Super League Grand Final preview: Warriors can slay Dragons

As we wave goodbye to the summer months, the day that all rugby league fans have circled in their calendar is almost upon us as the Super League Grand Final takes place on Saturday 14th October.

This year’s Old Trafford showdown sees Wigan Warriors take on Catalans Dragons, and we find out whether the Super League trophy will be heading abroad for the first time in history.

We preview the final below.

Road to the final

Wigan Warriors

After a gruelling 27 match league season, followed by the playoffs, we are left with just two teams who will battle it out on the hallowed turf of Old Trafford to secure Rugby League immortality.

This year’s final sees the two top teams from the regular season go to battle. Wigan Warriors topped the table, with Catalans behind them only on points difference.

The Cherry and Whites had yet another impressive regular season as they put a grand total of 722 points past opponents over their 27 matches, finishing the season with a +362 points difference thanks to some solid defensive showings.

As always, the Warriors have a star-studded squad, with Bevan French the cherry on the icing having been named this year’s Man Of Steel earlier in the week. French has been a maestro for the Warriors, looping round from the full-back position to make his presence known in the attacking line, securing 17 tries and 30 assists across the season.

The Warriors also have the upper-hand from the regular season, winning the most recent meeting between these two sides by an impressive 34 points to nil in the south of France.

They put in an incredibly dominant performance in the semi-finals against Hull KR and that will give them some great momentum heading into Saturday’s final.

Catalans Dragons

Catalans had yet another impressive season in Super League this year, continuing their trajectory towards being one of Super League’s consistent top sides. Finishing level on points with Wigan and just 60 shy on points difference they are well deserving finalists.

The boys from the south of France have had their fair share of dominant Super League wins this season, including victories by a margin greater than 40 points over Leeds Rhinos and Salford Red Devils.

Catalans have had their fair selection of individual talent on show this season and none more so than electric winger Tom Johnstone, who finished the regular season as Super League’s joint top try scorer, touching down on 27 occasions.  As one of the most effective wide men in the league this season, Johnstone narrowly missed out to Bevan French as one of three nominees for the Man Of Steel Award.

Perpignan’s finest put in a more than worthy performance in their semi-final as they saw out a six-point victory against the formidable St Helens, who were looking to secure their fifth Grand Final title in a row. Keeping the scoreline at 12-6, the Dragons showed immense defensive resilience which sets them in good stead for what is shaping up to be a very tightly contested final.

Warriors to rise to the occasion

When we take a look at the final, history falls in the favour of the vastly experience Wigan Warriors, and at 8/13 they are the hot favourites to lift the trophy on Saturday evening.

They are far more experienced than the Dragons, reaching the final on 11 separate occasions, compared to Catalans’ one, that appearance coming in 2021 when they fell just short in a 12-10 loss to St Helens.

Catalans are the underdogs for this one at 6/4 and with history both near and far against them it will be a big ask for them to overturn those odds.

As is often the case in rugby, the value in this game is found in the handicap market. With Wigan coming out on top by a 34 point margin last time out in this fixture, we fancy them to continue their dominance with Wigan Warriors to win with a -4 handicap at 11/10 looking the value play.

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