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Super League Finals

Beven French was released to Wigan by.......Parra. Enough said. Looks like he has found his spot at 5/8, stand off. He has a bit of x factor and can also play wing or FB. Good passing game, very fast and can improvise. He has just signed a new deal with Wigan until 2028. I am surprised that there wasn't interest shown by some of the NRL clubs before he signed this year. Teams like New Castle, Raiders or Warriors could have used him.
 
Brownrabbit said:
Willie is a champion bloke and South Sydney to his core
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I remember when Willie was basically bullied out of Manly when he was on the coaching staff there. If I remember correctly he was constantly being harassed by someone else on the coaching staff about his height. He ended up taking matters into his own hands and ended up being shown the door there. Then came back to us.
 
Kempy said:
I remember when Willie was basically bullied out of Manly when he was on the coaching staff there. If I remember correctly he was constantly being harassed by someone else on the coaching staff about his height. He ended up taking matters into his own hands and ended up being shown the door there. Then came back to us.
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It was their head of performance at the time from memory

Willie mainly took exception with him belittling his height and gigging him in front of the players

Willie hit him up to pull his head in, especially in front of the playing group. The w$&@ker doubled down instead and got one on his chin for his efforts
 
Kempy said:
I remember when Willie was basically bullied out of Manly when he was on the coaching staff there. If I remember correctly he was constantly being harassed by someone else on the coaching staff about his height. He ended up taking matters into his own hands and ended up being shown the door there. Then came back to us.
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Being a Manly coach would do anyone's head in. They did Willie a favour. Looks like he has been going really well since then, and it could get even better next week.
 
Grand Finalist Hull KR.
Founded in 1882 as Kingston Amatures by a bunch of boilermakers, (welders). After being relegated, they returned to the Super League under Tim Sheens for the 2018 season. They avoided being relegated again in 2020, thanks to Covid and the withdrawal of Toronto Wolfpack from the ESL. Since then, they've gone from the bottom of the table to the GF next week. Previous ladder positions are 2019 11th, 2020 11th, 2021 6th, 2022 8th, 2023 4th and 2024 2nd. Similar the Knights progress a few years back except Hull KR have continued with it where the Knights haven't. Hull KR have not played in a Super League GF and have not won a major trophy for 39 years. Maybe next weekend will be their time.
 
Grand Finalists Wigan
Wigan were formed in 1872 as Wigan Football Club. They are the most successful club in the history of rugby league in the world with 162 trophys of which 23 are Premierships and 5 world club challenges. Their most capped player was back in the 1920s, Jim Sullivan, 774 games with 4883 points. Wigan have won the Super League championship 6 times since it started in 1997 third behind St Helens and Leeds. Recent ladder positions 2018 2nd, 2019 2nd, 2020 1st, 2021 4th, 2022 2nd, 2023 1st, 2024 1st. They have taken the title of heavyweight from St Helens, are presently the Penrith of the Super League and defending champions.
 
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It'll be a big effort from Hull KR to get them home in this one. Wigan are in the midst of their own Penrith-like dynasty under Matty Peet. Jai Field and Bevan French will have a field day if KR can't shut them down. It's always interesting when an underdog team makes the SL GF, but as we've seen in previous years, Wigan and St Helens just know how to get it done.
 
Wigan Warriors v Hull KR Sunday 4 am.
This is 1 v 2 on the ladder.
Like the NRL of recent years only 4 teams have ever won the Super League championship and Wigan is one of them. Last time these 2 sides met was in round 25 where Wigan won 24 - 20. Hulls Captain and Loose forward (Lock), Elliot Minchella returns for Hull, thats like Cameron Murray returning for us, a big in. Also returning for Hull is Centre and rep player Oliver Gildart. He was loaned to the Roosters, boo, for a handful of games in 2022. Hull have been improving each year and are in their first GF. I think the best chance for them is for their half and form player Micky Lewis to have his best game, especially his kicking game has to be on for this one. Hull will be up for this game and are playing their best football now under the coaching of Willie Peters. They have had a win over Wigan, but that was in the early rounds. Hull will have to have their best game and take it to Wigan from the start and try to unsettle them perhaps causing a few Wigan mistakes. Even so I think Wigan will be too fast and strong in the end. Wigan have been the Penrith of the ESL for the past 2 years. They are the World Club Champions, the Challenge Cup winners and defending Super League Champions. Jai Field at FB, Beven French at Stand Off (5/8) and Junior Nsemba left edge backrower are the form players that will be a handful for Hull. Former Rabbitoh Patrick Mago will also be playing at prop likely off the bench. Wigan have the fastest attack in the league coupled with big hard working forwards. Both sides are good defensively, we saw that last week, but the speed of the Wigan attack I think will be the difference in the end.
Expecting a sell out crowd of over 65,000. A crowd of 10,000 sounds like 50,000 so I am looking forward to the noise and atmosphere of this game.
Wigan to win by 10.
 
Wigan 9 def Hull KR 2. Good defensive game by both teams. One bit if brilliance from Beven French was the only try in the game. Hull had a few opportunities and were in it all the way. In the 2nd half, Hull were kept in their own half by Wigans good defence and a few too many errors. Wigan were the better side especially in the 2nd half and could have scored a couple more trys but the game deserved the close score it got in the finish. Interesting to see Nathan Cleary at the game. 68,000 crowd.
 
devastating result for souths fans.a few years ago we were the equal greatest rugby league club on the planet with 21 premierships.this gap is widening every time wigan win another one.saving grace is the shf did not come 1 closer to us in the nrl this year.
 
Still a great result for Willie.

His roster there at Hull has no where near the talent of Wigan, St Helen’s and Warrington

Outstanding coaching effort getting that roster to a GF
 
Been following Souths since the mid 60's and Wigan since 1980.

Good game and great result, well done Warriors.
 
While Big Sammy appears to be favourite to take over coaching us from WB, which I agree with, Willie Peters should be in the mix too. In his 2nd year at Hull KR he has taken them to 4th last year then to their first GF this year. He could go one step further next year with the inclusion of JWH. With all the media attention Hull received, which they would not be accustomed to, and their maiden GF appearance in front of 68,000 crowd, I expected a few nerves from them in the first 20 minutes, but not so. It looked like they were mentally prepared and obviously a very well coached team. It's not a wonder that Willie Peters is the 2024 Super League coach of the year. Both former Rabbitohs assistant coaches have had a big year and looks like their coaching careers are well under way. It would be good if they both met in the GF next season.
 
ASH1908 said:
devastating result for souths fans.a few years ago we were the equal greatest rugby league club on the planet with 21 premierships.this gap is widening every time wigan win another one.saving grace is the shf did not come 1 closer to us in the nrl this year.
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Wigan had a 36 year head start on us. But we do need to do better than one each 43 years. 🤣
 
Willie Peters and David Hodgson have been in 2 Superleague GF together. Year 2000 as players for Wigan and 24 years later as coaches for Hull KR. Neither got the result they wanted but good to get there.
 
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