Statement well and truly made by Wigan Warriors. There are many different ways to win a Super League playoff game and both of next Saturday’s Grand Finalists have shown that in the past 24 hours.
On Friday night, Catalans needed all of their resilience and mettle to edge the reigning champions, St Helens, in the most dramatic fashion. But here, the Warriors emphatically displayed why they will head to Old Trafford as favourites to be crowned champions with a showing of the highest quality.
Matt Peet promised in the build-up to this game that his team had learned from last season, when they were stunned at home by Leeds Rhinos in the playoffs when they were heavy favourites. They faced the same situation here, with nothing to lose for Hull KR, who have established themselves as a side capable of competing on all fronts.
But inside the opening 10 minutes or so, any notion of a repeat from 12 months ago was dispelled. Wigan led 12-0 before Rovers had managed to touch the ball and shortly after the visitors’ first set in possession, the Warriors scored again to make it 18-0. Leads of that magnitude in games with the stakes as high as these are often impossible to overturn.
That proved to be the case. Wigan were outstanding from start to finish and for the first time in three years, they return to the Grand Final. “It’s a perfect place to coach,” Peet said. “My staff and players, I love every one of them and it’s a privilege to be a part of this club.”
Wigan have been the benchmark this year, finishing top in the regular season and there was little doubt they would be heading for Old Trafford from an early stage. It took two minutes to break the deadlock, when Jai Field sent Liam Marshall over in the corner before Field doubled the Warriors’ lead after collecting a clever Harry Smith kick.
Field was then central to Marshall claiming his second with a wonderful team move and the Robins had barely got going but were all-but out of the tie. They rallied and reduced the deficit as half-time approached with an Elliot Minchella try but they were never likely to produce a remarkable comeback.
“I’m extremely proud of what we’ve achieved this year,” their coach, Willie Peters, said. “We’ve still got a way to go though, Wigan showed the way today, they’re a top club.
“We’ve been a good team this year and next year we want to be a very good team.”
Any notion of a fightback was quickly put to bed soon after the restart, as Wigan once again began the half in scintillating fashion. A cross-field Bevan French kick found Marshall unmarked in the corner three minutes into the second half, before Toby King finished another superb move five minutes later.
With Smith converting all five tries, the hosts led 30-6 with half an hour still to go. It was now a case of how many Wigan would win by and they added further tries through Field’s second and a well-worked effort for Abbas Miski.
Rovers at least added a try through Jez Litten in the final minutes but the tie had long since been decided.
