2024 Grand Final WIGAN v HULL KR

[morley pie eater]

Awesome really. I didn't feel quite as confident as at the Cup Final when after 5 minutes I was sure we'd win but very early, I couldn't see how HKR were ever going to score a try.
I'm assuming that the ref had some instructions from above or maybe wanted to keep it 13 a side (which I'm all in favour of) but Budgie was lucky and the 'orrible Lewis (was he really playing in the match?) should have got 10 minutes for that tip tackle. Hugely impressive was the way that Ellis kept everyone back when Lewis tried to deflect by starting a ruck.
Talking Of Ellis, noticeable how he runs the match in the first PTBs like SOL used to. Great credit to him and to MP for seeing that potential at loose-forward.
As for Thompson - Blimey - isn't he good! French had to be MOM but Ellis or Thompson could well have won it.
Also, brilliant touch from the club having Mike Cooper bring the trophy out at the start of the match.
Now what are we going to do for several months?

Noticed that too - the "culture" at the club is outstanding, and a major reason for our success. I notice that Meds JFTB has died a death

[josie andrews]

Mike Cooper at the End of Season Dinner commented on our great club said he’d thoroughly enjoyed signing for us the only regret he found was that he hadn’t come to us sooner

[archiekeith]

I don't think it was a crap game at all, I thought it was a good contest. Wigan's defence held solid, and KR largely fluffed the few chances they had. First v second, deservedly so, and class told out in the end.

Congrats Wigan. Both teams coached. Well. Both teams played well One lost the other won Why? Because one scored more points than the other as I have said recently on this forum before . Ps toMorley. Your grandad was wrong in your comment you couldn't express it being to rude to state on this forum You made your point nevertheless A wolf in sheepskin clothing. That said I hope you enjoyed the result as much as I did. I did tell you perhaps arrogantly to " listen and learn " hope you did Cheers

[Firestarter]

French was great along with many others.I personally think smith was mom as he totally controlled the game

[Mike]

I agree, it was 80 minutes that showcased the grit and connection that makes our game so special. I’m so proud of the entire team, the coaching team and the squad players who didn’t make the 17. I thought it was a classic throwback to a proper RL contest. To play for over 5 hs in 4 games and not concede a try is beyond special. We may not never get another chance to see this so take it in everyone.

Awesome support behind the posts and yet another memorable night following the greatest sports team on the planet. Thought Thompson &/Ellis were huge again in the middle.

Also, someone mentioned it earlier but Burgess should have been binned for the cowardly shot to Junior’s head when he was on the ground, He was sin binned for something less sinister in the game at the DW in September.

Anyway. Enjoy the moment everyone. We’ve got a very special group here and an absolute genius in Bevan

We spoke about that at the game, but they never showed the replay of Burgess going in on the big screen replays!

They don't show replays when a player is potentially seriously injured. It's not appropriate.

[EagleEyePie]

Liam Farrell - 96 metres, 15 carries, 53 tackles (12 from marker)
Kaide Ellis - 96 metres, 18 carries, 56 tackles (6 from marker)
Ethan Havard - 80 metres, 13 carries, 52 tackles (13 from marker)
Luke Thompson 145 metres, 17 carries, 48 tackles (10 from marker)

For me this is where the game was won. Obviously French gets the glory and why not, he's a special talent and the try was sublime. However, we smothered Rovers in defence to the point where they never looked like scoring from open play at all.

The work rate and the effort from the 4 players above was phenomenal. I think it was the full 80 from Ellis and around 76 minutes from Thompson. High energy and relentless all game.

I want to single out Ethan Havard though. He produced those numbers in 54 minutes, so over a quarter of a game less than the other 3, which shows just how hard he was working while on the pitch. I also included marker tackles because that's a good indicator of work rate and intensity in defence as marker tackles are pretty much always repeat tackles. He topped the charts for both teams. He was absolutely everywhere in defence and didn't give the Rovers forwards an inch. After the heartbreak of last year it's only fair he gets massive praise for that performance.

And of course, Liam Farrell putting in that performance having just recovered from a virus. Whoever was on our right edge was going to have a hell of a job to do with the threats Rovers have on that side, particularly Mikey Lewis. A captains performance if ever there was one.

Further credit should also go to Adam Keighran, who had his best game defensively and has ended this season in really strong form. It was always going to be difficult adapting to playing on the right instead of the left but he's got better and better as the year has gone on.

The defensive effort, and the mammoth effort from the forwards then allowed Smith to do what he does best, which is get us into the right positions on the field, pin Rovers back when the chance arises and relieve the pressure on us when things are tough.

[BriH]

Fabulous end to what has been a hard season.
Didn't enjoy the game too much because I found it nerve-racking but..............I relaxed towards the end and cheered like hell when the final whistle blew!
Loved Kruise Leeming raising his arms in triumph to the Wigan specys with about 15 seconds left!!
Harry Smith outplayed The Great Mikey and Bevan is our one-and-only Wizard of Oz!

Looking back over the last 4 matches it's been a real treat to watch this fabulous team of ours.
Can't wait to see what we will do next year with this team.

[BriH]

Liam Farrell - 96 metres, 15 carries, 53 tackles (12 from marker)
Kaide Ellis - 96 metres, 18 carries, 56 tackles (6 from marker)
Ethan Havard - 80 metres, 13 carries, 52 tackles (13 from marker)
Luke Thompson 145 metres, 17 carries, 48 tackles (10 from marker)

For me this is where the game was won. Obviously French gets the glory and why not, he's a special talent and the try was sublime. However, we smothered Rovers in defence to the point where they never looked like scoring from open play at all.

The work rate and the effort from the 4 players above was phenomenal. I think it was the full 80 from Ellis and around 76 minutes from Thompson. High energy and relentless all game.

I want to single out Ethan Havard though. He produced those numbers in 54 minutes, so over a quarter of a game less than the other 3, which shows just how hard he was working while on the pitch. I also included marker tackles because that's a good indicator of work rate and intensity in defence as marker tackles are pretty much always repeat tackles. He topped the charts for both teams. He was absolutely everywhere in defence and didn't give the Rovers forwards an inch. After the heartbreak of last year it's only fair he gets massive praise for that performance.

And of course, Liam Farrell putting in that performance having just recovered from a virus. Whoever was on our right edge was going to have a hell of a job to do with the threats Rovers have on that side, particularly Mikey Lewis. A captains performance if ever there was one.

Further credit should also go to Adam Keighran, who had his best game defensively and has ended this season in really strong form. It was always going to be difficult adapting to playing on the right instead of the left but he's got better and better as the year has gone on.

The defensive effort, and the mammoth effort from the forwards then allowed Smith to do what he does best, which is get us into the right positions on the field, pin Rovers back when the chance arises and relieve the pressure on us when things are tough.

Great analysis and spot-on about smothering Rovers.

[fozzie58]

French was great along with many others.I personally think smith was mom as he totally controlled the game

Yea I agree he was outstanding all game but obviously i was blinded by the new man of steels brilliance of kick,kick,kick every time down the throat of the back line,I was sat with some Leeds fans who still can’t believe French wasn’t named man of steel again can’t disagree with them either

[moto748]

EEP mentions Keighran. It struck me that, as well as massively improving Bevan as a player, Wigan have also taught Adam Keighran how to tackle! Plenty of excellent and well-timed stops, an area that was a weakness of his when he first arrived at the club.