The Play-offs Part 7 - Super League Grand Final

The Play-offs Part 7 - Super League Grand Final

Here we are at last.  The final match of the 2016 rugby league season... the Super League Grand Final!  For it to be the top two teams battling it out for the title after all 30 rounds and Semi Finals have been completed is probably the most fitting climax anyone could have hoped for and it’s one that could well be the best final for a long time.

I’m sure Saints and Hull fans would disagree with that comment but I can’t help but thinking that if the team that finishes top of the pile isn’t in the Grand Final at the end of the Play-offs it takes some of the shine off it for me.

Maybe that’s just the traditionalist in me that believes whoever finishes top of a league table should be crowned champions, but I agree that the Play-offs add that extra bit of spice and excitement to a season where you know that even though you finished top of the tree there is still a little bit more work to do to eventually cross that finish line as winners.

I like the change in Play-off format where it’s now a straight Semi Final/Final knock-out competition rather than the top eight entering the Play-offs and the highest ranked team in the Semi Finals having the ‘club call’ advantage where they could try and avoid the team that finished just below them or a local rival.

Finally gone are the days where a team from outside the final three or four can win the trophy and that’s why this format is better and I hope it’s here to stay... for now!

SUPER LEAGUE GRAND FINAL – WARRINGTON WOLVES vs WIGAN WARRIORS

(Old Trafford, Saturday, 8 October – 18:00pm)

Warrington Wolves

This will be the Warrington’s third appearance at Old Trafford and will no doubt be their best chance so far to claim victory and end their Grand Final hoodoo.

Having appeared in two previous finals after finishing second both times in 2012 and 2013 they lost both of those games to sides who finished outside the top three (my point I made above reiterated and justified?!) which means they were either not fully prepared for the game or they came up against a team that finished fifth (Leeds) and fourth (Wigan) respectively who had momentum behind them which could have played some part in them winning the trophy rather than the higher placed Wolves.

Their Semi Final against St Helens wasn’t without its controversy and if you believe some of the reports and comments coming from the Saints corner, the officials had a big say on who won that match.  Whether you agree with that or not, it’s Warrington that won the right to play at the Theatre of Dreams and face off against a Wigan side that beat them on home soil only three weeks ago.

But all past results and histories will be put aside and forgotten for this one-off match for the right to finally be crowned champions and Warrington will be desperate to confirm their superiority in the league this season and add the Super League trophy to their cabinet once and for all.

Tony Smith will be hoping Chris Sandow’s injury subsides in time for Saturday’s game but with the strength in depth that the Wolves seem to have had this season whichever side he picks will be able to put on a show for their supporters.

SUPER 8’s RESULTS:

Round 1 – Warrington Wolves 18-20 St Helens

Round 2 – Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 10-38 Warrington Wolves

Round 3 – Warrington Wolves 14-11 Castleford Tigers

Round 4 – Catalans Dragons 22-26 Warrington Wolves

Round 5 – Warrington Wolves 30-12 Widnes Vikings

Round 6 – Warrington Wolves 28-35 Wigan Warriors

Round 7 – Hull FC 6-23 Warrington Wolves

Semi Final – Warrington Wolves 18-10 St Helens

Wigan Warriors

Its four wins on the bounce now for Shaun Wane’s side as they look to continue that form and win only their fourth Grand Final in an incredible tenth appearance.

This will be the Warriors’ fourth consecutive appearance at Old Trafford and after losing out for the last two years they will be desperate to put the record straight as English rugby’s most successful club.

The first of these appearances in 2013 was a repeat of this matchup and the Warriors fans will be hoping that big game experience will see them through what will be a tight encounter.

However, their Semi Final proved just as tight, against the Challenge Cup winners Hull FC, as Wigan trailed their Yorkshire opponents 16-18 until the final eight minutes or so.  They found a way to turn the score around though and secure victory by ten points in those last few minutes and send their passionate home support into raptures and off to another Grand Final.

There looks to be no injury worries for Wigan this week as they prepare for this Final and if it stays that way I might just be tempted to put my money on the Cherry and Whites to sneak the victory.

SUPER 8’s RESULTS:

Round 1 – Wigan Warriors 60-12 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats

Round 2 – Castleford Tigers 36-22 Wigan Warriors

Round 3 – Wigan Warriors 25-0 St Helens

Round 4 – Wigan Warriors 6-8 Widnes Vikings

Round 5 – Hull FC 12-18 Wigan Warriors

Round 6 – Warrington Wolves 28-35 Wigan Warriors

Round 7 – Wigan Warriors 48-24 Catalans Dragons

Semi Final – Wigan Warriors 28-18 Hull FC

MY PREDICTION – Wigan to win by 6+ points