WARRINGTON Wolves’ wait for a league championship goes on after they were beaten in the Super League Grand Final 12-4 by Wigan Warriors.
Dom Manfredi’s second try minutes from time secured the win for Wigan in Shaun Wane’s last game in charge at Old Trafford.
It was a fourth Grand Final defeat in seven years for the Wolves, who also lost this year’s Challenge Cup final to Catalans Dragons at Wembley.
The final had started so well for the Wolves with former Wigan winger Josh Charnley crossing for the game’s opening try after 14 minutes.
But Oliver Gildart fed Manfredi for his first try in the right corner and a smart kick by George Williams was pounced upon by Tom Davies in the other corner to give them a 8-4 half-time lead.
There was a fracas in the tunnel as the teams exited the field with Warrington aggrieved that two incidents involving Sam Tomkins hadn’t been punished with a yellow or a red card, in both instances making contact with first Stefan Ratchford and then Daryl Clark with his knee.
A cagey second half never really got going, and though Warrington had a couple of Ratchford breaks, they never really tested the Wigan line with much vigour.
The Warriors didn’t have much luck either, but after Tomkins had missed a long range penalty that would have put them six points in front, they finally made sure of the win four minutes from time when Sean O’Loughlin shifted the play in midfield to the right and Manfredi finished strongly in the corner.
Warrington’s outstanding full-back Ratchford collected the Harry Sunderland Man of the Match reward but it will have done little to ease the pain along with his team mates aftera fourth successive Grand Final defeat.
After the game Warrington’s Head Coach Steve Price, who has taken the club to both major finals in his first season said: “It could have gone either way. I’m super proud of them, to where we have come. Sometimes you’ve got to give credit where it’s due, so credit to Wigan.”
MoM Stefan Ratchford- Picture Eddie Whitham
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HIGHLIGHTS
Watch all the tries from tonight’s @betfred Super League #GrandFinal between @wiganwarriorsrl & @wolvesrl pic.twitter.com/kYboHPIwpS
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) October 13, 2018
Great to see these two share a beer after tonight’s game. This is what our sport is all about #Respect 🤝 pic.twitter.com/OQnRE0ekM6
— Wigan Warriors 🍒⚪️ (@WiganWarriorsRL) October 13, 2018
