Gladiators get ready for the GRAND finale

RUGBY league has often been described as a gladiatorial sport and the it’s fair to say the two sides that will meet at Old Trafford in tomorrow’s Betfred Super League Grand Final have enjoyed some fierce battles over the years.

Indeed, it will be the third Wigan versus Warrington showpiece in the last five seasons - the Warriors have won both the previous editions - and the sixth time the two clubs have met over the course of 2018.

As a result, they are teams that know each other’s strengths and weaknesses, and there will be intriguing match-ups all over the pitch - and in the coaching boxes.

It’s seasoned campaigner and lifelong Wiganer Shaun Wane versus first-season Australian import Steve Price.

Former Warriors winger Josh Charnley will come up against the man who essentially took his spot at the DW Stadium in Dom Manfredi.

Potential England fullback Sam Tomkins meets potential England fullback Stefan Ratchford.

But perhaps the most mouthwatering contest of all - and the one that might just have the biggest bearing on the result will be between the respective sides’ talismanic forwards, Sean O’Loughlin and Ben Westwood.

Loose forward O’Loughlin was selected in the 2018 Dream Team despite making just 20 appearances for Wigan this season.

The Warriors captain returned from a month on the sidelines to help his team to last week’s semifinal defeat of Castleford, played through the pain barrier the last time they got to Old Trafford and will likely do the same again this weekend.

Despite his limited gametime, O’Loughlin remains vital to Wigan’s success on the field and intends to continue his playing career into next year and potentially beyond.

If he does, he will again come up against the competition’s oldest player, Ben Westwood.

The Wolves second-rower is showing no signs of slowing down at 37 years of age and this week signalled his intentions of playing on again in 2019.

Yet even if he does not hang up his boots following the final whistle tomorrow, Westwood knows he may not get too many more opportunities to taste Grand Final success at Old Trafford.

“I wouldn’t say ‘now or never,’ but it’s one of the very few chances I’ve got left to win it,” admitted Westwood.

“So we’ll do everything right this week and believe me, I’ll leave nothing out on that field this weekend.

“I really need to have this one.”