Grand Final - Warrington v Wigan Rugby League: Super League Highlights

The Wolves arrived with the league leaders shield already in the trophy

cabinet, but defeat to Hull at Wembley rev into their chances of

doing the trouble. They've never won here at Old Trafford, but arrived

with the best attacking Super League this season. They are going to need

it if they want to do the double. The Warriors have been one of the

best offensive teams at this season but they are looking to avoid three

successive defeats at the Theatre of dreams. Shaun Wane says the anyway

to drive out of here is with a trophy on the bus. It is one versus

two. It is the Super League Grand Final. Warrington, Wigan. Two towns

where rugby league is king. But there's only one crown. A theatre of

dreams will provide the stage for rugby league royalty to stake their

claim for a 2016 coronation. Twice already these great clubs have

fought each other at Old Trafford. Nearly 30 years ago, Wigan with

Shaun Wane as that foot soldier, earned success. Three years ago with

Shaun Wane as general they won again. But Wigan have lost their

last two finals in this arena, and Warrington have their own veteran of

the winner 's podium. Twice Tony Smith lead leads to Grand Final

glory. Could he inspire the desperate Wolves to a first league

title since 1955? Or at the third time of asking, will the battle

scarred Warriors finally take that crown? Joining us here are two men

who know just a bit about winning at Old Trafford, player and coach Kevin

Sinfield and Brian Noble. How strange for you to be stood here in

a suit and not have your beats on getting ready? It's a bit different

but it's great to be here and experience it. As you can hear the

noise behind us, it's been an incredible experience. I've really

enjoyed it. We are in for a great game. It should be a really special

game. We've got the best attack and the best defence, toss of a coin

might separate these teams. If Wigan play a bit more expansively Bell

challenge Warrington. I did think Warrington can change, it's in their

DNA, they are going to throw the ball around. What did you make of

Warrington's performance and what about the transformation of Tom

Lineham? I think they've been really disciplined the last few weeks.

After Wembley is always difficult. Tony has got them firing, they've

got some fantastic English players. The one who really stepped up for me

last week was Stefan Ratchford. For Wigan, the last few weeks they've

shown character and spirit, haven't they? And they have started to throw

the ball around. They are resilient. I hope they haven't thrown the ball

around with a view to catch up football. They are structured, they

are tough, they are going to be hard to break down. I think there's a

belief in the camp. I think they will really fancy it. Don't buy into

Shaun Wane's apparent we are the only using kids, they've got eight

or nine internationals in that team as well. I think we are in for a

bopper. Sean O'Loughlin is back, he's on the bench. Is that a gamble?

I don't think it's a gamble. With that quality you have to play him.

It surprised me he's not starting but a great addition to the team.

Going into today, there needs to be a story or a cause behind the team.

They've both got that. Warrington having never won it since 1955 and

lost on the last two occasions, Wigan staring down the barrel of a

third successive defeat. They want to win it but also get their monkeys

off their back. It will be the 2016 Super League champions?

COMMENTATOR: These are the moments that get you. This walk out of the

tunnel into the intense noise, the intense heat. Here they come to the

annual wall of noise. Not just one of rugby league's great occasions

but a highlight of the sporting calendar, now. It is another wow

moment at Old Trafford ahead of this Grand Final, and two clubs who can

claim every right to be here this year. Wigan and Warrington. They

finish second and first. This is the way they are lining up tonight.

Chris Sandow after a spell of injury absence is amongst the Interchange

players. He has potential to add some real magic to this occasion if

he is firing on all cylinders. A handful of individuals in that

Warrington side will have big parts to play. Wigan likewise on the

bench, touch and go all week for skipper Sean O'Loughlin but he's

named and he could have a crucial part to play when he comes on. But

again, if he holds out in the heat of this battle. Robert Hicks is the

referee for this one as well. It will be Wigan to get us under

way. 61 years since Warrington lifted rugby league's most prized

crown. Can they rewrite history tonight? Only four years for Wigan,

defeats in their last two Grand Finals have left a rather bitter

taste that they would love to rinse away. What are we expecting here

tonight? Going into the semifinals, it was difficult to pick the winner.

