Super League reigning champions Wigan Warriors look on course to clinch a second successive Super League shield following their 38-0 hammering of Leeds Rhinos in the penultimate game of the regular season.
The Warriors were at their sparkling best in the seven-try victory over Leeds, who themselves have been chasing a place in this season’s Super League playoffs. The tone was set by a stunning individual try from Jake Wardle, with the Rhinos looking well beaten after a brace of scores from Bevan French.
It’s been another remarkable Super League season for the Warriors, who finished last campaign with 20 wins and seven defeats. With just one game of the season remaining now, Wigan are guaranteed to improve upon last year’s performance, with 21 wins and five defeats to their name in 2024. They’re also guaranteed a place in the Super League postseason, where the top four teams face-off to reach and contest the Grand Final. The Warriors are unsurprisingly odds-on favourites to win this year’s Grand Final in the latest rugby betting odds, although Hull KR are waiting in the wings to strike if there’s any slip-ups in the playoff semis or even the Super League Grand Final.
Wigan’s destiny is in their own hands
However, few would be betting against the Warriors making back-to-back Grand Final victories right now. Wigan have been so consistent and explosive throughout the season. All they need is to avoid a defeat against the Salford Red Devils and the Super League shield is theirs, putting them in pole position for the postseason playoff semi-finals.
Their team is quickly becoming used to success, which is not something that’s been said of the club through the 2000s when former playing legend, Shaun Edwards, turned down a chance of managing the Warriors in favour of remaining in rugby union. Wigan have had a taste of silverware already this season too, winning the 2024 Challenge Cup, their 21st Challenge Cup triumph in the club’s glittering history. In fact, Wigan are already in with a chance of back-to-back clean sweeps for the season – the Super League shield, Super League Grand Final, Challenge Cup and the World Club Challenge against the best of the Southern Hemisphere.
Although it’s important to acknowledge the calibre of recruitment has been second to none in recent seasons, the team spirit cultivated at the club is also unrivalled. There’s an incredible togetherness throughout the Warriors’ dressing room. They’re also something of a band of brothers following their exploits last year.
The strength in the depth of their roster is also eye-watering for most other Super League sides. Few teams have the luxury of fielding physical specimens like Patrick Mago, Ethan Havard, Sam Walters and Tyler Dupree on the bench. All of whom are fast, powerful players that can shift. Combine this with the firepower of their starters, it’s easy to see why opposing Super League teams don’t get a moment’s rest.
Have the Warriors assumed the Saints’ mantle?
There was something of a “Changing of the Guard” feel about Wigan’s Magic Weekend victory over St Helens. The Warriors dismantled Saints 20-0 at the DW Stadium with a top-class display of rugby league. In doing so, Wigan moved back to the Super League summit, securing a psychological edge over the rest of the division. Wigan’s shutout of St Helens was made even more impressive by the fact they were reduced to 12 men just before the 60-minute mark.
It was a big moment for the Warriors, who lost 12-4 to St Helens in the reverse fixture earlier in the season. It demonstrated just how much this Wigan squad was maturing, both on and off the field.
The last time Wigan won back-to-back league titles the Super League Grand Final didn’t even exist. The Warriors won the league title eight years on the bounce between 1988-1995. While Matt Peet’s men still have some way to go to keep that kind of company, there’s no doubt that this latest generation of Warriors is making the rugby town of Wigan proud once again.
