Semi-Finals: O'Neill focused on finishing the treble

Brad O'Neill has already experienced more success than many players achieve in an entire career.

A quadruple-winning campaign in 2024 cemented Wigan Warriors' place at the summit of the sport, but with Hull KR wrestling away each of the major honours they had captured the following year, the Warriors have responded in emphatic fashion in 2026.

Having already lifted the Challenge Cup in May and secured the League Leaders' Shield nearly a fortnight ago, Matt Peet's side are now just two games away from completing a treble-winning season.

Standing in their way this weekend are Wakefield Trinity, who travel to The Brick Community Stadium for Saturday’s eagerly anticipated Betfred Super League Semi-Final.

The sides will meet in the Play-Offs for the first time since 2004, with the Warriors already boasting a perfect record against Trinity this season after claiming victory in all three previous encounters across league and cup competitions.

For much of the campaign, Leeds Rhinos set the pace at the top of the table. But Wigan's relentless finish to the regular season saw them overhaul the Rhinos, secure the League Leaders' Shield and enter the Play-Offs on a club Super League record winning run of 15 games.

And O'Neill believes that consistency proved decisive during the closing stages of the regular season:

"We started the season strong before a little scratchy patch. Leeds have been very consistent all year, and we knew if we wanted to come close to Leeds at the end, then we'd have to be a bit more consistent. And in that we did.

"We had a couple of games against Wakefield, Hull KR and Leeds - three big ones we targeted - and we knew we had to win all of them.

"Obviously, Catalans was the last one, but it was important that we won all of those games. We viewed Leeds as the big game, and we put a focus on it.

"As it came closer, we knew we needed to win it. We got excited about it, but we’ve mainly just been keeping our focus on week-to-week games and made sure that we kept on winning and were playing consistently good rugby."

A defining moment came in Round 26 when Wigan travelled to AMT Headingley and produced a statement victory over Leeds in what many billed as the League Leaders' Shield Decider.

The result not only ended Leeds' long stay at the top of the table but also swung the Shield race firmly in Wigan's favour.

"It was the way we beat Leeds," explained O'Neill.

"Obviously, it's the plan to beat every team when you’re training during the week, but we just had a real strong emphasis on that game.

"We just went out and played, and the result just happened to go that way. Leeds were a very good side, but I feel like on that day, we were just too good.

"After the game we realised that we could win the Shield, and that all we needed to do was finish strong against Catalans, which we did, so it’s been a very good season in the league."

For O'Neill personally, 2026 ranks among the finest years of his career to date.

Having overcome the disappointment of how the previous campaign ended, O’Neill has been a key figure in another trophy-chasing Wigan side.

"It’s probably been one of my better years, if not my best year,” the Warriors’ number 9 said.

"With how last year ended, it kind of added a bit more fuel to the fire with myself, so I've really enjoyed it. It's been a great journey. With winning the Challenge Cup, through to the middle of the year, and going on week to week to win the League Leaders - it’s been great."

"I feel like every team who's in the Play-Offs now will be talking about the Grand Final. I feel like it's the big one, as people call it. You get to come to at Old Trafford and play in the Grand Final and hopefully win it.

“We spoke about it after the League Leaders. We've put ourselves in a prime position to get to Old Trafford in a home semi-final, and we're excited.

"But we’ve got the semi to win first, and hopefully, we get a chance to come and play in the Grand Final."

One of the foundations of Wigan's sustained success has been the stability of the playing group.

Many of the squad have progressed together over a number of years, building relationships and connections that have translated into silverware on the field.

For O'Neill, that bond remains one of the biggest strengths within the camp:

"I feel like we've moulded together over the past four or five years. We’ve been together a long time.

"I feel like the connection that we've all got and the friendship that we've got has taken time. It doesn't just happen over a couple of years.

"It has to build and now we enjoy it and all our day-to-day training. It's pretty good, everyone enjoys each other’s company, so winning is just a bonus really to us."

Should Wigan overcome Wakefield on Saturday, Old Trafford awaits once again - which would be Wigan’s 15th Grand Final appearance since the inaugural final in 1998.

For O'Neill, there are few experiences in sport that compare to running out on Grand Final day alongside teammates he considers some of his closest friends.

"It’s pretty special to come here. It's what everybody talks about during the year and to get the opportunity to do it is amazing.

"The fans are right on top of you - the atmosphere is the best experience, and it's two of the best teams going against each other, so it's pretty special.

"To do it with your best mates, when we've been playing together all year, nothing really beats it."

Can the Warriors finish the job?

Watch Wigan Warriors v Wakefield Trinity's Betfred Super League Play-Off Semi-Final on Saturday 26 September, live on Sky Sports (K.O. 5.30pm).

Click here to find out more about the Semi-Finals, and click here to buy tickets.

Be a part of Rugby League's biggest night and book your tickets for the Betfred Super League Grand Final here!