Super League semi-final showdowns
Ahead of Saturday’s Betfred Super League play-off showdown against Leigh Leopards, we revisit three semi-final wins from over the years.
The Warriors host the Leopards in the biggest Battle of the Borough fixture to date with a place in the Betfred Super League Grand Final on the line.
As Matt Peet’s side bid to secure back-to-back Super League titles at Old Trafford, we look back on three previous Wigan wins at this stage in the competition.
Leeds Rhinos 6-26 Wigan Warriors, 2010
Despite losing to the Rhinos in the first round of the qualifying play-offs, the Warriors beat Hull KR in the preliminary semi-final before striking revenge at Headingley to end Leeds’ hopes of a fourth straight Super League title.
Darrell Goulding and the boot of Pat Richards cancelled out Kevin Sinfield’s early converted try to give Wigan an 8-6 lead at the break before Joel Tomkins, George Carmont and Martin Gleeson added tries in the second half to send the Warriors to a first Grand Final since 2003.
Gleeson’s double plus tries from Goulding and Sam Tomkins at Old Trafford helped the Warriors beat St Helens to lift their first Super League title since 1998.
Wigan Warriors 28-18 Hull FC, 2016
Wigan edged Challenge Cup winners Hull FC in a back and forth home play-off semi-final to reach a fourth consecutive Grand Final.
Despite scoring through Lewis Tierney, John Bateman and Matty Smith to take a 14-0 half time lead, Hull FC responded with three unanswered tries to go 18-16 up. The Warriors fought back as Sam Powell and Anthony Gelling crossed to send the Warriors to Old Trafford.
Even in the absence of a number of regular players, tries from Oliver Gildart and Charnley saw the Warriors beat Warrington Wolves 12-6 in a repeat of the 2013 Grand Final.
Wigan Warriors 42-12 Hull KR, 2023
The Warriors beat Hull KR in the play-off semi-final last season as Matt Peet’s side sealed a first Old Trafford outing since success in 2018.
A hat-trick from Liam Marshall on his 150th Warriors appearance was added to with tries from Jai Field, Toby King and Abbas Miski to set up a showpiece top two clash against Catalans Dragons.
A closely fought battle was played out against the Dragons, however, Marshall’s second half try proved to be the difference as Liam Farrell lifted the Club’s first Super League title in five seasons.
With more than 13,000 tickets already sold for Saturday’s Betfred Super League play-off semi-final against Leigh Leopards, don’t miss out on securing your seat online HERE. Tickets can also be purchased from The Brick Community Stadium Ticket Office.