After Warrington's performance against St Helens, especially Sims

and Hill, they just didn't have the edge but it's all about the

composure. Whoever keeps their composure I think will win this

game. Straightaway a lovely kick there from Declan Patton. He's been

chosen in the starting line-up. Looked after the ball, good kick,

good chase. Now they'll be challenging Wigan with their

defensive effort. The two men on the bench tonight who had so much

chatter about them in the week, Chris Sandow and Shauna Lockman, the

fact they are on the bench is a reflection they are simply not fully

fit. They are a gamble. They are a gamble but they are special players

and they might be needed. There's knock-on by Bateman. It was on

target when it came him. Scrappy first set of six by Wigan. They went

across the field very early. It's an off-load, scrappy play. Renowned for

looking after the ball and challenging the opposition. They are

deep in their own half. That's a significant tactic therefore the

Cherry and Whites. Unsuccessful this time. Advantage Warrington, here.

Scrum and possession inside enemy territory. Ashton Sims. Here comes

Hill... 25 yards away when he gets up and plays him. They tried to find

a bit of wits, here. Wilde to his feet. It's back with Gidley again.

Well met by the Wigan defenders. This is good early pressure that

Warrington are putting on, here. Out come the defenders from Wigan again.

Final tackle, final play in this set. Gidley with a kick towards his

right hand side. Terrific leap by Lineham. Evans with a stutter and a

step but too many defenders. Tremendous defence for Wigan but

they are asking questions of Warrington Wolves in that set of

six. Shaun Wane looking on, the head coach. Williams... Sarginson the

full-back in the line, he drops it away, keeps it alive. Williams is

offering a threat, here. He's got support from Bateman, the ever

direct John Bateman. He's going to get a penalty. He was trying to get

a quick play of the ball. A great opportunity for Powell. He was

lucky, there. There's no control of the speed of the play of the ball.

It was a second effort that brought Bateman to the ground. It will be a

simple two points the Wigan Warriors. Wigan fans in good voice.

In terms of nerve settlers, they don't come much easier than this.

For Matty Smith, he's kicking it into the gale of the noise created

by the supporters. Wigan have the lead.

Russell, scampering on. Warrington with Sims. Bold it away to Wilde.

When it comes eventually to Lineham. No depth to hit the ball at pace.

Gidley's kick is on the touchline and that in the circumstances...

It's going to keep in. It's a very good kick regardless. With that

chase there from Warrington it could start an opportunity. Nice, neat

pick-up. His dad Jason Robinson played in the first ever Grand

Final. First Grand Final combination of father and son. This is Crosby.

Inside to Farrell who bursts with energy through the gap! Gets the

past away, Warrington's defends razor sharp when they to be. He

threw a forward pass to Charnley. It's no try. They should have been

celebrating... Brilliant defensive play by Rhys Evans. If you're

talking about depth, just watch this play. Rhys Evans, look at him. They

keep the ball going and they have to score. As I said before the game,

compose you will win you this game. That was eight brilliant opportunity

for Wigan. Lovely play, though. Inside ball.

It's all right knowing it's coming, it's stopping it when it looks good,

that's the problem. That's very high. Charnley leaps... He's knocked

on! Josh Charnley knocks on. Warrington get their result. Poor

technique, that. The elbows needed to be together, there. I don't know

whether he needed to take off either. He could have remained on

the ground. I agree. I think players go airborne because they think they

are not contested, then. You've got to attack the ball and Charnley was

way off. Chance for Warrington, here. An excellent opportunity from

an excellent starting position. Toby King gets up and plays. He is

Atkins... Gidley with a short pass. Ashton Sims smashing onto it. That's

a rugged Wigan defence. Didn't go too quick. Gidley, again. King with

a flipped pass! Its Warrington's turned to blow a chance. Two

opportunities, blown. A tremendous off-load, there. Difficult one to

take. But when you're playing at this level in a game of this

importance, those are the game breakers. Ryan Atkins put that one

down. The noise has barely subsided from the minute they walked out at

Old Trafford. Just that one kick so far separating Matty Smith's early

penalty. But a chance appease. They've got moments to regret,

moments to be relieved about. A high tempo game, very quickly

indeed. John Bateman just keeps going. He doesn't look much, but he

is hard to stop. Here comes Williams. That was topped on. --

tapped on. They really rushed the Wigan ball-carriers there, put

pressure on the skill, and they went to tap on Gildart. He tapped it

forward. Rhys Evans will take it just about

inside Wigan territory. Duties are taken on by the outside backs

momentarily. Three tackles to go, Warrington are 20 metres away. Hill

will add a bit of muscularity to the situation. Clark, darting to the

left-hand side. Patton! Oh, yes! Declan Patton, absolutely wonderful!

