If there is one man who knows a thing or two about building a sporting dynasty, it is Sir Alex Ferguson. To that end, had we known the legendary Manchester United manager was the one to deliver Wigan Warriors’ motivational speech on the eve of the Super League Grand Final, the result would have felt like a formality before a ball had been kicked.
After all, it is not like this most outstanding of rugby league sides needs any additional help. Matt Peet’s team completed a historic quadruple with victory against Hull KR at Old Trafford on Saturday night. The first clean sweep of the Super League era and only the second in nearly a century.
“There was never a point where we sat down and thought we’d win all four,” the Wigan captain, Liam Farrell, said. “I didn’t think it was achievable any more but as the year went on and we knocked off the first two trophies it became a bit more realistic.”
Any doubt over whether this Wigan side belongs among the game’s all-time greats has now been erased. The question now is: what next? One thing is clear: with Peet at the helm, there will be no suggestions the Warriors will sit back and rest on their staggering accomplishments.
The Wigan coach insisted any suggestions his side can be put alongside the iconic Warriors sides of the 1980s and 90s is premature. “It’s nice to be asked and nice to be mentioned in the same breath, but we’ve got a few years to come yet,” he said. But having dominated the British game, their plans for undisputed world domination appear to be on hold.
Wigan are the reigning world champions having won this year’s World Club Challenge but a rematch with the all-conquering National Rugby League premiers, Penrith Panthers, seems unlikely to be staged in 2025. The Panthers have indicated there is no room in their schedule for the game; cynics may suggest that having lost back-to-back World Club Challenge games, they are keen to avoid the humiliation of an unwanted treble.
There can be no doubting Wigan’s desire to participate in the game, though – wherever in the world it may be. “If there’s any way of doing it we’d definitely be up for it,” Farrell said. “The club 100% wants to play in the World Club Challenge. We have a very rich history in it and if both teams can get it on it would be great to have another match-up against them.”
Whether the match is staged or not, Wigan will look ahead to 2025 with optimism and will be favourites to win Super League once again. Peet can deny it but his side have all the hallmarks of a team that, in years to come, will be remembered in the same breath as the great Wigan sides of years gone by. As well as the dynasty Ferguson built at the ground the Warriors have made their personal playground of late.
