- Published
Just five sides have lifted the trophy at Old Trafford in a Super League Grand Final.
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sides → publish → Final
That exclusive club of Wigan, Leeds, St Helens, Bradford and Hull KR will gain a new member on Saturday as Warrington Wolves and Wakefield Trinity battle under the lights at the Theatre of Dreams for a spot at glory.
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Wolves → gain → glory
Whereas the Super League era has traditionally been dominated by the powerhouses of the sport with their heaving trophy cabinets, 2026 is the story of one side that has come close but not got over the line and another that has upset the odds to wedge themselves into the conversation.
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that → dominate → conversation
Wakefield's stunning semi-final win over Wigan set tongues wagging across rugby league and beyond, particularly given the nature of the demolition job delivered by Daryl Powell's side to the treble-chasers.
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win → set → chasers
It was a performance which suggested Wakefield had the credentials to complete the job at Old Trafford, built on a marauding, metre-chomping pack and skilful, pacy backs capable of racking up points.
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Wakefield → suggest → points
Head coach Powell has been around the block and knows just how difficult this one-off final is to get right even with a season's worth of momentum behind a team.
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final → know → team
"We have to get the same performance level," Powell told BBC Sport. "When it really counts.
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it → have → Sport
"I'm not saying it's going to be picture perfect, it's very rare there is but I think we have to be at a very high level to beat Warrington and we all know that."
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we → say → that
While this is Wakefield's first final and the same for many of their players, like coach Powell a select few have sampled the unique atmosphere of Old Trafford for Super League's showpiece event.
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few → sample → event
Tom Johnstone begrudgingly left Wakefield for Catalans in 2023 and reached the Grand Final in his first season, before rejoining Trinity in 2025.
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Johnstone → leave → 2025
That night ended in disappointment with defeat by Wigan, so the 2026 final represents a second chance for the England winger to pick up the ring he so covets - although it will not be the most important ring in his life as he admits.
"It's going to be different in so many ways for me because as much as I loved Catalans, this is my team," Johnstone told BBC Radio 5 live.
"This has been my team for almost all of my career, and the team that gave me an opportunity 15 years ago as a youngster.
"So, this is special, this is the big one and it's probably going to be, if we get it done, the best night of my life.
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it → end → life
Sorry, after my wedding, my wife said.
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wife → say → wedding
She said it has to be second to my wedding."
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it → say → wedding
Like Warrington, Wakefield have waited a long time to return to league glory, with a 58-year gap since their last title.
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Wakefield → wait → title
That narrative is one of many utilised by both clubs as inspiration for this Grand Final encounter, with several on both sides.
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narrative → utilise → sides
One story for Wakefield to thrive upon is the impending retirement of stalwart back-rower Jay Pitts.
Born in Ossett and a graduate of the youth set-up at Wakefield, the 36-year-old has amassed just short of 200 appearances for Trinity across two spells bookending his career which will end once Saturday's final is done.
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final → thrive → career
Pitts has battled through this crucial period following a bicep injury, and his determination and leadership are integral to the spirit within the dressing room.
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determination → battle → room
"After the Wigan game I just went into the changing rooms and said to him 'you know you get to play your final game at Old Trafford'.
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you → go → Trafford
It's what dreams are made of," Powell added.
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Powell → make → what
"While there's a few players leaving us for different reasons, for Pittsy retiring after his final game in rugby league - what better way for us all to do something special for him as a person?
"
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us → be → person
He's been a phenomenal player, a warrior, and I know all the boys love him.
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boys → know → him
He gets a fair bit of stick for how old he is but that comes to us all so I won't worry about that too much.
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I → get → that
It has been 71 years since Warrington last won a league title and it is their first trip to Old Trafford for eight years.
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it → win → years
In the Super League era, the Wire have now reached five Grand Finals, but are yet to cross the line and write their name on the trophy.
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Wire → reach → trophy
For Ben Currie, he is acutely aware of the gap between trophies, having been with the club during their four other visits - albeit he is yet to actually a appear in a Grand Final.
"
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he → appear → Final
It's hard not to know about it when you've got the opposite fans singing about it every week," he told BBC Radio Merseyside.
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he → know → Merseyside
"Obviously it's tongue in cheek and it's fun for the fans to do that.
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fans → do → that
"We'd love to give our fans the opportunity to sing back to them but there's no added pressure
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We → love → them
"Everyone wants it just the same as everyone does at Wakefield."
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everyone → want → Wakefield
One member of the Warrington team who could make an impact is 18-year-old Ewan Irwin.
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who → make → impact
Since making his debut in 2025, Irwin has gone on to make 21 appearances this season, scoring six tries and kicking 82 goals.
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Irwin → make → goals
Matty Ashton, who himself was a bright young prospect for the Wire not so long ago, spoke highly of his team-mate, who has the chance to become the youngest player to ever score in a Grand Final.
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who → speak → Final
"You see him day in and day out, his work ethic, he's probably the best I've seen in a young lad [and] obviously I've been at the club for seven years," Ashton said of Irwin to BBC Radio Merseyside.
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Ashton → see → Merseyside
"The way he's willing to learn when he speaks to leaders like George [Williams], it's just great to see.
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it → learn → Williams
"He's just got that something, you can see it.
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you → get → it
Obviously I don't want to put too much pressure as he's my team-mate, but he'll go all the way and he's got a big chance to do something like that."
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he → want → that
Team news
Warrington name a squad with just one change in their line-up.
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Warrington → name → up
Jordy Crowther comes into the squad, with Max Wood dropping out.
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Wood → come → squad
Wakefield, meanwhile, are unchanged following their dramatic semi-final win against Wigan Warriors.
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Wakefield → follow → Warriors
Josh Rourke is once again named in their provisional squad as he continues his return from a knee injury sustained in August.
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he → name → August
The Aporia