Years the local lad who has become a local hero in the last few weeks. He

is -- he is the local lad. A bit of a show, a bit of a go. He has the

strength and the wherewithal. His team-mate went over the line with

him. Tremendous try. Watching Matty Smith, walking back, he was tired.

He left too much work for Bateman. Too close to the try line. Silence

in the head of Declan Patton. He has a chance to add to his four. He is

coming of age this year, is young Declan Patton. Adding the goal to

his try. Warrington lead, 6-2, with 21 minutes played. Five more efforts

to come here from Warrington. Either through brutal force or subtlety

will stop -- or subtlety. Warrington have a pretty good field position.

Clark, again, short to Hill, who knows his way to the try line, but

can't find the root on that occasion. Gidley, with a little

double pump. Enough bodies to deny him his moment of glory. Last play,

here it comes. Pumped away again. Jack Hughes has lost the ball. What

an effort. Lost it. Sarginson again, who with ball in hand, has not...

Years carried the ball very well indeed. That's a great pass.

It's a lovely play by Williams. Tierney has got room to run. And he

is smashed from right, left and centre. On the sixth tackle, Wigan

will find themselves 15 metres away. Bateman has been taken by Atkins,

and Atkins is running away. He thinks he is going the length of the

field. As it was, he was denied, anyway.

He couldn't hear him. They couldn't hear his whistle from 18 yards away,

so he has had to run all the way downfield and say, fellows, it is a

penalty, follow me. They have to go all the way back to the other end of

the field. Years offside. He had to go back one yard. He is offside.

They have a history of kicking for one or two match points. Warrington

with a lot of defending to do. Let's see if Wigan can execute him. Cornet

is out wide. Line has got his number. He has him in his pocket for

the time being, which might not be the case for all of tonight. -- line

am. Bateman has done well to slip away from the original tackle. Smith

is spinning it back to Farrell. Farrell has missed a man out. There

have been a lot of wide passes detainee. Lineham is there. Caught

well by Westwood. That was an exceptional set of tackles for

Warrington Wolves. 30 seconds of the half remaining. Atkins, just beyond

the 30 metre mark. Bailey was stopped in his tracks. Quite

literally. By Sean O'Loughlin. Has that her O'Loughlin? That is the

question. He is jogging back to position. Last tackle, last night.

Belted down field by Ratchford. The hooter sounds. Stoppage in play.

Wigan started with a little bit of excitement, but they will go down

with a tackle. The hooter sounds. It is that man's try that has made all

the difference, Declan Patton. Ratchford restarts the second half.

It's not been settled yet, not by a long way. Just the one try, Declan

Patton, in the 21st minute. Patton, a conversion for Warrington. It's as

close as you would like it to be, as a neutral. Lots of excitement in the

first half. There were half chances, some outstanding defence. An element

of enterprise in the kicking game as well. The best, I feel, is still to

come. O'Loughlin goes back to Williams. This is a good first set

by Wigan. They have got themselves into some very competitive kicking.

Line has done well again. -- Lineham. Defensively, they are

clearing every kick. Bailey, driving it in. Smart and quick footwork by

Russell. A couple of tackles still to go in this set, the first that

Warrington have had in the second half. That is a good kick from

Patton, a really good kick. That puts Wigan on the back foot. Well

executed, that kick. Shaun Wane and Cole looking on full stop his side

have work to do, but it is well within their capabilities. Here is

Tierney on the left-hand side. Inside ball. Great covering defence

by Evans. The pass was off the floor when the tackle was complete, so

Wigan are given a penalty. Wigan have created a chance. Magnificent

cover defence from Rhys Evans. The defence has saved Warrington again.

Gildart, dummy half, will try to run away from Evans. He gets a hand on

him, though. A lot of these Wigan players were brought up through the

Wigan system. Gildart was one of those. There is another O'Loughlin,

who came through the system. You sense that something is going to

give soon. Williams skipping Sutton. Here is the last. It is anybody's

here, but it is Warrington who just about hold on. The kicked the fence,

once again, Warrington has been tremendous. It is not just the

full-backs and wingers, prop forwards, half-backs, they are all

working hard. To defuse the plays. Sandow is coming on. Clark is going.

