Academy Grand Final Preview & RESULT

[Beryl O'Neill]

Well done lads brilliant win

[josie andrews]

Well done to the brave attendees! 40 m drop-goal; that sounds quite a strike!

There was the penalty kick as well from about 45 metres. Saints tried one similar earlier in the game but missed and that’s with Jack with a gammy l kicking leg

[josie andrews]

Kerr: Favourite moment

* Taylor Kerr shared his pride in captaining Wigan Warriors to an Academy Grand Final victory.

* Kerr: “It’s massive and something I’m definitely proud of with being from Wigan – it’s my favourite moment since joining the Club.”

* FT | St Helens Academy 12-15 Wigan Warriors Academy.

TAYLOR KERR SHARED HIS PRIDE IN CAPTAINING WIGAN WARRIORS TO AN ACADEMY GRAND FINAL VICTORY OVER ST HELENS.

Despite falling behind at the Totally Wicked Stadium, a converted Jack Purtill try and Jack Farrimond drop goal put the Warriors 7-6 ahead at the break. Noah Hodkinson’s converted try was cancelled out by St Helens to bring the points difference to one before Farrimond’s penalty was enough to win.

Loose forward Kerr, who captained the Warriors on the night, shared his delight post-match: “I’m buzzing. It’s been a tough year with some personal ups and downs but to be back in the side and to win how we did is just a great feeling.

“I’ve been vice throughout the season but the opportunity to captain the team in a Grand Final came with George [O’Loughlin] unfortunately missing out through injury. It’s massive and something I’m definitely proud of with being from Wigan – it’s my favourite moment since joining the Club.”

The Warriors stood firm in the closing stages to deny the hosts, and on the Warriors’ defensive effort, Kerr said: “It was tough out there but I’m proud of the way the lads stuck in. Our defence was under the pump on multiple occasions towards the end but all the lads did well to pull through, especially with that last minute effort to win the game.”

On Farrimond, who was named the Player of the Match after kicking seven points in the win including a 40m drop goal in the first half and a penalty from similar distance in the second, Kerr said: “Jack was unreal and showed why he’s been playing in Super League. He stepped up when it mattered with his kicking which helped us massively to get through the game.”

Looking ahead to the 2025 season, Kerr said: “My main aim is to just come back in pre-season looking to push on with my best foot forward. It’ll be tough in a full-time environment but I’ll be around a lot of experienced players to learn from which will only help with my development.”

The Warriors are 80 minutes from a Betfred Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford next month. Tickets for our play-off semi-final at The Brick Community Stadium on Saturday 5 October (5:30pm K.O.) are available to purchase online HERE.

https://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2024/09/ ... te-moment/

[Charriots Offiah]

Well done to the brave attendees! 40 m drop-goal; that sounds quite a strike!

There was the penalty kick as well from about 45 metres. Saints tried one similar earlier in the game but missed and that’s with Jack with a gammy l kicking leg

If he had been 100% fit he would have scored from the interception.

[josie andrews]

It was good to see Taylor Kerr acknowledge his injured captain George O’Loughlin in accepting the trophy together

[Charriots Offiah]

It was good to see Taylor Kerr acknowledge his injured captain George O’Loughlin in accepting the trophy together

Indeed. What’s happening with George? I know he is injured but has he got a contract?

[josie andrews]

It was good to see Taylor Kerr acknowledge his injured captain George O’Loughlin in accepting the trophy together

Indeed. What’s happening with George? I know he is injured but has he got a contract?

He’s only just turned 18 in August. I’m sure he is still contracted to the club. He dislocated his shoulder & has just recently had an op when I spoke to him last week he said it will be okay for next season

[Charriots Offiah]

It was good to see Taylor Kerr acknowledge his injured captain George O’Loughlin in accepting the trophy together

Indeed. What’s happening with George? I know he is injured but has he got a contract?

He’s only just turned 18 in August. I’m sure he is still contracted to the club. He dislocated his shoulder & has just recently had an op when I spoke to him last week he said it will be okay for next season

Thanks Josie. In that case George will be too old to play at Academy level next season, I presume he will play for the reserves.

[josie andrews]

Indeed. What’s happening with George? I know he is injured but has he got a contract?

He’s only just turned 18 in August. I’m sure he is still contracted to the club. He dislocated his shoulder & has just recently had an op when I spoke to him last week he said it will be okay for next season

Thanks Josie. In that case George will be too old to play at Academy level next season, I presume he will play for the reserves.

Half the academy have already been playing in the reserves

[josie andrews]

Noah Hodkinson: Meet the Academy Grand Final winner with first-team ambitions after ‘dream come true’

Noah Hodkinson played an influential role as Wigan Warriors claimed their first Academy title since 2019 with a 15-12 victory over rivals St Helens – and the young full-back has shared his goals of making his first-team debut in the near future.
The 18-year-old crossed the whitewash at the Totally Wicked Stadium as well as hooker Jack Purtill, alongside seven points from Jack Farrimond’s boot to help Wigan beat their rivals, who were looking to retain the title in a third consecutive Grand Final appearance.

Tom Humphreys and Oliver Garmston scored for the hosts, while Warriors back-rower Lukas Mason produced a match-winning try-saving tackle in the dying minutes to help secure the victory.

“This game meant a lot, they got one over us a few weeks ago and especially after last year as well,” Hodkinson said, with the Warriors having been ruled out of last year’s final due to an interchange error in the play-offs.

“We’ve come a long way from pre-season, we’ve worked hard and it’s hard to put into words now.

“It was a good game and a good arm wrestle. There were some points where we dominated them, but then we gave a few pressure releases away and let them back into the game a little bit. But individual efforts got us through it and we played well as a team.”

Hodkinson is one of five academy products who will join Wigan’s full-time environment from 2025, with the youngster having also trained with Matt Peet’s senior squad across the last 18 months.

The former Hindley amateur joined the Warriors for their 10-day pre-season training camp in Portugal ahead of the 2024 Super League campaign, alongside fellow young outside-back Nathan Lowe, and admits it’s a dream come true to be rewarded with a promotion.

“I’m buzzing,” Hodkinson said, who initially signed his first contract with the club’s scholarship programme in 2021.

“I’ve worked hard since I was a young boy and it’s what you dream of. For the last 18 months, I’ve been training with the first-team, a few of us have.

“I was over the moon, you can’t put it into words.

"It’s a dream come true really. Now getting into full-time training, I want to fit in and the next goal is making my debut. That’s the plan.”

https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby- ... ue-4799003