EITHER Warrington or Wakefield’s long wait for the top-flight title will come to an end at Old Trafford on Saturday.
It’s been some 71 years since the Wolves last got their hands on the top-flight title, a 7-3 Championship Final victory over Oldham in 1955, whilst Wakefield’s run stretches back to 1968, when they beat Hull KR 17-10 in the same competition.
Wakefield have won four of the sides’ last five meetings, including the latest (25-18 last month), but Warrington triumphed 27-16 back in round three at the start of the season.
Whatever the outcome, a new name will be etched on the Super League trophy in front of a bumper crowd expected to be the highest in almost a decade.
Trinity produced one of the performances of the season in their semi-final to thwart Wigan’s treble-bid, whilst it was a controversial penalty that saw Warrington over the line in a thriller at Leeds.
As a result, remarkably, this 29th Grand Final will be the first without the involvement of Wigan, Leeds or St Helens.
Warrington will hope to finally get their hands on the trophy after falling short in each of their previous four Grand Final appearances (2012, 2013, 2016 and 2018), whilst Daryl Powell has guided Wakefield to their first-ever Grand Final, the culmination of a rebuild that has taken the club from the Championship to a highest Super League finish in the club’s history in just two years.
Sam Burgess has made just one change to his Wolves squad, with Jordan Crowther replacing Max Wood, whilst perhaps unsurprisingly, Powell’s Wakefield are unchanged.
SQUADS
Wolves: 1 Cai Taylor-Wray, 2 Josh Thewlis, 3 Toby King, 4 Albert Hopoate, 5 Matty Ashton, 6 George Williams, 8 Luke Yates, 9 Danny Walker, 10 James Harrison, 12 Sam Stone, 13 Ben Currie, 14 Sam Powell, 16 Liam Byrne, 17 Jordan Crowther, 18 Ewan Irwin, 19 Leon Hayes, 20 James Bentley, 22 Joe Philbin, 23 Arron Lindop, 26 Josh Smith, 34 Kelepi Tanginoa
Ins: 17 Jordan Crowther
Outs: 25 Max Wood
Trinity: 1 Max Jowitt, 3 Cameron Scott, 4 Corey Hall, 5 Tom Johnstone, 6 Jake Trueman, 7 Mason Lino, 8 Mike McMeeken, 9 Tyson Smoothy, 10 Ky Rodwell, 13 Jazz Tevaga, 14 Jay Pitts, 15 Caleb Hamlin-Uele, 16 Caius Faatili, 17 Harvey Smith, 18 Isaiah Vagana, 19 Lachlan Walmsley, 20 Jack Sinfield, 21 Jayden Myers, 23 Josh Rourke, 24 Tray Lolesio, 26 Zac Lipowicz
Referee: Liam Moore
STATS
Last ten meetings:
Wakefield 25, Warrington 18 (SLR26, 5/9/26)
Warrington 27, Wakefield 16 (SLR3, 28/2/26)
Wakefield 40, Warrington 10 (SLR11, 18/5/25)
Warrington 16, Wakefield 30 (SLR4, 9/3/25)
Wakefield 42, Warrington 6 (SLR20, 30/7/23)
Warrington 32, Wakefield 18 (SLR11, 5/5/23)
Wakefield 30, Warrington 24 (SLR15, 12/6/22)
Warrington 12, Wakefield 16 (CCR6, 27/3/22)
Warrington 22, Wakefield 38 (SLR6, 19/3/22)
Wakefield 28, Warrington 22 (SLR19, 15/8/21)
Super League summary
Warrington won 36
Wakefield won 24
Warrington highest score: 80-0 (H, 2015) (also widest margin)
Wakefield highest score: 50-10 (H, 2002) (also widest margin)
No Previous Final meetings
(Warrington won 0, Wakefield won 0)
MILESTONES
MATTY ASHTON needs three tries to reach 150 for his career.
– 111 for Warrington Wolves (2020-2026)
– 30 for Swinton Lions (2019)
– 6 for England (2023-2024)
GEORGE WILLIAMS needs one point to reach 500 (Super League).
– 166 for Warrington Wolves (2021-2026)
– 333 for Wigan Warriors (2013-2019)
(including play-offs & Super League Super 8s)
CAMERON SCOTT needs one appearance to reach 150 for his career.
– 54 for Wakefield Trinity (2025-2026)
– 73 for Hull FC (2018-2024)
- 4 for Leigh Centurions (2020, loan)
– 7 for York City Knights (2019, loan)
– 9 for Doncaster (2018-2019, dual-registration)
– 2 for Dewsbury Rams (2018, loan)
TOM JOHNSTONE needs one try to reach 150 (Super League).
– 113 for Wakefield Trinity (2015-2022, 2025-2026)
– 36 for Catalans Dragons (2023-2024)
(including play-offs & Super League Super 8s)
MASON LINO needs six points to reach 500 for Wakefield Trinity.
– 20 tries, 204 goals, 6 field goals (133 appearances, 2021-2026)
TOM JOHNSTONE needs eight points to reach 500 for Wakefield Trinity.
– 123 tries (162 appearances, 2015-2022, 2025-2026)