Super League Grand Final 2018: Wigan Warriors v Warrington Wolves – live!

Updates from the 6pm BST kick-off at Old TraffordShaun Wane: ‘I don’t cry much but I’ve just got upset then, haven’t I?’Email James your thoughts or via Twitter @piercy360 5.56pm BST Blossoms are out on the pitch. landfill indie-ing it up. Although, Stockport lads, playing Old Trafford, fair play to them. But it does allows me to revisit the previous bands/acts that have played before the Grand Final. You could say they’ve had a certain type. post-Deacon Blue, anyway. (although, Diana Vickers?!)2017 Razorlight2016 Feeder2015 The Charlatans2014 James2012-2013 N/A2011 Feeder2010 Diana Vickers2009 The Wombats2008 Scouting for Girls2007 Kaiser Chiefs2006 Deacon Blue2005 Madness2004 Heather Small 5.52pm BST Head-to-head records (last 10).Wigan – 5Warrington – 4Draw – 1 5.49pm BST The respective form guides.Warrington: WWLLWWLLWW / Average score: 31.6-19.6 5.38pm BST There was also a game in the southern hemisphere earlier today as New Zealand edged past Australia 26-24, breaking the Kangaroos 13-game win streak. Related: Rugby league: New Zealand end Australia's winning streak 5.37pm BST The coaches have been speaking in the tunnelWarrington’s Steve Price said, with reference to the Challenge Cup final defeat to Catalans Dragons: “I’d like to think we’ve learnt hard lessons (from that game0 but it does feel like a long time ago. Time will tell after 80 minutes. I’d like to think we’ve improved, especially the last couple of weeks, we’re defending really well for each other and have got our backbone right. 5.33pm BST It may prove be a good omen, it may mean nothing, but Wigan are already Super League champions in 2018 after their women’s team beat Leeds Rhinos after a stoppage-time penalty by Charlotte Foley delivered a 18-16 victory at the Manchester Regional Arena.Wigan’s female team, who were only established last year, stopped Leeds adding to their Challenge Cup and League Leaders’ wins with tries from Rachel Thompson (3) and Georgia Wilson. 5.21pm BST And why not revisit the team’s respective semi-finals, as Warrington stunned league leaders St Helen’s and Wigan got the job done against Castleford. Related: Warrington in Grand Final dreamland after Tom Lineham downs St Helens Related: Sam Tomkins stars to help Wigan into Grand Final against Warrington 5.18pm BST Here’s Shaun Wane outside a very windy Old Trafford. In a shock turn of events, rain is forecast in Manchester for the game. Huge noise for Shaun Wane on his final walk-in for @WiganWarriorsRL ??#GrandFinal pic.twitter.com/fuwiN4QD1f 5.15pm BST My colleague Aaron Bower has put together some fine preview pieces ahead of the big game so with 45 minutes to go, why not dive in. Related: Shaun Wane: ‘I don’t cry much but I’ve just got upset then, haven’t I?’ Related: Steve Price’s Warrington primed to finally end a 63-year title drought Related: Sam Tomkins keen to go out with a Grand Final bang for beloved Wigan | Aaron Bower 5.12pm BST 1. Sam Tomkins21. Dom Manfredi4. Oliver Gildart3. Dan Sarginson 2. Tom Davies6. George Williams 9. Thomas Leuluai25. Romain Navarrete7. Sam Powell10. Ben Flower40. Joe Greenwood14. John Bateman 13. Sean O’LoughlinSubs20. Morgan Escaré15. Ryan Sutton12. Liam Farrell8. Tony Clubb 5.00pm BST Good evening everyone, if you like a narrative in sport… boy, have we got the game for you. Today’s Grand Final is dripping in individual stories, before a ball is even whipped out of dummy half: Shaun Wane’s final game in charge of Wigan before beginning union life in Scotland; Wane can also match Brian Noble’s haul of three Super League titles having dragged the club back from the disappointment and expected end of his reign last season; golden boy Sam Tomkins bidding farewell to the Warriors on his 212th appearance for the club as he moves to Catalans; Winger Dom Manfredi just delighted to be on the field after two years of injury misery……Warrington potentially ending their 63-year drought for a championship; head coach Steve Price claiming the Super League title in his first season at the club having rebuilt his reputation in Cheshire following a difficult spell at St. George Illawara; Wire full-back Stefan Ratchford looking to avoid a record fourth defeat in a Grand Final against his hometown team after growing up within five minutes of the DW Stadium; and Ben Westwood lining up for Warrington at the ripe young age of 37 after 16 years of solid service, also looking to avoid an unwanted record. There will be blood a fairytale, whatever the outcome. Continue readingread full article

Source: TheGuardian

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