‘Emotional’ Wane handed a Grand Final finish by Wigan
Wigan coach Shaun Wane admitted his emotions got the better of him after watching his side last night provide him with the chance to bow out on the big stage.
A whitewash over Castleford in the second semi-final clinched a 10th Grand Final for the Warriors, with Wane now hoping to end his 30-year association with his hometown club as a champion.
“I don’t cry very often but I did out there,” said Wane, who will take up a role with the Scottish Rugby Union after next Saturday’s game against Warrington at Old Trafford. “It’s emotional, it’s been tough the last few weeks. I didn’t want to finish tonight, that’s why we didn’t celebrate that much, the job is not done.”
Wigan displayed all the defensive qualities instilled into them by Wane to snuff out the Tigers. Thomas Leuluai marked his 250th appearance for the club with the opening try while full-back Sam Tomkins, one of three departing players, provided the finishing touches with a secondhalf try, along with a conversion, a penalty and two drop goals.
“I’m pleased and proud,” Wane added. “It was a great effort. We weren’t great with the ball, the conditions didn’t lend to that, but we showed a lot of desire.”
Wigan go into the final, which is a repeat of the 2016 title decider which they won 12-6, on the back of a nine-match winning run but Wane said he was impressed by Warrington’s 18-13 victory over St Helens in the first semi-final.
“I’ve a lot of respect for them,” he said. “We’re going to be have to be better with the ball. It would mean absolutely everything if I could finish off with a win.”
Castleford coach Daryl Powell could not hide his disappointment after watching his side once again finish the season with an anticlimax. “I’m hugely disappointed,” he said. “I just thought we made too many errors. We needed our boys to have their best games of the season and we didn’t get that from enough players. In the second half we panicked. Wigan scrambled well but we were not good enough.” Wigan Tomkins, Manfredi, Gildart, Sarginson, Davies, Williams, Leuluai, Navarrete, Powell, Flower, Greenwood, Bateman, O’loughlin. Replacements Clubb, Farrell, Sutton, Escare.
Castleford Mata’utia, Clare, Wardle, Shenton, Eden, Roberts, Gale, Watts, Mcshane, Millington, Holmes, Mcmeeken, Massey. Replacements Webster, Milner, Sene-lefao, Clark. Referee Ben Thaler (RFL).