Matt Peet’s Wigan Warriors have made history by becoming the first club in the Super League era to achieve a clean sweep of all domestic trophies in a single season, following their back-to-back Grand Final victories over Hull KR. Rugby league boasts a rich history of exceptional teams, and this Wigan squad has undoubtedly cemented its place among them. Prior to this season, only four other sides had managed to win all four major trophies in a single campaign, making Wigan the fifth team to accomplish this feat. The last team to achieve this was the star-studded Wigan side of 1994-95, meaning Peet’s squad is the first to do so since the inception of Super League in 1996.
This achievement is even more remarkable when considering that these two Wigan teams are the only ones to have achieved a grand slam in nearly a century, with Swinton being the previous team to do so in 1928. The Warriors started their season by defeating the NRL champions, Penrith Panthers, and went on to beat Warrington Wolves at Wembley to reclaim the Challenge Cup. They secured the League Leaders’ Shield by finishing top of Super League ahead of the Robins. Their historic quadruple was sealed with a typically gritty Wigan performance in front of a large Grand Final crowd.
The result also highlights the ongoing wait for a new first-time winner in Super League, with Leeds being the last team to win the Grand Final for the first time in 2004. Given Wigan’s current dominance, it seems unlikely that any team will displace them from the top of the league anytime soon. The final between Super League’s top two teams promised to be an engrossing match, and while points were scarce, the game remained tense throughout.
Hull KR, who reached Old Trafford for the first time this season, will reflect on an occasion where they failed to capitalize on their early advantage. Wigan, as they have done under Peet’s leadership, ground out a victory in a high-stakes game. Bevan French’s early try, following a brilliant dummy to bamboozle Hull KR’s full-back, Niall Evalds, was a pivotal moment. Despite Rovers’ territorial and possession dominance, Wigan’s early score was a significant psychological blow.
Mikey Lewis, the newly-crowned Man of Steel, tried his best to break through Wigan’s resolute defense, but it was Harry Smith’s drop goal just before halftime that seemed to seal the game’s fate. As the conditions worsened in the second half, Hull KR’s chances of a comeback looked increasingly bleak. A penalty early in the second half allowed Rovers to narrow the gap, but Adam Keighran’s response soon after seemed to deflate Hull KR’s spirits. By the final quarter, the outcome felt inevitable, with Wigan securing yet another hard-fought victory.
