Old Trafford is the traditional venue for the Super League Grand Final and the Theatre of Dreams hosts a clash between Warrington Wolves and Wigan Warriors for the third time in six years this weekend.
Wigan have won both previous meetings and are hot favourites again to condemn the Wire to a third defeat in rugby league’s showpiece event since 2012.
Wigan Form
The Warriors spent most of the regular season in vain pursuit of St Helens but second place still earned them a home semi-final in the play-offs and they took full advantage, scoring 14 points without reply against Castleford Tigers.
Shaun Wane’s team are on a nine-match winning streak and the club is contesting a 10th Grand Final. Wane is moving on to a job with the Scottish RFU after Old Trafford and several of his squad are also leaving the Cherry And Whites, most notably Sam Tomkins who is joining the Catalan Dragons.
It’s going to be an emotional occasion, therefore, with England full-back Tomkins priced up at a general 6/1 to be Man Of The Match. There will be plenty of interest in the Warriors’ Dominic Manfredi to be First Tryscorer at the general 8/1. Wane, however, is warning his players that the job is only half done after they reached Old Trafford. The Grand Final does have a habit of producing shock results and handling conditions could be difficult if the threatened gales hit the north-west before Saturday evening.
Warrington Form
Despite a 26-6 defeat at the DW Stadium in September, the score between the Wolves and the Warriors stands at two-all this year. Warrington thrashed Wigan in the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup in June but them went on to lose the final to the Dragons, despite being overwhelming favourites.
They have been accused of bottling it on the big occasion but that certainly wasn’t the case in their play-off semi-final at St Helens, when they overcame a half-time deficit to win 18-13 and shock the League Leader’s shield winners.
However, coach Steve Price knows his side will have to raise their game again to defeat Wigan. There will be huge pressure on Stefan Ratchford, relatively inexperienced in the full-back position, but Josh Charnley and Kevin Brown will need little incentive against their former club and there is little love lost between Tom Lineham, hero of their semi-final victory, and opposite number Dominic Manfredi. Lineham was banned after swinging an arm at Manfredi in an earlier meeting and is a general 10/1 to be First Tryscorer this weekend.
Warrington v Wigan Current Best Odds
Warrington 7/4, Draw 25/1, Wigan 8/13 (Match Odds Correct at 10.30am October 10)
Warrington v Wigan Predictions
Wigan are worthy favourites in the Match Betting at 8/13 given their winning run and some say the script is written for several big names at the club to go out in a blaze of glory. However, Warrington have already upset the odds once in the play-offs and they will feel they have a point to prove after failing to produce in the Challenge Cup Final earlier in the year.
The Wolves are certainly due a Grand Final victory and the 7/4 with William Hill will look good value if they frustrate the Warriors when they are in possession. In the alternate markets, Wigan/Warrington in the Half Time/Full Time forecast at 10/1 with Betway is certainly worth a second look.