It is interesting to see now who will be running dummy half. It looks

as if Declan Patton is going to there. Sandow will assume the

half-backs role. It is a big opportunity for Sandow. He has been

off the field for the last couple of weeks. The stages separate bit of

magic. His first kick has caught Charnley. That is the second time in

the game. Gelling came from an offside position. They have made a

case, the Warrington Wolves. They have given a scrum. The game has

been with Wigan in this second hour. This is the best field position

Warrington have had. Sims, 20 metres out. Declan Patton, who has held his

own in this game. Chris Hill has driven it in. This is Sandow now.

Atkins is trying to force his way closer. Warrington fans are followed

expectation. Trying to push our Farrell, who threatens to off-load

one-handed. Wigan are on their own line. Backs to the wall, here.

Sandow, spinning it back. Good off-load. Hughes with a pass. Atkins

with the dummy. He is claiming it! The referee was close, but he wants

a second opinion. He thinks it's a try on the field. As Ryan Atkins

claimed the second try of the night? -- has Ryan Atkins... The referee

has awarded it on the field of play, so that would take some undoing. It

will be forensically examined, because it doesn't look as clear-cut

as we initially thought. I think there is a loose ball. He's lost it.

Is it a Wigan hand that knocks it free, and does he then touch it

down. For me, there is in us -- there is enough evidence to disallow

the try. This could be crucial. We can see the ball coming free, but

the video referee has to be absolutely certain as to how it has

come free in order to deny the try. I don't agree. The video referee is

there to make the correct call. I think this is going to be no try.

Yes. Ryan Atkins is denied his moment. Warrington still lead 6-2.

That was the correct decision. There has got to be downward pressure, and

funny, there was none. That is a big try saving tackle from Ben Flower.

Landed his weight at that crucial time.

Bateman is swarmed around by those Warrington defenders.

He had a bit of momentum worked up before he hit the Warrington line.

Farrell with a pass away. This is going to be Gildart's try. It's his

moment. Wigan draw level. And it's the old redoubtable, Liam Farrell,

who made the telling cross and then kept his composure for Gildart to

score. What a good try that was there. It all came from this at the

other end. Ben Flower was therein amongst a wealth of Wigan players.

Williams took to the line and Farrell came through on the side.

Gildart on the left-hand shoulder of Farrell to finish tremendously well.

It is that past there. Soft hands there to Farrell, and there is the

centre, Oliver Gildart, to score. Matty Smith with a kick to give his

side the lead will stop it is a tough one. As he put it wide? Yes,

he has. We are all square, 6-6. The potential of golden point raises its

head. There's no doubt it's energised this

Wigan side. Russell. Matty Russell, five short of the halfway line.

Three tackles gone. Sims, trying to pick another route but equally

frustrated. Now Westerman who has got the hands to give it away to

Gidley. Toby King has kept the hold and then gives it back to Gidley.

Here comes Ratchford, now it's with Evans... Sarginson back to cover.

Toby King had to give that. That was where the crucial chance was. Wigan

under pressure, two tackles gone. Isa. Wigan game just trying to make

some hard yards, here. He is a little different, Anthony Gelling,

in a good way. Mosley in a good way. Sarginson. So that's again the fifth

tackle. -- mostly in a good way. Ratchford again comes forward. What

a good chase that was from Wigan. A really good line chase, there which

gave Ratchford not a chink of space to run it. Evans slipped up at dummy

half. He's covered the distance in terms of getting beyond that gain

line. Warrington are creeping closer. Russell is going to see if

there's any tired limbs out there. A couple of tackles to go. 20 metres

away. Gidley. Sandow. A little chip over the top. Charnley. Good play by

Warrington. Gidley and Sandow, good combination. It's given Warrington a

little left. A little chip kick, there. Despite Charnley claiming the

ball, good chase to pin him in the goal area. This is what a final

should be. We asked 6-6, 60 minutes gone, everything to play for. Matty

Smith looking for a clearance, here. Ratchford looking for a safe catch.

And a big fellow who might bring it forward and there he is. So

Warrington turning the screw, here. But Wigan have been nothing if not

resilient this year. They have been one of the real fighters of Super

League. Gidley with a pass away to Ratchford. They are clearing a bit

of space here which closes quickly. Gildart with the tackle. Here's

Hill, straightens up, sets the platform. Two tackles to go.

