Smithies: It would mean a lot
- Morgan Smithies reflects on Wigan’s 29-2 victory over Hull FC that saw the Warriors book their place in the Grand Final.
- The 20-year-old talks about how beating the Black and Whites will put them in good stead and how next week’s Grand Final can be the ‘perfect’ send off for Sean O’Loughlin.
- Smithies: “It has been a tough year so hopefully we can get the win to give the fans something to be happy about.”
Morgan Smithies hopes Wigan Warriors can reward all Cherry and White fans after a tough year by finishing the 2020 season with the Betfred Super League trophy.
Adrian Lam’s side overcame Hull FC on Thursday night to book their place in the Grand Final, where they will face St Helens.
With Friday night’s showpiece event at the KCOM Stadium being played behind closed doors, Smithies wants the Warriors to put on a performance that will allow Wigan fans to celebrate at home.
“I’m looking forward to it. It has been a tough year so hopefully we can get the win to give the fans something to be happy about, because it would mean a lot.”
The 20-year-old says the Wigan squad are feeling good heading into this week and believes there is more to come from the current group after overcoming different hurdles throughout the 2020 campaign.
“We’ve got a really close bond between the young lads and the experienced ones. I’m really pleased to be in the Grand Final, we are feeling confident. There has been a lot of difficult things thrown at us, but we’ll take credit for how the group has gone about things.
“I think we deserve to be in the Final after finishing top, the consistency has been there in the last month in the big games. It’s been a long time coming, but there are still so many things we can still do to improve.”
The second row believes the Hull game and the matches at the end of the regular season have given the team the tests that they needed.
“We needed a close game like the Huddersfield one to see what we would be like in that situation, but in the second half we stuck together and got the win in. Hull wasn’t an easy game either – it was physical, but was exactly what we needed going into the Grand Final.”
In October, the Warriors got their first win over Saints since head coach Adrian Lam took over as boss.
Smithies believes that victory, in particular, will help them going into Friday’s Final against their arch rivals.
“It was a massive confidence booster, but we all believed we could do it, and I can’t wait to go again.”
Whilst the fixture will excite all Wigan fans, Smithies believes it can be the best send off for club captain, Sean O’Loughlin, who is hanging up his boots after the full time hooter on Friday.
“It’s the perfect Grand Final, especially for Lockers. It will be a massive last game for the Club so hopefully we can get the job done for him.
“He has been massive for me since I came here and has always looked after me. He was like a coach growing up, and then to play with him has been a real privilege.”
Written by Amos Wynn
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