced Catalans on three occasions during the 2023 season and were twice on the losing side. However, in their latest meeting, the Cherry and Whites ran out 34-0 winners in Perpignan.
They have been two of the most consistent sides in the league this season, and whichever team wins will have had to battle their way to victory, according to Warriors full-back Jai Field.
"We've played them three times this year and they've given us a run for our money in every game," Field told BBC Radio Manchester.
"We definitely know what we're up against. They're a real tough team with a lot of strike and they're going to be playing with a lot of emotion with it being Sam Tomkins' and Mitchell Pearce's last game.
"They have strengths everywhere. They've got a great pack and good wingers. They have a quality spine."
Wigan swept aside Hull KR in last week's semi-final to set up the short trip to Old Trafford, which itself came off the back of their League Leaders' Shield-winning campaign.
But captain Liam Farrell does not think this makes them the favourites.
"You have to be a very good team to get to the last game of the season. I feel like we've deserved it this year and so have Catalans," Farrell told BBC North West Tonight.
"I wouldn't say it gives us extra confidence but to be known as the most consistent team throughout the year, winning the League Leaders' Shield, is definitely something we're proud of and we enjoyed that.
"We earned a week off which freshened the team a little bit and we rolled into the semi-final and did the job there."
'We will fly the flag for French rugby league'
Catalans Dragons captain Ben Garcia has spent almost his entire career with the club
Catalans' revival from relegation candidates only six years ago to Challenge Cup winners in 2018 and playing in two Super League Grand Finals in three seasons is remarkable.
Victory in a Grand Final evaded them in 2021 against St Helens, but captain Ben Garcia believes if they can pull off victory against Wigan, it would be just reward for the hard work behind the scenes in the French rugby league set-up.
"We have waited all season to play a game like this in this type of stadium and to get the trophy back to Perpignan," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"It would be a great reward. We worked hard all year. We want this trophy but we need to play well on Saturday night.
"We have a lot of passionate fans which you saw during the semi-final. Not everyone can come here but we'll have a lot of support in France."
It could be a potentially historic weekend for French rugby league as Toulouse face London Broncos in the Championship play-off final as they look to make an immediate return to the top flight.
"Steve [McNamara] as a coach changed a lot of things at the club. He has built a winning culture with players like Sam Tomkins and Mickey McIlorum," Garcia added.
"We will fly the flag for French rugby league so it [Toulouse also winning] would be great for everyone.
"It is a great weekend for French clubs but we both need to play well on Saturday and Sunday. It would be a great reward for everyone involved in rugby league in France."
Team news
Wigan make one change to their 21-man squad.
Ethan Havard returns for the first time since July following a hamstring injury and replaces Cade Cust.
Kai Pearce-Paul is also named in their ranks for the final time before he joins NRL side Newcastle Knights next season.
Catalans name an unchanged squad for the trip to Manchester after last week's semi-final win over St Helens.
Wigan (from): Field, French, King, Wardle, Marshall, Smith, Powell, Isa, Farrell, Smithies, Ellis, Havard, Pearce-Paul, Shorrocks, Mago, O'Neill, Miski, Hill, Nsemba, Hampshire, Dupree.
Catalans (from): Mourgue, Davies, Keighran, May, Pearce, McMeeken, McIlorum, Bousquet, Whitley, Seguier, Garcia, Da Costa, Navarrete, Chan, Romano, Ikuvalu, Taukeiaho, Dezaria, Johnstone, Ma'u, Tomkins.
Referee: Liam Moore.