Image source, SWPIx

Wigan Warriors are making the familiar trip to Old Trafford for the Super League Grand Final.

It's a record-equalling 14th time that the Cherry and Whites will be at the big show.

Are we going to get a repeat of the 2024 decider with Hull KR? Or will St Helens manage to upstage the League Leaders' Shield and Challenge Cup holders to return to the English game's showpiece event for the first time since 2022?

Image source, SWpix.com

While we have a week to wait for the men's Super League Grand Final, the women's decider is upon us already!

Wigan Warriors, winners of the Women's Challenge Cup and League Leaders' Shield, will contest a derby at home against St Helens in the Grand Final on Sunday.

Read the full preview here.

Leigh Leopards boss Adrian Lam told Sky Sports:

"I'm really proud of them but obviously it didn't go our way. Just some really big moment in the game just before half-time. You take that away and it becomes a different beast.

"I was just proud of the efforts tonight. We're getting there bit by bit and we're heading for the right direction.

"The penalty for obstruction on Edwin Ipape just before half-time I thought that was re frually frustrating. I was disappointed that penalty was given away and that changed the momentum of that first half and in the end that was really the difference.

"The way that it has ended is sad.

"Our goal now is to finish in the top two so we can finish at home. It's certainly an advantage with the week off and that's two times in a row we've ended our season here. The way the club's trajectory is going up since promotion to Super League is amazing and I'm enjoying the journey."

Wigan Warriors head coach Matt Peet told Sky Sports:

"Things we'll look back on and think we should have done better but these lads will keep turning up for one another.

"It's not often I'll single Jai and Bevan out because everyone does it for me but I just thought that the kicks he was fielding and the cover tackle - they were a handful all night.

"I thought we turned it round with more physicality in the second half. And for large parts I thought we controlled the field position and territory through some tough defence."

That's one down. Just one more to go!

Tomorrow, Challenge Cup holders and League Leaders' Shield winners Hull KR host St Helens in the other semi-final.

Rovers will be looking to take their quest for a treble all the way to Old Trafford next week, while St Helens are riding the high of that sensational play-off eliminator win against Leeds Rhinos last week.

Who will come out on top to set up a Grand Final showdown with Wigan Warriors?

Wigan Warriors scrum-half Harry Smith told Sky Sports:

"I prefer to play in the rain than the wind like this. It's very hard for the kicking game. You saw in the first half that Leigh were able to dominate territory and we were able to do that in the second half due to the wind and kick chase alone.

"It was tough but we both got both ends of the barrel and we managed to get on top of it.

"I don't think it's sunk in what we've achieved to go for three in a row and go for three Super League Grand Finals but I'm just happy it's over because that was a very tough game."

Wigan Warriors full-back Jai Field told Sky Sports:

"Obviously it was a really tough game. Leigh have given us some trouble this year and they did again tonight so I'm really relieved.

"I think we had to grind. The wet weather and the wind brings that sort of game into it. It was back and forth with high completions so we completed really high in the back field today which went towards us getting the win.

"It's a collective effort, we have some tough middles who grind and tonight was down to them. Sometimes I'm just the beneficiary on the back line."

Bevan French scored two tries and had a hand in Wigan's third to seal victory.

His attacking brilliance was just part of the story, as the Warriors produced a Herculean defensive effort.

Jai Field has earned plaudits as man of the match, and it's hard to argue with that as his try-saving tackle on Owen Trout was the defining moment of the second half.

Kevin Brown
Former England international on BBC 5 Live Sports Extra

Bevan French couldn’t just take it to ground he had to put on a performance.

In the last seconds he steps, he goes through and he offloads the ball and Sam Walters can’t believe his luck. He won’t score an easier try than that.

French has just been announced the stadium player of the match and he has been a different class tonight. Scores two, sets one up. He has been superb.

Image source, SWPix

Two-time defending Super League champions Wigan Warriors are heading back to Old Trafford for the Grand Final!

And again, the sight of Tesi Niu being brought down by Wigan's defence has the home crowd full of cheer.

This time the centre is cut down as he tried to break away.

Just one minute remains.

There are huge roars from the home fans as Wigan drag Tesi Niu out of touch after he defused a high kick.

That feels like a moment that wraps up the win.

Matt Newsum
Commentator on BBC 5 Live Sports Extra

Wigan have just bitten down on the gumshield and are finding that controlled aggression needed. This is Wigan at their most dominating and unrelenting.

Leigh can't get out of their own half with their latest set.

The ball is sent high in the the blustery sky, but Wigan's Jai Field takes the catch without any drama.

The Warriors are three minutes from an Old Trafford return...

The captain's challenge is unsuccessful and Wigan will play the ball 40m out from their tryline.

Replays showed that it was Edwin Ipape that knocked on.

Just five minutes remain of this game.

Edwin Ipape has Wigan in a moment of panic as he chases his own kick.

Abbas Miski challenge for possession, but does he knock-on as Ipape tries to snatch the ball?

Leigh throw the dice with a captain's challenge, and the incident will be reviewed...

Leigh have been a sledgehammer in leopard print smashing against a Wigan wall tonight.

The Warriors have refused to buckle in the second half.

Martyn Ridyard
Former Leigh half-back on BBC Radio Manchester

I'm not sure about that forward pass. I think if looks more forward because Liam Farrell makes contact with Lachie Lam and knocks him back a bit.

There have been more dubious ones let go tonight. That is a big, big call.

And we are now into the final 10 minutes.

There have been errors aplenty tonight, but a forward pass from Lachlan Lam leaves Leigh particularly frustrated as they chase the game late on.