Garry Schofield picks out the key figures behind Wigan Warriors’ Challenge Cup – Total Rugby League triumph

HUGE congratulations to Wigan on their Challenge Cup final triumph, meaning they hold all four trophies available to Super League clubs.

Already in possession of last year’s league leaders’ shield and title and having represented Penrith in the World Club Challenge in February, they saw Warrington at the venue where they particularly like to win.

It was a shame Sam Burgess’ men didn’t put up more of a fight at Wembley, but that’s not Wigan’s fault.

I criticized them for their attitude in the league meeting between the teams the week before, but on Saturday they were perfect and didn’t have to get out of second gear to lift the trophy for the 21st time.

They just never get tired of winning things, do they?

That’s down to a lot of factors and a lot of people, but I think we’d have to go with chief executive Kris Radlinski, coach Matt Peet and right-hand man Sean O’Loughlin and Tommy Leuluai.

They all worked hard to help Wigan get back to the fore of the game after that spell of dominance by St Helens.

Yes, they have great players, but they need to turn it into a win team, and that comes from setting the right standards and doing the right things day in and day out.

They occasionally have shortages, but not many.

Wigan’s challenge now is to go on and win Super League and clearly you wouldn’t bet against them.

As for Warrington, Sam and his players need to learn their lessons, lick their wounds and bounce back.

We hoped the final would be a classic, but their forwards just didn’t seem to have enough purpose to match, never mind Wigan, and so we set the stage to give their creative players a chance to shine and to produce those moments of brilliance.

First published in League Express Newspaper Issue 3434 (10 June 2024)

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