Betfred Super League Grand Final
Wigan (7) 9
Try: French Goal: Keighran 2 Drop-goal: Smith
Hull KR (0) 2
Goal: Lewis
Wigan Warriors became the first side in the Super League era to win all four trophies in a single season as they beat Hull KR in a tight Grand Final at Old Trafford.
Matt Peet’s side triumphed under the lights to complete the set of World Club Challenge, Challenge Cup, League Leaders’ Shield and Grand Final in 2024 – but they were made to work for it.
After a nervy opening 20 minutes, a moment of magic from Bevan French put Wigan ahead and Harry Smith’s drop-goal on the verge of half-time extended their lead.
Mikey Lewis slotted over a penalty off the right-hand post to get Hull KR on the scoreboard but Adam Keighran’s kick ensured Wigan would write themselves into the history books.
Victory for Wigan means they repeat the feat their 1994 squad achieved in winning every major honour over the course of a single campaign.
Bradford in 2003 and St Helens in 2006 both won all four trophies – albeit over the course of two seasons – but Peet’s side have forced their way into the conversation of which side is the best in the modern era courtesy of neat defence in a tight second half against the Robins.
How the Grand Final was won
Whereas Wigan were freescoring in their play-off semi-final win over borough rivals Leigh last week, Saturday’s Grand Final was a more cautious affair.
Hull KR thought they had got on the board first with a cool finish in front of their fans from Man of Steel Lewis, but the score was chalked off after replays showed Tyrone May knocked on in the build-up.
Wigan were temporarily depleted when young second rower Junior Nsemba left the field for a head injury assessment after taking a heavy tackle from James Batchelor.
Yet despite the impressive forward’s absence, Wigan wasted no time in seizing the initiative as French scored his second stunning try in as many matches after his epic touchdown against Leigh last week, the stand-off picking up possession just past halfway and going through in sensational style.
Showing just how tight the game was, Peet’s side took no chances as Smith dinked a drop-goal through the posts on the half-time hooter just to edge Wigan further in front at the break.
With so much at stake, it was unsurprising that Lewis cannoned what should have been a straightforward penalty goal off the posts and through just before the hour mark.
The Cherry and Whites really should have wrapped up the win with just over 15 minutes left when Jake Wardle was sent through into the corner, but he was brought to ground by some sensational try-saving defence from Ryan Hall and lost possession of the ball before he could reach the line.
But a late penalty, successfully kicked by Keighran in front of a wall of a vociferous and noisy Robins fans, wrapped up a remarkable fourth trophy of 2024 to cap off a season unheard of in the past quarter of a century.
Peet wins seventh trophy in under 100 games
Wigan’s victory writes them into folklore as one of, if not the, greatest side of the modern era.
In the relatively short period under Peet’s stewardship since his arrival for 2022, the Cherry and Whites have gone from strength to strength.
Peet masterminded Wigan’s Challenge Cup win over Huddersfield at Tottenham just months into taking the job on and from there he has never looked back, breaking St Helens’ dominance from the turn of the decade and turning his side into superstars.
Their win under the Old Trafford lights earned Peet his seventh piece of silverware since his appointment – a feat made all the more remarkable given he has taken charge of fewer than 100 games.
French was rewarded for his efforts in scoring such an impressive try and his defensive work as Hull KR pushed for a response by winning the inaugural Rob Burrow Award for man of the match – named after the former Leeds Rhinos and Great Britain scrum-half who died earlier this year.
For Hull KR coach Willie Peters, it was another bridge too far for his side despite their own stunning ascent into title challengers this season.
Peters missed out on the Challenge Cup to Leigh just over 12 months ago but tussled with Wigan in a memorable season, narrowly missing out on the League Leaders’ Shield.
Despite dominating the opening stages, KR could not offer much in response to Wigan’s bruising back line and the Cherry and Whites’ tireless second half defensive efforts proved decisive.
It will offer little in consolation to the east Hull club that they came up short against an era-defining side, yet there is hope that under Peters they are proving they have the potential to gatecrash the traditional powerhouses in Super League going forward.
Wigan: Field; Miski, Keighran, Wardle, Marshall; French, Smith; Havard, Leeming, Thompson, Farrell, Nsemba, Ellis.
Interchanges: Byrne, Mago, Dupree, Forber.
Hull KR: Evalds; Burgess, Hika, Broadbent, Hall; May, Lewis; Sue, Parcell, Whitbread, Hadley, Batchelor, Minchella.
Interchanges: Litten, Luckley, Storton, Tanginoa.
Referee: Chris Kendall.