ISAIAH VAGANA took delight in Wakefield proving they had what it took to win Super League.
The forward said: “It still doesn’t feel real, but it just feels great to have got the win and achieved what we wanted to achieve. After the year we’ve had, we deserved it.
“When we settled down, it really felt like just another game and we all got down to doing our jobs.
“There was a lot of confidence in the boys and I feel that showed in the way we played.
“We showed a lot of grit and stuck to our systems against Wigan (in the play-off semi-finals). We knew it would have to be the same to beat these guys.
“There are no easy games in this competition. Warrington gave us a run for our money and they didn’t make it easy.
“But even when we went a man down for ten minutes, and they did get a try, we stayed strong because we knew we could keep them at arm’s length by sticking to our systems. We came through a tough spell in the game, and coming through tough times shows how good a team you are.
“The two years I have been here, we have grown and just got stronger and stronger. We have proved a lot of doubting people wrong and ourselves right.
“I know it’s been a long wait for the club to win a major championship or major final, and you just can’t beat that feeling.
“It was a great atmosphere, absolutely unreal, and when we came out, it was great to see and hear all our fans at the end where the tunnel is.
“We’d had a chat before about soaking up that moment, and letting it lift us, but then making sure we were focused and doing what we had come to do.”
Vagana added: “A lot has been made of our pack, and we have an important role to play, but so do the spine and the outside backs. This win was down to a really big team effort and us having a lot of belief in each other.
“Caius Faatili was great with his red, white and blue hair. It gave us all a laugh in the week. I thought he looked good.
“He’s just that type of character – tough but also soft hearted. I think things like that and people like him are good for the team and good for the game as a whole.
“My dad (former Bradford prop Joe Vagana, a three-times Grand Final winner with the Bulls) was able to come over (from New Zealand) and for me to win a Grand Final feels like a full-circle moment. We had a hug and I think he shed a tear or two.”
