2016 Super League Grand Final

The 2016 Super League Grand Final was the 19th official Grand Final and conclusive and championship-deciding match of the Super League XXI season. It was held on Saturday 8 October 2016,[1] at Old Trafford, Manchester, with a 6pm kick-off time. British rock band Feeder provided the pre-match and half-time entertainment.[2] The Wigan Warriors were crowned champions, winning their fourth Super League crown, and prevented Warrington from winning their first championship in 61 years.

2016 (2016) Super League Grand Final  ()
12 Total
WAR 60 6
WIG 210 12
Date8 October 2016
StadiumOld Trafford
Location Manchester
Harry Sunderland Trophy Liam Farrell ( Wigan Warriors)
HeadlinersFeeder
RefereesRobert Hicks
Attendance70,202
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters
Commentators

Background

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
1 Warrington Wolves 302118944650+31143
2 Wigan Warriors 302109669560+10942

Warrington Wolves

Warrington's back end of the season started badly when they lost at the Challenge cup final, when they lost 12-10 against Hull FC. Then in the rematch of the final, Warrington won 23-6 to win the League. They then beat St. Helens for only the 2nd time at the Halliwell Jones Stadium to clinch the first Final spot.

Round Opposition Score
Semi-Final St Helens (H) 18-10
Key: (H) = Home venue; (A) = Away venue; (N) = Neutral venue.

Wigan Warriors

Wigan have been quieter than usual this season, however in the back end of the season Wigan have fought back to finish second by beating Hull F.C. and Warrington Wolves away. However, they have lost their last 2 grand finals, and beat the wolves in 2013.

Round Opposition Score
Semi-Final Hull F.C. (H) 28-18
Key: (H) = Home venue; (A) = Away venue; (N) = Neutral venue.

Match day

Pre-game

The match was a rematch of the 2013 Super League Grand Final, where Wigan won the trophy after trailing at half-time. This is Wigan's fourth consecutive Grand Final appearance. Warrington have been in the Grand Final twice before and have never won the Super League trophy, with their last league trophy win coming 61 years ago in the 1954–55 Northern Rugby Football League season.[3]

Wigan were underdogs coming into this match as a host of their regular players were missing through injury. Players such as Sam and Joel Tomkins, Michael McIlorum, Dominic Manfredi, and Lee Mossop. Skipper Sean O'Loughlin was also amongst this list but was rushed into the team for the Grand Final and was placed on the bench after two 'successful' training sessions. Warrington's Chris Sandow was also a late inclusion for the Grand Final after he recovered enough to play, however he also started the game on the reserves bench.

This was the last rugby league match for Wigan's Josh Charnley before heading off to play rugby union. Teammate, Lewis Tierney, son of 1998 Super League Grand Final winner and dual-international, Jason Robinson, created history by becoming the first son to play in a Grand Final after his father did.[4] Notably, Oliver Gildart's father Ian Gildart had also won various silverware with Wigan, but this was prior to the Super League era.

Match details

8 October 2016
Warrington Wolves 6–12 Wigan Warriors
Tries: Patton 21'
Goals: Patton (1/1) 22'
Tries: Gildart 55'
Charnley 63'
Goals: Smith (2/4) 8', 74'
Old Trafford, Manchester
Attendance: 70,202
Referee: Robert Hicks (Oldham)
Warrington Wolves Position Wigan Warriors
6 Stefan Ratchford Fullback 4 Dan Sarginson
2 Tom Lineham Wing 2 Josh Charnley
3 Rhys Evans Centre 3 Anthony Gelling
4 Ryan Atkins Centre 20 Oliver Gildart
5 Matty Russell Wing 22 Lewis Tierney
1 Kurt Gidley Stand-off 6 George Williams
26 Declan Patton Scrum-half 7 Matty Smith
10 Ashton Sims Prop 24 Frank-Paul Nu'uausala
9 Daryl Clark Hooker 16 Sam Powell
8 Chris Hill (c) Prop 10 Ben Flower
12 Jack Hughes Second-row 12 Liam Farrell
27 Sam Wilde Second-row 14 John Bateman
14 Joe Westerman Loose forward 25 Willie Isa
7 Chris Sandow Interchange 8 Dom Crosby
18 George King Interchange 13 Sean O'Loughlin (c)
24 Toby King Interchange 19 Taulima Tautai
33 Ryan Bailey Interchange 21 Ryan Sutton
Tony Smith Coach Shaun Wane

First half

Wigan opened the scoring in the 8th minute with a penalty goal from Matty Smith due to teammate, John Bateman, being held too long in a tackle.

