Sat 12th Oct: SL Grand Final: Wigan Warriors v Hull KR KO 18:00 (Sky)

[StandOffHalf]

34 minutes ago, corvusxiii said:

So yeah, result not what I wanted but no controversy either, which is so very good! Neither was is the slow motion sludge fest that I remember from last season's final. (Tbf I spent much time on the phone as watching the match so..)

Not especially entertaining but close enough to engage me at least. The tip tackle penalty spoilt the match outcomes but.... Good Match. Well Done Both Sides.

 

Yeah, I thought at 7-2 when young Lewis shaved it in off the post that KR were set up for an assault on the Pie line in the last 15. 

When Farrell levitated and jumped shoulder first into the ground, it was quickly back to beyond six points and effectively Game Over. Before anyone jumps on me, I think it was a penalty. Lewis wrapped him up and he went past the horizontal. The attention-seeking theatrical jump from Farrell contributed to it though.

[ChristianB]

49 minutes ago, MrIzzard said:

On the money you can't substitute pace,  with Field and French they can open up the smallest of gaps in defence Hkr don't have one of those players I think the Wire will be more prominent next year and do a Wigan. 

On a wide and perfectly manicured Old Trafford pitch it needed a side with blistering pace. There's only two others in SL that can match Wigan in that department: Warrington and St Helens. And if those two, only one is arguably faster. The former. 

 

That was my original point. I still think there would have been a new name on the trophy tonight if Warrington had been there, and I mean that as no disrespect to KR. I was there and shouting as loudly for them as anyone else.

[ChristianB]

49 minutes ago, MrIzzard said:

On the money you can't substitute pace,  with Field and French they can open up the smallest of gaps in defence Hkr don't have one of those players I think the Wire will be more prominent next year and do a Wigan. 

On a wide and perfectly manicured Old Trafford pitch it needed a side with blistering pace. There's only two others in SL that can match Wigan in that department: Warrington and St Helens. And if those two, only one is arguably faster. The former. 

 

That was my original point. I still think there would have been a new name on the trophy tonight if Warrington had been there, and I mean that as no disrespect to KR. I was there and shouting as loudly for them as anyone else.

[ChristianB]

49 minutes ago, MrIzzard said:

On the money you can't substitute pace,  with Field and French they can open up the smallest of gaps in defence Hkr don't have one of those players I think the Wire will be more prominent next year and do a Wigan. 

On a wide and perfectly manicured Old Trafford pitch it needed a side with blistering pace. There's only two others in SL that can match Wigan in that department: Warrington and St Helens. And if those two, only one is arguably faster. The former. 

 

That was my original point. I still think there would have been a new name on the trophy tonight if Warrington had been there, and I mean that as no disrespect to KR. I was there and shouting as loudly for them as anyone else.

[Vyvyan]

Deserved win for Wigan.  HKR matched them up front but didn't have the creativity to open the Wigan defence.  

[RayCee]

Wigan has a nice balance of great defensive resolve and some attacking flair. That is what wins a club titles. KR are getting there but their attack wasn't good enough on the day. Warrington may have tested Wigan's defence a bit more but that may have brought Wigan out a bit more on attack too. So I think Wigan would have been too good for any side. 

[ChristianB]

1 minute ago, RayCee said:

Wigan has a nice balance of great defensive resolve and some attacking flair. That is what wins a club titles. KR are getting there but their attack wasn't good enough on the day. Warrington may have tested Wigan's defence a bit more but that may have brought Wigan out a bit more on attack too. So I think Wigan would have been too good for any side. 

They sure do. They totally smothered any attack.

But aside from a few smart kicks, they are predictable in shape when they move it wide. 

[Gooleboy]

12 minutes ago, ChristianB said:

On a wide and perfectly manicured Old Trafford pitch it needed a side with blistering pace. There's only two others in SL that can match Wigan in that department: Warrington and St Helens. And if those two, only one is arguably faster. The former. 

 

That was my original point. I still think there would have been a new name on the trophy tonight if Warrington had been there, and I mean that as no disrespect to KR. I was there and shouting as loudly for them as anyone else.

