The final match of the English Rugby League season is upon us as on Saturday evening the Wigan Warriors and the Warrington Wolves will head to Old Trafford for the third time in seven years to do battle for the biggest prize in the domestic game.
Both teams had good wins in the semi-finals last week to get them to the Theatre of Dreams but only one will be celebrating glory at the end of what is likely to be a pulsating and hugely dramatic 80 minutes of action.
New Customers can get Rep of Ireland at an enhanced 60/1 to beat Denmark. Max Stake £1. Winnings paid in free bets. Full T&Cs Apply. 18+|Gamble Aware.
Wigan Warriors
They say sport is all about timing and the Wigan Warriors have certainly got theirs spot on. They head into the Old Trafford showpiece in outstanding form having won all seven of their Super 8s matches, the first time that has ever been done, and then nilling Castleford Tigers in the semi-final last week.
A lot has been said about them being determined to win this final for coach Shaun Wane who leaves Wigan after this final, and the plethora of players who will also be departing. Only the players inside the dressing room will know how much motivation that gives them but to be fair if they need any extra lifting for a match of this magnitude they are probably in the wrong sport to begin with.
Warrington Wolves
The Wolves descend up Sir Matt Busby Way for the fourth time in their history, hoping and praying that this is the time to get their hands on that elusive Super League title. To be fair to Warrington they are no strangers to heartache that is for sure. They have been beaten in their three previous finals in Super League and earlier this season they failed to show up in the Challenge Cup final and were cast aside by the Catalans Dragons.
It is absolutely vital that what has gone before has no bearing on the Wolves here. If they start slowly the crown will disappear before they’ve been seen the glare of the lights on it. Warrington will need to defend for their lives and when they create things in the attacking areas they have to capitalise on it because chances will not come freely.
Team News
Shaun Wane is to name the same 17 men that did battle in the semi-final in this match. That means that Sam Tomkins and John Bateman will begin their final Wigan matches from the start of the contest.
Warrington Wolves head coach Steve Price is also likely to go to war with the same men that caused a huge shock in beating St Helens last week. He will need his side to compete to their maximum and his big players must show up.
[the_ad_group id=”3624″]
Match Betting
This has become a very tough final to bet on because the bookmakers have cottoned on to the potentially soaking wet conditions and the likelihood that points are going to be at a heavy premium in this final. I don’t think the Million Pound Game did much in that regard either to be fair. The total points line is as low as 24.5 which is incredible. I fancy that total will not be covered but I don’t want to bet it.
Ultimately I think you have to fear for the Warrington Wolves. Since they won the Challenge Cup in 2012 they have played in five major domestic finals and they have come up dry in the entire lot and a more recent trend is them faltering on the big stage. Wigan Warriors don’t do that. The bigger the occasion the better they perform and their record in finals is sensational. I think this final will be tight for the most part but ultimately we have to recognise the size of the task and the sense of the occasion being too big for the Warrington Wolves. I’ll take the Warriors to finish the season by covering a try.
Match Specials
This is a final and likely to be a tough one at that so immediate I’m looking at the first scoring play to be a penalty goal. We saw in the Million Pound Game how sides just want to be in front in these matches and should the weather play the role that we expect it to do kicks at goal will not be turned down at any stage. If the first try takes a while to come do not be surprised at all if the scoring is opened via a boot rather than hands.
I thought about having a look at no tryscorer which I think has half a chance in this final but last week was only the second time in Super League history such an occurrence has happened so I’m in no rush to climb onto it at 40/1 so my only big price bet for the final will be on Dom Manfredi to be the man of the match.
Big matches often lend themselves to a fairy tale story or an outcome with some meaning to it and what better than the season to be crowned by the man who missed the best part of two seasons with injury and who was once believed may not play again? Yeah I’ll have some of that. Step forward Dom Manfredi. Manfredi bagged a brace on his return from that injury, conveniently against the Wolves, and Wigan will go towards his wing for much of their attacking play. He can defend too. Forget the players who are leaving, Manfredi could be the biggest story if Wigan win this final.
Tips
WON – Back Wigan Warriors (-4) to beat Warrington Wolves for a 4/10 stake at 2.00 with Boylesports
Back them here:
Back First Scoring Play – Penalty Goal for a 4/10 stake at 2.50 with Betfred
Back D.Manfredi Man of the Match for a 1/10 stake at 23.00 with Betfair
Back him here:
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2018
