Grand Final 2024 Stats Preview

Hull KR could make history on Saturday night. If they defeat the current Champions, Wigan Warriors, in the Betfred Super League Grand Final, then they will lift the trophy for the first time – and become just the fifth club to do so.

But overcoming a formidable Warriors side won’t be easy, as Matt Peet’s men are aiming for a historic quadruple.

The Warriors finished top of the pile once again in 2024 and are a club steeped rich in history.

Victory on Saturday would be Wigan's seventh Super League Grand Final triumph since first lifting the trophy at the inaugural Grand Final in 1998.

Their previous Grand Final wins are as follows:

• 1998 Wigan Warriors 10 Leeds Rhinos 4
• 2010 Wigan Warriors 22 St Helens 10
• 2013 Wigan Warriors 30 Warrington Wolves 16
• 2016 Wigan Warriors 12 Warrington Wolves 6
• 2018 Wigan Warriors 12 Warrington Wolves 4
• 2023 Wigan Warriors 10 Catalans Dragons 2

If they suffer defeat at Old Trafford on Saturday, however, the Warriors will extend their own unwanted record of Super League Grand Final losses to seven.

The two sides have never met in a major Super League final, and it will be Hull KR’s highly anticipated maiden Grand Final. The Warriors, on the other hand, have competed in 12.

There's Nothing Like #GrandFinal ?#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/WPKckXah3q

— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) October 7, 2024

This year alone, the top two have played each other on three separate occasions.

Hull KR were victorious against Wigan back in Round 9, with an emphatic 26-10 win on home turf.

Since this fixture, the Warriors have enacted revenge with two significant victories – a dominant 6-38 display in the Betfred Challenge Cup Semi-Final, as well as 24-20 triumph at The Brick Community Stadium, which ultimately resulted in them going on to lift the League Leaders’ Shield.

It’s been an enticing neck and neck between top two in 2024, and in the last ten meetings, there has been little to separate the two sides - with the Warriors winning six and the Robins winning five.

In total, Wigan have won 28 Super League meetings against Hull KR - including wins in the 2009, 2010 and 2023 Play-Offs – whilst Hull KR have won 12.

The Warriors are looking to record back-to-back Grand Finals for the first time in the club’s Super League history and have 17 players in their side who have already featured on the big stage – highlighting their experience across the playing group.

This includes their captain Liam Farrell, who could be set to appear in a ninth Grand Final of his career, having won a famous five finals already.

If Farrell is awarded Player of the Match trophy on Saturday night, he would join an elite group of just seven other players to win this accolade twice - and just the fifth player in the Super League era.

Wardle also has the chance to join this group, and either were to win, then they’d also the ranks of players to have won the Player of the Match award twice for the same club in a Grand Final.

Farrell won the Harry Sunderland Trophy in a 12-6 victory against Warrington in 2016, with Wardle picking up the award in last season's 10-2 triumph against Catalans Dragons.

Luke Thompson also picked up Player of the Match in 2019 with his old team and rivals St Helens – could he do it again with his new club Wigan?

The winner on Saturday will be the first recipient since the renaming of the honour as the Rob Burrow Award.

Despite never making a Grand Final, Hull KR still have seven players in their side who have already been to Old Trafford at some point. For others, however, it will be their first ever appearance there.

With victory, the Robins’ Ryan Hall would equal former Leeds Rhinos teammate Carl Ablett’s record of most Grand Final appearances without suffering defeat (seven). Hall previously won with the Rhinos in 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2017.

With a try, Hall would also become the oldest player to score in a Grand Final at 36 years and 320 days and has the chance to be the oldest winner of Player of the Match. He has already surpassed Danny McGuire's all-time Super League try scoring of 248 record this season - can he make even more history?

Hull KR’s Tyrone May has the chance to join the ranks of players to have won Grand Finals on both sides of the world. May was a substitute in the Penrith Panthers side that defeated South Sydney Rabbitohs 14-12 in the 2021 NRL Grand Final.

The only Englishman to ever complete the double is Adrian Morley, who won the NRL Grand Final with Sydney Roosters in 2002 and the Super League Grand Final with Bradford Bulls back in 2005.

Ex-Wiganers Joe Burgess and Oliver Gildart could feature against their former club on Saturday. Burgess has the unwanted record of three Grand Final losses whilst playing for Wigan in 2014, 2015 and 2020 - with teammate Oliver Gildart having won two (2016 and 2018) and lost two (2015 and 2020).

Interestingly, head coach Willie Peters has one Super League Grand Final appearance to his name. Peters started at scrum half for Saturday's opponents Wigan in a 29-16 defeat to St Helens in 2000!

Hull KR’s captain Elliot Minchella will return to action on Saturday following a two-match suspension and could be set to make his 100th appearance for Hull KR, which would be very fitting.

This year’s Grand Final attendance is expected to be at its highest since 2017…

Be quick ?

There are limited tickets available for Saturday's #GrandFinal ??

Get yours now ?

— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) October 8, 2024

Tickets for the Betfred Super League Grand Final are on sale now, but hurry as tickets are selling fast!

Will you be joining us on Saturday 12 October? Tickets start at just £30 for adults, and £15 for juniors - secure your place today at the biggest night in Rugby League!

The Betfred Super League Grand Final will also be shown live and exclusively on Sky Sports (K.O. 6pm).