In the 17th minute, Wigan dotted the ball on the line out wide with Charnley, however the try wasn't awarded, due to a flick from Gelling which went forward due to pressure from Warrington's defence. This was Wigan's only notable effort in the first half as errors, such as this one, from both teams cost them opportunities.

However, in the 21st minute, Warrington did score, thanks to a try from Declan Patton, who was only making his 9th appearance of the season. He then converted his own try to give his team a 6–2 lead, which they'd hold onto until half-time.[5]

Second half

In the 54th minute, Ryan Atkins made his way over the try-line for Warrington. However, referee Robert Hicks sent the final decision to Video Referee Ben Thaler, as he couldn't see whether or not the ball was grounded on the try-line, after 5 Wigan players were tackling Atkins. Eventually after a short delay, Hicks' initial TRY decision was overturned by video referee, Ben Thaler, due to Atkins seen losing control of the ball before he could get it down.[6]

A minute later, Liam Farrell broke Warrington's defensive line, and then gave a pass off to Oliver Gildart, who'd go on to score the 100th Super League Grand Final try. After kicking from a wide angle, Matty Smith was unable to convert and the scores remained level.

In the 63rd minute, Josh Charnley wasn't denied this time around, scoring after grounding the departing team member Dan Sarginson's grubber in the in-goal area. Matty Smith again had to convert from out wide, but he again failed to capitalise on the extra 2 points.

Smith then finally added another two points, courtesy of a penalty goal, conceded by Daryl Clark. The penalty-goal made the score 12–6 to Wigan with only 6 minutes remaining. After this moment, all the chances belonged to Warrington, but Wigan's defence stood up when it mattered most, tackling players out of play and tackling them on the 5th tackle, to create a turnover each time. Wigan held on to win their 4th Super League title.[7]

Post-match

Wigan's victory was their fourth Super League title.[8]

Liam Farrell won the Harry Sunderland Trophy/ Man of the Match award

The match was also the last for SkySports commentator, and former Great Britain international, Stevo, after 26 years of commentating the sport.[9]

World Club Series

By winning this match Wigan had qualified for the World Club Series Final, to be played at DW Stadium against the winners of the 2016 NRL Grand Final, the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. Warrington, as the runners up, would play 2016 NRL Grand Final runners up Melbourne Storm at the Halliwell Jones Stadium. The third game would have seen Challenge Cup champions Hull F.C. take on Canberra Raiders at KCOM Stadium. However circumstances later dictated that only Wigan and Warrington would play games, against Cronulla and Brisbane Broncos respectively.

References

  1. "2016 FIRST UTILITY SUPER LEAGUE FIXTURES ANNOUNCED". RUGBY-LEAGUE.COM. 18 October 2015. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  2. "FEEDER TO HEADLINE ENTERTAINMENT AT GRAND FINAL". RUGBY-LEAGUE.COM. 15 August 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  3. "Grand Final: Warrington and Wigan set for Super League's 2016 final". BBC SPORT RUGBY LEAGUE. 7 October 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  4. "Lewis Tierney will write his name in the Grand Final history books on Saturday". DAILY STAR. 1 October 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  5. "Super League Grand Final: Josh Charnley signs off in style as Wigan Warriors defeat Warrington Wolves". The Independent. 8 October 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  6. "Josh Charnley signs off with Wigan winner in Super League Grand Final". Daily Telegraph. 8 October 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  7. "Warrington 6-12 Wigan: Super League Grand Final – as it happened!". Guardian. 8 October 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  8. "Wigan's Josh Charnley downs Warrington in Super League Grand Final". theguardian. 8 October 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  9. "Farewell to Stevo: Sky Sports pundits pay tribute to Mike Stephenson". skySPORTS. 7 October 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
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