You have made your point!

[daz39]

Absorbing if not exciting, Wigan are a damn good team, thet simply strangle the opposition and rely on F&F to produce bits of magic to win them the game, KR never looked a danger, i was hoping for them to get a try just to make it more interesting but congratulations again to Wigan.

I've said it before and i'll say it again, Matt Peet is an exceptional bloke and an exceptional coach!

[Amber Avenger]

46 minutes ago, Futtocks said:

HKR have now been in a Grand Final. Sometimes you have to have already been in one to win one.

I've noticed it in some sports, where it takes a loss on the biggest stage to understand how to win the occasion the next time you get a chance.

In some sports that's true, and I've said it many a time leaving Old Trafford, yet the fact is in Super League only two teams have ever lost their first grand final, then gone on to win one and the last time that happened was now two decades ago. Absolutely mad, but there you go. We're a year closer to changing that now at least. 

As someone who just doesn't watch much RL any more, I was at the match tonight and actually really enjoyed it, even though by and large it was the same old GF script played out again. Thought Hull KR were better than most recent debutants and were very impressive, although as alluded to it's still shoulda woulda coulda. A try worth of winning any final or championship, Wigan worthy winners.

Funny how in the semis there were three teams that have yet to win the comp, and a few mates I talk RL with all to a tee said "Wigan will still win it". Plus ça change!

Non RL mate I went with loved it too. 

[bobbruce]

3 hours ago, Worzel said:

Wigan had their best team out, players on form who’ve been there and done it before, and Rovers were only beaten by a single moment of brilliance from the best player in the league. No shame in that eh. Proper grown up rugby tonight and on another day we could have squeaked it. 

The two best teams in the league, separated only by the league’s best player. Another step in the road forwards I think. This isn’t like Salford and Cas, it won’t be a one season freak. We’ll see us come again next year. 

I think this may have come a year too early for KR. I can see JWH having a similar effect to the one Burgess has had a wire. Players will run through brick walls with him along side them. 

[bobbruce]

45 minutes ago, ChristianB said:

On a wide and perfectly manicured Old Trafford pitch it needed a side with blistering pace. There's only two others in SL that can match Wigan in that department: Warrington and St Helens. And if those two, only one is arguably faster. The former. 

 

That was my original point. I still think there would have been a new name on the trophy tonight if Warrington had been there, and I mean that as no disrespect to KR. I was there and shouting as loudly for them as anyone else.

There is no way in hell that this years Saints team is matching Wigan for pace. I’m not sure where you get that from. 

[ChristianB]

2 minutes ago, bobbruce said:

There is no way in hell that this years Saints team is matching Wigan for pace. I’m not sure where you get that from. 

Makinson and Benison are no slouches. Not Ashton-Dufty quick, admittedly, but not that far behind.

[bobbruce]

2 minutes ago, ChristianB said:

Makinson and Benison are no slouches. Not Ashton-Dufty quick, admittedly, but not that far behind.

Neither are what you would call quick the whole Saints team is screaming out for a bit of pace it’s why the young fullback (Robertson) that came in was such a revelation. 

[WN83]

Last side I thought anyone would say could match Wigan for pace would be this year's Saints side! Make me old one legged granny look rapid. Different story next year maybe with Murphy and Sailor in there. 

[Futtocks]

1 hour ago, daz39 said:

Absorbing if not exciting, Wigan are a damn good team, thet simply strangle the opposition and rely on F&F to produce bits of magic to win them the game

I think you'll find the left hand side combination of Farrell, Wardle and Marshall can create plenty of points for Wigan too.

This season, Jai Field hasn't made many breaks, but he has diverted extra defenders towards him because they know what he can do if they don't gang up and smother him. Less individual glory for Jai, more success for the team. More space for French, too.

Edited October 12 by Futtocks

[Wollo Wollo Wayoo]

35 minutes ago, ChristianB said:

Makinson and Benison are no slouches. Not Ashton-Dufty quick, admittedly, but not that far behind.