Warrington are going to go right to Sandow. The little fellow dribbles

it into the goal area again. Referee says play on and Sarginson nearly

making a break. The momentum would have taken him over the line.

Farrell. The man who made the break that maybe try that had them singing

in the stands those in Cherry and white. Frank Ball, the wrecking

ball. -- Frank for, the wrecking ball. Here is Smith with a kick.

Wigan finishing their set. In a better position than they had

recently. Look at the line again, the chase line. Lineham has lost

that. In the heat of the battle, the weight of the collision, Wigan's

defence wins out and they've earned themselves a really good position

now. Look at him, there's the reaction. There's the kick, the

Chase and then the physicality of the collision. That forced the

error. Momentum is massive in sport. The momentum is with Wigan, I feel.

A big moment in the match by definition, a big moment in the

season. There's tackle two but there's four more to go. They've

only got a couple of strides to make. Smith puts it back. Sarginson

trying to make something happen. Warrington making sure it doesn't.

Bateman ten metres away. Here he goes, a man with determination. He's

met well. That squirted out, the referee is happy with the player of

the ball. Sarginson puts the kick into the corner! Charnley! Josh

Charnley with what could be the perfect leaving present! He's on his

way, once this match has finished, but he might just be going with a

big smile and a smile he is painted on his team-mates' faces, with a try

in the corner that gives Wigan the lead. This is the mistake Lineham

loses the ball. You've got to take your hat off... That's brilliant

play by Sarginson. He just looks up, spots the space and has a brilliant

kick. You can just put the kick in behind it and Russell really had

rushed up there to close the pass play down. That man finished the

try. I think the Wigan contingent are quite happy with that moment.

He's kicked one, he's missed one. Big kick, this. 6-point lead if he

puts it over. Going to have to score a try and a goal to draw level.

Started it wide and sent it further wide. Wigan have the lead and

they've not had that for a while. Wigan in control, just about.

Away comes Gildart, but not very far. Toby King. Good effort that,

defensively. Sarginson involved again. There's only one way this guy

goes. He's done well to get the off-load away this time. Powell

stashing forward. Wigan on the sixth. Smith with a kick. Charnley

applying the pressure and Russell rolls into the area and there's

absolutely nothing more he can do. That's brilliant play. Matty Smith

on the button with the kick. All on the back of that carry from Bateman

and off-load. A pretty good front foot kick their that earns a repeat

set. Wigan have looked more likely scorers, most of the play has been

in the Warrington half. Eight and a half minutes left to play. A try

here for Wigan just about seals it. Yet think. They won't write any game

off. Farrell. Wigan are getting closer and closer. A quick try...

O'Loughlin has thrown it away. Penalty! For Wigan. What's he given

this for? That's harsh, isn't it? That is a very harsh tackle. What

are you supposed to do, leave and put the ball down? Matty Smith

started the night with a penalty in the sixth minute. To give his side

the early lead. Here we are 72 minutes into the game to give his

side a 6-point lead. Over it goes. Warrington have to score a try and

convert it to get themselves level. So even if they score there'll be

pressure on the kick. Matty Smith sees his side into a 12- lead.

Stefan Ratchford to send it skywards. They are going for the

short one. They need possession. Picked up by Sandow. Warrington

getting something, here. Evans... You've got to applaud that restart

from Ratchford. Here's Clark, going wide and wider still. Two tackles

gone. Atkins is going the direct route and almost, very nearly

finding a way through. Three tackles to go, here. Warrington turning up

the heat. Real chance. Sandow. Wigan 's defending is manful at the

moment. Warrington asking all the questions. Gidley, the man of so

much experience. Hughes, Atkins, Russell! He ran in to a brick wall!

