Kick-off: 1800, 14/10/2023
Stadium: Old Trafford
TV: Sky Sports
Wigan Warriors are backed to record their sixth Super League title by beating the Catalans Dragons at Old Trafford in the Grand Final this weekend.
Matt Peet’s side last lifted the game’s biggest prize in 2018, with bitter rivals St Helens then going on an unprecedented run of dominance, winning it four years in a row.
Catalans ended Saints’ chances of making it a five-peat, though, and will present a formidable test but we’re taking the Warriors by 1-12 points at 7/5 as our initial 2023 Super League Grand Final prediction.
Peet eyes more silverware
The Warriors have not had it all their own way in 2023 and some early-season losses to Hull KR and the Dragons themselves begged questions of their credentials.
However, they have built into the season and emerged from it with the leaders’ shield, taking a three-way tie at the top between themselves, the Dragons and the Saints on points difference.
It is perhaps fitting that it is themselves and the French outfit facing off at Old Trafford, given they were first and second on the ladder.
Wigan booked their final slot with a clinical 42-12 thumping of Hull KR in last weekend’s semi-final, with Abbas Miski’s try in that win his 27th of the season.
For Peet, victory would see him lift a major honour for the second straight season, having won the Challenge Cup in his debut campaign in charge in 2022.
Peet is a Wigan man through and through and now sits at the top of the club, having initially joined as an unpaid academy coach.
“I was just super-proud to be head of youth and academy coach and doing my bit for the club,” he said. “I started off as a volunteer coach and then I started getting paid a little bit but it just seemed beyond me.
“I’m not trying to be humble but it didn’t really enter my mind.”
Wigan have huge big-game experience and leading at half- and full-time at 19/20 is a solid-looking pick looking at the 2023 Super League Grand Final odds.
Tomkins seeks fitting farewell
It’s been said the Dragons making it back to Old Trafford for the second time in three years is bad news for the sport’s rulers, given the attendance will understandably be down due to the travelling involved, but that does not diminish how serious an outfit they are.
In Steve McNamara they have the competition’s longest-serving coach, the ex-England boss having been in position since 2017 and done wonders to establish the side as one of the game’s heavyweights.
Their 2018 Challenge Cup win was a real breakthrough but there is a feeling there is and should be more to come from this side.
They matched Wigan’s 20 wins in 2023 and in Tom Johnstone they have the game’s elite winger, his 27 tries level with Miski at the top of the scoring charts.
Beating Saints in the semi-final was a huge result and they also have the sentimental factor of Sam Tomkins – the Wigan great who scored the last-minute try against Saints – retiring after this match on their side.
Many of the game’s icons have gone out with Old Trafford glory and Tomkins has his sights firmly set on doing the same.
“The last thing Steve (McNamara) said to me (before the Saints game) was ‘remember what we spoke about when I signed you in 2018 – you want to be part of the team that wins the first Grand Final for this club’.
“I’m glad we’ve put ourselves in with a chance in what will be my last game.”
Two of their three meetings this season were high-scoring so 6/5 for over 5.5 tries is our final 2023 Super League Grand Final prediction.
Additional stats
Last result:
CATALANS DRAGONS 12-6 St Helens
WIGAN WARRIORS 42-12 Hull KR
Head-to-head: Wigan 10-18 Catalans, Wigan 22-46 Catalans, Catalans 0-34 Wigan.
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