 

30 minutes ago, bobbruce said:

Neither are what you would call quick the whole Saints team is screaming out for a bit of pace it’s why the young fullback (Robertson) that came in was such a revelation. 

Lewis Murphy will certainly improve things too next year. 

[eal]

Well done to Wigan, they were predictably dominant in the end, although Hull KR were up for the fight and did themselves proud. Would've been nice to see a new name on the trophy but alas it wasn't to be. Wigan are champions of everything this season!

[George Watt]

7 hours ago, StandOffHalf said:

This Grand Final kind of reminds me of the 2020 NRL GF, where Penrith couldn't score against Melbourne. French and Papenhuyzen added dashes of speed and elusiveness.

 

Sweet revenge though in 2024!  Papenhuyzen nowhere near the player he was in 2020 while French gets better as the years roll by.

[StandOffHalf]

Just now, George Watt said:

Sweet revenge though in 2024!  Papenhuyzen nowhere near the player he was in 2020 while French gets better as the years roll by.

To be fair, Papenhuyzen is coming back from injury. I hope he can get back to where he was.

French is the most exciting player in SL.

[George Watt]

7 hours ago, Futtocks said:

As for Bevan French, I am reminded of an anecdote from a previous era about a previous Bevan, when a winger facing Warrington was told (in no uncertain terms) to "watch Brian Bevan carefully!"

At half time, Bevan had already scored a hat-trick so the coach rounded on the winger with "I TOLD you to watch Bevan!"

The winger replied "I did watch him... good, isn't he?"

First saw him play in Hull in season 47/48 and today he remains my all time favourite RL player.

[wakeyranger]

7 hours ago, bobbruce said:

I think this may have come a year too early for KR. I can see JWH having a similar effect to the one Burgess has had a wire. Players will run through brick walls with him along side them. 

I can't see this as he will probably be in the sin bin or suspended most of the time.

[Old Frightful]

An absorbing contest.

As others have alluded to, the Wigan defence won it. French came up with the bit of magic he's always capable of to score an exceptional try but without the suffocating defence it wouldn't have mattered. I thought Wigan looked calm and composed beforehand whereas the Rovers' players had a look of nervous determination. I said before the game that I though the score would be Wigan summat Hull KR nowt and I was close, but you can't argue that Rovers gave it a good go and their own defence was impressive.

As my nemesis Worzel commented, these were probably the best two teams of the 2024 SL season and there wasn't much to choose between them. If Rovers can replicate this years "success" next year then they should be better for yesterday's experience.

But #Since 1985  still has it's relevance.

As an aside, how wonderful to see Rob and Lindsey's children deliver the new MOM trophy, very moving and they are a real credit to their parents.

 

[JohnM]

From Today's Sunday Times:

Wigan Warriors 9 Hull Kingston Rovers 2:

Bevan French's spectacular solo try seals grand slam for Matt Peet's side, one of the greatest-ever rugby league teams

Ross Heppenstall

Saturday October 12 2024, 10.00pm, The Sunday Times

The good times are well and truly back at Wigan Warriors, whose latest title success confirmed one of the great dynasties of the Super League era as they completed a remarkable grand slam. Few can forget Wigan's halcyon days of the late 1980s and early 1990s when the likes of Shaun Edwards, Andy Gregory, Ellery Hanley and Martin Offiah graced the famous cherry-and-white jersey.

These days their star man is the brilliant Australian half back Bevan French, who scored one of the greatest tries in Super League history during the first half to lay the platform for victory.

Eronch is ororo tolont and his nonchont. .....

[gingerjon]

8 hours ago, Amber Avenger said:

In some sports that's true, and I've said it many a time leaving Old Trafford, yet the fact is in Super League only two teams have ever lost their first grand final,

"They'll come back stronger" is not a thing that really happens in Super League.

Which is fine, you have to take your chances when they came up - which is as true for the opportunities for trophies as it is for chances in the game itself.

In a related note, Rovers have lost 7 out of their 8 Challenge Cup finals, and, now, their only Grand Final appearance.