Cherry and white brick wall came across and however much it hurts

they were not going to let him score. He had to come inside there,

Matty Russell. Had to come inside. Brilliant defence. Matty Smith's

face says it all. Tony Smith need something special for his side to

win it from here. Two minutes left. This might be the last set of 64

Warrington, here. Caution has got to go to the wind now. They need a bit

of magic because they are floundering at the moment. They just

need someone to take the reins and say get forward, put a tackle, two

tackles, and then set something up. We are into the realms of

desperation. Sandow. Wigan's defenders finding their target every

time. Couple of tackles to go. King to Gidley. Back it goes for

Ratchford. Atkins straightens up. Back to Ratchford again. Ratchford

with a pass. Westerman! Five yards away with one played to go. Here is

Ratchford again. Gidley, with everything he's got, goes that the

line. It's simply not enough. Wigan's defence is there. Is that

the final four Warrington? Fantastic online defence. They've given

absolutely everything. Their defence has been absolutely fantastic. 30

seconds to go. Bateman... Wigan's season has been all about hanging

on. Showing a will, showing a desire. Wracked by injuries to key

players, and yet they still kept turning up and they still kept

winning games. And here they are now, winning the biggest game of

them all. A wind they deserve. Warrington have been vetted and

bettered by the team in sherry and white. The cherry and whites can

celebrate another Grand Final win. It's going to be 62 years at least

before Warrington will have lifted the title. What a fantastic effort

from those guys in sherry and white. Got to feel sorry for the walls.

They've been there and thereabouts all season. Today Wigan have

defended their way to the championship. Their defence was

absolutely amazing. I think Warrington lost a bit of composure.

They needed to give it a bit more. Wigan created far more opportunities

and I think they deserve to win this Grand Final.

It was close, but it was Wigan's, 12-6. It was unbelievable, one of

the best feelings I have had in a Grand Final. I want to say thanks to

everyone who has played a part this year. Every squad player has played

a game and has been a part of this. When did you know you were going to

play and take part? Yesterday, probably. I have done a lot of work

in the last two weeks with the physios and conditioners, just to

get it right. Training yesterday, I was all right. Shaun Wane gave me a

note. What about these young guys, while you sat on the sidelines?

Unbelievable. There's always been people out, people in, but just a

great job by everyone involved. Full of emotion for the players, the way

they have handled themselves. The fans have understood what we've gone

through this year. If people knew the half of it, this is the best win

we've had. This is a Wigan victory, the Academy, your guys. The number

of Wigan kids in that team. Young kids from Wigan, I know where they

are from, I know their dads and it is a good feeling. It was tight.

When it was tight, it could go either way. We saw that tonight. In

the second half, we probably gave away a few too many penalties, gave

them a bit of field position, and made one or two back errors when it

was crucial, but it was nip and tuck, like some of the other games.

How do you reflect on the season as a whole? Yes, decent, decent. We

gave ourselves a chance for all three trophies, so we've probably

got the lesser of the three. We'll be an there, fighting again next

year. We will bring one of these home eventually. Sooner rather than

later, I hope will stop congratulations to Wigan. They've

had to fight over a lot of injuries and adversity. They showed some of

their toughness today, so good on them. We will be back, and we will

challenge in the near future. I will miss this place. I have been holding

it in for a few weeks now. This is the one I wanted to finish on and

I've done it. And you scored a try, so you wrote it well. I said I

wanted to finish on some silverware, and I have been fighting, week in,

week out, to get as that. It has finally come to the day, and it is

one of those well I'm... I'm overwhelmed. Wigan really brought it

tonight. It was a slugfest out there. Full credit to them, I can't

fault any of the boys. We tried our backsides off and couldn't get the

win in the end. I don't really want to go in... Direction I might lose

it. It's a tough pill to swallow at the moment, but I love the character

in our room, and we'll be back. Sometimes it is the sheer will to

succeed that overcomes everything else. And that is surely the epitaph

to Wigan's season. Sean O'Loughlin off the injury list play a big part

a night. And 2016, Wigan are the Super League champions.

