Perhaps it was fitting on the day rugby league came together to celebrate one of its most iconic and legendary players, Wigan created a piece of history that will, like Rob Burrow’s playing career, stand the test of time for years to come.
We throw words like ‘legend’ and ‘history’ around all too easily these days. But those two words felt fitting to describe this emotionally stirring day for rugby league and its most famous club. The death of Burrow last Sunday united the entire sport on the biggest day in the calendar, providing a series of fitting tributes to a legendary player, but even more legendary man.
Just as Burrow’s Leeds Rhinos swept aside all comers in 2015, Wigan are now almost certainly in the conversation about the greatest club side the modern era has seen. Six teams have held all four major domestic trophies – the Super League title, the League Leader’s Shield, the World Club Challenge and the Challenge Cup – at the same time.
Wigan are now in that bracket after claiming the cup in the kind of manner we have come to expect from this team in recent years. Matt Peet, a relative nobody outside of Wigan when he was appointed for the 2022 season, has become one of the most successful coaches, with this his fifth major honour in two and a half seasons.
His teams are methodical, they are resolute and, in the right moments, they are devastating. That gameplan was executed to full effect here as they struck when it mattered against Warrington Wolves to secure a record-extending 21st Challenge Cup, and a first at Wembley since 2013.
Leading 12-2 at half-time, Wigan always felt like they had Warrington at arm’s length thereafter.
Peet tasted Challenge Cup success at Tottenham two years ago but this club, and this town, are synonymous with Wembley, undoubtedly making this win more noteworthy.
“Today is special because it’s at Wembley,” he said. “Tottenham was special because it was at Tottenham. All you can do is enjoy the day and that’s what we are going to do.”
The challenge now for Wigan is one that feels eminently realistic: become only the fourth Super League team to win the treble in one season – with Burrow’s Leeds side of 2015 among that bracket. “Enjoy tonight, enjoy this week, keep trying to get better – it never feels like we’re done,” he said. “I just like working with this lot. I love them to bits and I’m very proud of them.”
There were poignant and touching tributes to Burrow before and during the game, including a minute’s silence, both sets of players wearing Burrow-themed shirts to walk on to the Wembley turf and a minute’s applause in the seventh minute. However, before that had arrived, there had already been plenty of controversy.
Two yellow cards inside the opening three minutes threatened to set the tone for the wrong reasons, with Wigan’s Mike Cooper and Warrington’s Matt Dufty sent to the sin-bin for separate tackles. By the time the pair returned, the Wolves took a 2-0 lead through the boot of Josh Thewlis. But that was as good as it really got for the Wolves.
They have been magnificent under Sam Burgess this season but this was one of their most disappointing performances.
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As their head coach insinuated, the occasion got to his side. “We didn’t perform the way we’d played all year,” he said. “I’m disappointed for the players. We put a lot of effort in getting here. We just didn’t get our game on today. The occasion probably got us a tiny bit.”
They fell behind when Zach Eckersley scored the first try, in his fifth senior appearance, before the outstanding Bevan French scored a wonderful solo try. French was voted the Lance Todd Trophy winner, another fitting moment: he lost his own mother in 2021 after a battle against MND and is the first Australian half-back to win the trophy since 1985.
Those two tries, establishing a 12-2 lead for the Warriors at half-time, felt commanding. The onus was on Warrington to score next to avoid the final running away from them but as the hour mark approached, it was Wigan who struck a telling blow. Liam Farrell, the only survivor from Wigan’s last Wembley win in 2013, finished a wonderful break from Jai Field and the game felt done.
Warrington threatened a comeback with Dufty’s try in the final minutes but as they have done so many times in the past, Wigan had the wherewithal to close out a final with minimal fuss.
It is a theme we are fast becoming accustomed to. Wigan will certainly be proud of their achievements – but rugby league on the whole should be proud of the showing it put on for Burrow.