FORUMS FORUMS






RLFANS.COM
Celebrating
25 years service to
the Rugby League
Community!

  
A whole season in the making, the Warrington Wolves and Wigan Warriors clashed at Old Trafford in the fight for the ultimate prize, the Grand Final Trophy.

The game was too close to call. Warrington finished atop the pile at the end of the regular season, but Wigan were second. Warrington won two out of three meetings in 2016 but it was Wigan who won the last encounter, a thriller at the Halliwell-Jones, where they stole victory despite being reduced to twelve men.

No-one knew whether this would be the first time that the name Warrington Wolves would be etched onto the trophy, or whether Wigan would be able to end a two game losing Grand Final run. A full-house was all-set for a classic for the nineteenth Grand Final.

After absorbing six minutes of early Wolves pressure it was the Warriors who took the lead when, on their first real attack, they earned a penalty and Matty Smith slotted it between the uprights.

Both sides had spurned try scoring opportunities before on twenty minutes Declan Patton broke the Wigan line after throwing a dummy and dove over for the first try of the game. The Wolves youngster converted his own for a 6-2 lead.

The remainder of the half was scoreless but not as a result of a lack of attacking ambition, more of superb defence from both sides thwarting their opposition. There was very little to choose between the two sides.

On fifty-three there was a real defensive mix-up between Josh Charnley and Oliver Gildart which handed possession to the Wolves. Three plays in and Ryan Atkins appeared to go over but after referring the decision to the video referee the try was ruled out after Atkins was seen to drop the ball over the line.

Just a minute later and Wigan used their tackles to go the length of the field to score through Oliver Gildart. Farrell broke the Wolves line and went to the twenty before finding the centre with an accurate pass to slide over. Smith missed the conversion and the game was tied up at 6-6.

On sixty-two Tom Lineham lost the ball in the tackle, ten metres from his own line. Wigan used four tackles before Dan Sarginson put in a grubber to the corner. Despite a difficult bounce, Josh Charnley collected the ball and managed to ground it before sliding dead in goal. Smith again failed to add the conversion leaving Wigan with a four point lead.

A seventy third minute Smith penalty extended the lead to 12-6 after Warrington were penalised on their own line.

As the seconds ticked away it became clear that it wasn't to be Warrington's year as the Wigan defence held strong for the remaining seven minutes, to take a fourth Grand Final victory for the Warriors.

Wigan deserved to win the game after totally dominating the second half both in attack and with some superb defence. It was third time lucky for Shaun Wane's side as they quickly forgot the heartache of the last two seasons.

Wigan Warriors, Super League Champions 2016.

Wolves: Ratchford, Lineham, Evans, Atkins, Russell, Gidley, Patton (T, G), Hill, Clark, Sims, Wilde, Hughes, Westerman. Subs: Sandow, Bailey, King T, King G.

Warriors: Sarginson, Charnley (T), Gelling, Gildart (T), Tierney, Williams, Smith (2G), Nuuausala, Powell, Flower, Bateman, Farrell, Isa. Subs: Tautai, Sutton, Crosby, O'Loughlin.

Referee: Robert Hicks.

Attendance: 70,202


facebook sharing button
twitter sharing button
pinterest sharing button
email sharing button
sharethis sharing button


Posted by RLFANS News Hound on Sat 8th Oct 2016 8:01 PM | Views : 28180 | Replies : 0 | BACK TO STORIES
RLFANS Recent Posts
FORUM
LAST
POST
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
7m
Game - Song Titles
Wanderer
34291
8m
BORED The Band Name Game
Wanderer
56012
Recent
Smith - should he stay or should he go
weaver93
359
Recent
TV games not Wire
rubber ducki
2864
Recent
The Good Friday Derby Massacre
Tarquin Fueg
139
Recent
Ky Rodwell
Spookisback
109
FORUM
LAST
VIEW
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
1m
Saints a
WWste
23
2m
Ky Rodwell
Spookisback
109
2m
TV games not Wire
rubber ducki
2864
2m
New Super League shirts in time for Christmas
Deadcowboys1
115
2m
2024 Southstandercom Prediction Competition Week 6
rhinosTY
36
3m
Stats article
Sir Gregory
5
3m
TV Games - Not Hull
Chris71
1385
3m
The official Leon Hayes Thread
Smiffy27
18
5m
Fevround 2
Trojan Horse
91
6m
Squad for Catalan
Smiffy27
17
FORUM
NEW
TOPICS
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
TODAY
Another Tigers Defeat As Rhinos Go Level Top
RLFANS News
1
TODAY
York - 14th April
Spookisback
10
TODAY
Stats article
Sir Gregory
5
TODAY
21 man Squads - Devils v Leopards
Cokey
4
TODAY
Squad for Catalan
Smiffy27
17
TODAY
The Wigan Way - New Podcast - Chairman Special
Jukesays
1
TODAY
Dons v Swinton Lions 30 June 2024
Wanderer
1
TODAY
Squad for Sheffield
AdamH
1
TODAY
London Away
Fartown58
1
TODAY
The Bulls away
terry silver
9
TODAY
The official Leon Hayes Thread
Smiffy27
18
TODAY
Saints a
WWste
23
TODAY
Leon Ruan signs on loan
Jemmo
2
TODAY
Wardle
Jo Jumbuck
3
TODAY
Huddersfield - Home
Fartown58
6
TODAY
Max Wood on loan to Bradford 2 weeks
rubber ducki
7
TODAY
Jake Wardle 5 Year deal
Zig
22
TODAY
No grade A for 2025 for Trinity
PopTart
27
TODAY
Cup Quarter Final TV Arrangements
RLFANS News
1
NEWS ITEMS
VIEWS
Another Tigers Defeat As Rhino..
133
Cup Quarter Final TV Arrangeme..
554
2024 Challenge Cup Quarter Fin..
677
Easy Does It For The Dragons A..
586
Warrington Demolish London For..
691
Leigh Leopards Beat Plucky Fea..
742
Saints Triumph Over Disappoint..
721
Easy Win for the Wolves Over L..
960
Dragons Condemn Castleford To ..
928
Leigh Leopards Secure First Po..
1075
St Helens Tame The Rhinos To W..
1047
Wigan Warriors Come From Behin..
1113
Betfred Championship and Leagu..
1086
2024 Challenge Cup Sixth Round..
3869
Featherstone Win Extra Time Cu..
1205
RLFANS Match Centre
Matches on TV
Table 'boards.stats_fixtures' doesn't exist