What an arm wrestle on a final, Brian. It was a test in the best

possible sense. The bounce of the ball didn't quite go Warrington's

way, but full credit to Wigan. They were resilient and had the play. You

could see the desire and challenge of Warrington. They got there,

didn't they? Kevin, you talked about needing a story, something behind

it, and Wigan have battled against injury all season. Was that what got

them over the line? They have really dug in and fought adversity. I

wasn't sure they would have the emotion for tonight, but they have

come up with. On the sideline today, Sam Tomkins, Joel Tomkins, Michael

McIlorum, three key players and they have done without them tonight and

stood up. What were the key points? Liam Farrell. They weren't troubled

by Warrington's running dummy halfs. They kicked a bit better around

established better field position than Warrington. There wasn't much

between them, was the? -- was there? Sarginson played really well, didn't

he? He had a real great game. Brian mentioned already about the defence

being on top. The Wigan defence was outstanding tonight. Josh Charnley,

some emotional at the end. He goes off to a new chapter of his life,

but it is another of those stories we have had in the game. He has gone

for the right reasons and couldn't finish on a better high. You can see

how much it meant to him. There is a back story there. He goes with best

wishes, but who knows, he will probably go back to Wigan. Tony

Smith was rueful at the end and said, if you put the S and arts,

they know how close they got. It is a tough one for Warrington. To do it

three times in the space of format of five years is tough. To beat the

league leaders is that. To be that close in two finals... They will be

back. Per Shaun Wane, who has looked a bit under pressure at times this

season, that will be a very sweet trophy, won't it? It is the only way

to answer the critics. He walked out of press conference a few weeks ago

because of the backchat. In the last four or five weeks, Shaun has been

in charge of his lot and they rock up for him. It was a win of the

Wigan Academy, that. It is great for English rugby to see young British

players out there. Great for the game. That brings down the curtain

on the domestic season. It is time for the International stars to take

centre stage. It is time for the four nations.

Yes, Sam Burgess is back in the fold, and our coverage of the four

Nations starts with England against New Zealand, live from Huddersfield

on Saturday the 29th of October. We go on air at 1:15pm, and we'll

include highlights of Australia versus Scotland. Joining us as well

is the assistant English coach, Denis Betts. What did you make of

the final? Were you watching as the England coach going, don't get

injured? It was a great, intense game. We saw some players who will

be representing their country in the next few weeks. From my point of

view, it is hard to be neutral. I was hoping that they came through

unscathed, but also that they keep their form. Did anyone play

themselves into the squad? I spoke with Shaun Wane earlier in the

weight. We just wanted to get through tonight. Williams was

outstanding, Farrell was the man of the match. Sarginson had a good

game. It's going to be an exciting couple of weeks coming to the four

nations. What will it be like for you to work alongside Wane? I am

looking forward to the international series. It is dealing with that

elite end of players. We will let the players get over tonight and

enjoy it, but step into the next thing, which is international rugby.

Working with them will be exciting. What are you looking forward to most

about the four Nations? Seeing the team is getting to grips with each

other. We have seen Matty Russell tonight. There will be some tough

and great games. I think we are interested to see the make up of the

New England side. It seems like a time of transition for the

international game, but with the World Cup only a year away. Very

much so. I am looking forward to seeing England perform. We have some

fantastic young players, as we talked about earlier stop with

Dennis's involvement, John Lambert and's involvement, surrounding Wane

is a really strong backroom staff. New Zealand have a few more familiar

names back in the squad. They will be tough. Even without the familiar

names, they're a fantastic side. The NRL generates a lot of the

players that come through to the national team. It is an exciting

time to be involved in international rugby. It is not just the players

who have been changing over. It is an exciting thing to have Wane

Bennett and myself involved. Can England when? Absolutely, I believe

that. We have the talent. You wouldn't want to pick a fight with

him, and I am confident that Wane Bennett the latter the mix. You can

keep up with the four nations on the BBC sport website, including the

announcement of the England squad on Monday. We cover all the action,

including a double header at the Ricoh Arena, including England

versus Australia. That is the end of the domestic season. How do you

reflect on the season we have just had? It's been an exciting year, I

think. We've seen some fantastic games, two semifinals that have been

close, a relegation battle that has gone down to the wire. And we have

had a final that has been outstanding. The game is in good

health. We have some fantastic players, a competition that is

driving at the top end. We have seen a Super League side go down - is

that the good thing? Not for them. In terms of the structure? Promotion

and relegation is therefore a reason. It causes and upset, all the

things we don't like sometimes in the game. But it is there, everyone

has to embrace it. A Super League team has gone down and a team from

the championship has gone up, and that was the ambition for the game.

Kevin, anything you would like to see tweaked or changed? There are

loads of things I would like to change, but I think it is tough. It

is tough on Hull Kingston Rovers. We all knew that Century as were

capable. We know the players and the staff are there. What Jamie is doing

is producing a strong team for next year. Good luck for the four

nations. Wigan are the 2016 Super League champions. We will see you

for the four nations. Goodbye.