Wigan win sixth Super League crown with victory over Catalans at Old Trafford

14 October 2023 , 18:53

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Wigan celebrate their sixth Super League crown (Image: Getty Images)

Liam Marshall capitalised on Catalans’ yellow card frenzy to crown Wigan champions again - and ruin Sam Tomkins’ hopes of a fairytale finish.

Prolific winger Marshall scored the decisive 52nd minute try when Dragons were down to 12 men to decide a tight and frenetic Grand Final at Old Trafford. It delivers Wigan boss Matty Peet’s first title since taking over and the club’s first since 2018.

It also sends outgoing chairman Ian Lenagan off on a high but there was no glory for Tomkins. Catalans hoped to create history by becoming the first French club to win Super League, sending their decorated full-back into retirement in style.

But the ex-England captain, who’d won three Grand Finals for Wigan, couldn’t inspire his side as they were eventually outdone by their own ill-discipline. Only points difference had separated these two sides after 27 rounds of Super League action, leaders Wigan edging Catalans into second place.

So it was no surprise this enthralling affair was so tight and tasty. There had only ever been one player yellow carded in 25 years of Grand Final history. That was St Helens’ Tommy Makinson when the champions defeated Catalans in 2021.

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But the French club - bidding for their first title at the second attempt - got two players sin-binned in the space of 24 minutes last night. Adam Keighran’s first half yellow card didn’t initially prove too costly.

Liam Marshall scored the only try of the game for Wigan (PA)

But when Tom Davies’ was sin-binned for a blatant professional foul in the 43rd minute with the game locked at 2-2, Wigan ruthlessly took control. Marshall was pulled back by the ex-Wigan winger as he tried to support England centre Jake Wardle’s classy break.

Bevan French thought he’d got over for the first try soon after but it was ruled out for a forward pass from Jai Field who’d been put under intense pressure by Catalans winger Tom Johnstone. But there was no let-off in the 52nd minute when Wardle - player of the match - once more broke clear down the left where Davies usually resided.

He found skipper Liam Farrell and Marshall arrived to finish off for his 24th try of the season. Harry Smith slotted his second goal and then a 62nd minute penalty after Keighran caught Tyler Dupree high.

There was no way Wigan - on a ten-match winning run - would let-up from there as they turned the screw in front of a crowd of 58,137. The sides had walked out to Reverend and the Makers singing Heavyweight Champions of the World.

Of the two contenders, it was Wigan who landed the first blow. But not until Smith’s 22nd minute penalty for Manu Ma’u’s high shot on Marshall.

There was no fairytale ending for Sam Tomkins (PA)

Catalans were down to 12 men at that point after Keighran - the Aussie centre who now joins Wigan for 2024 - was sin-binned for a dangerous tackle on Kai Pearce-Paul. But Les Dracs’ goalline defence held firm, Mitchell Pearce producing an unbelievable last-ditch try-saving tackle on Farrell after the Wigan skipper had ghosted past Mike McMeeken.

Steve McNamara’s side had also lost Paul Seguier after the France second-row copped Marshall’s flailing boot in his face when making a tackle. Bloodied Seguier was left with a massive head wound but he returned bandaged up to add his weight to Catalans’ cause.

Wigan hit their own problems when Ethan Havard limped off just minutes after coming on from the bench. The England prop had been out of action since July with a hamstring injury but was surprisingly recalled for the Old Trafford decider.

There was few chances in the opening period. Tyrone May made one break for Catalans but his kick ahead was too long for Tom Johnstone. Johnstone was called into defensive action at the end of the first period with two brilliant back-to-back plays.

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Firstly, the England winger nailed Jai Field with a crunching tackle just as the Aussie flier looked to have broken through for the game’s opening try.

And then in the next play, the Dream Team winger frantically raced back to somehow knock Smith’s chip dead to deny another opportunity. But Wigan eventually got their score through Marshall.

David Craven