HEAD-TO-HEAD
The 2018 Grand Final will be the third meeting at Old Trafford between the two sides in six years, with Wigan winning both times. Wigan will be hoping for their fifth Super League trophy in ten years, while Warrington are looking to end a 63-year wait for the championship.
They first met in the 2013 Grand Final. Warrington fans really thought it was their year and led Wigan 16-6 at Old Trafford, but they were hit by injury with Joel Monaghan being stretchered off near the end of the first half. Wigan took full control of the match and scored 28 unanswered points to win 30-16 and secure the League-Cup double.
Three years later, the two sides met again in the 2016 First Utility Grand Final. Like 2013, Warrington were ahead at half-time (6-2) thanks to a Declan Patton try and conversion, but midway through the second half, Oliver Gildart crossed over the line for Wigan. Josh Charnley, in his final game for Wigan before moving to rugby union, crossed over late on to secure a 12-6 victory for the Cherry and Whites.
This fixture will also be the sixth time Wigan and Warrington have gone toe-to-toe this year, making a competitive and local rivalry. As it stands, Wigan have three times and Warrington have two.
Their first meeting took place in round three in February, when tries from Ryan Atkins and Tom Lineham, along with four kicks by Bryson Goodwin, carved them into a 16-0 lead against a Wigan side who had just returned from Australia. The Warriors would fight back in the last quarter with tries from Liam Marshall and Tony Clubb, but the Wire held on for a 16-10 victory.
The next meeting took place in Newcastle at the Dacia Magic Weekend, this time it was a win for the Warriors. Wigan led 16-10 at half-time with Tomkins contributing four goals. The second half was one-way traffic with Wigan scoring 22 unanswered points past Warrington, to give them a convincing 38-10 victory.
It was only a matter of weeks before the sides played again but this time, it was in an elimination fixture – The Challenge Cup. It was one-sided throughout and after a solid defensive effort, Warrington kept the Warriors scoreless and beat them 23-0 to proceed to this year’s Semi-Final.
The final regular season clash took place in round 20 where it was a closely-contested game. Warrington actually scored one more try than the Warriors but their inability to convert nor kick a drop goal, left the game open. In the 79th minute, Sam Tomkins faked a drop goal before passing it to Josh Woods. He successfully kicked the goal and the celebrations began for Wigan as they clinched a 13-12 win.
In the Super 8’s they once again met, with the venue DW Stadium. Warrington rested a number of first-teamers including both first-choice half-backs in Kevin Brown and Tyrone Roberts. Captain Chris Hill was also rested alongside Mike Cooper and Ben Murdoch-Masila. Wigan proving too strong in recording a 26-6 win.
