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2026 Grand Final Preview

2 hrs

A first major final meeting between Wolves and Trinity
A new Super League champion will be crowned
3rd v 4th in a Grand Final
The Wolves are bidding for their first league title since 1955, while Trinity seek their first since 1968

The wait is nearly over.

After 27 regular season rounds and two weeks of gripping Play-Off action, the 2026 Betfred Super League season comes down to one final showdown as Warrington Wolves and Wakefield Trinity prepare to battle for Grand Final glory.

A bumper crowd is expected at Old Trafford for what promises to be a historic occasion.

No matter the outcome, a new chapter of Super League history will be written on Saturday evening, as a sixth and new name will be engraved on the trophy. Expect fireworks!

A new name will be added to the #SuperLeague trophy on Saturday ?

Who else can't wait for the Grand Final? ? pic.twitter.com/hphU95hq0B
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) September 26, 2026

Background:

For the first time in a major final, Warrington Wolves and Wakefield Trinity will go head-to-head, with both clubs aiming to achieve something generations of supporters have waited years to witness.

For Warrington, it is a fifth Grand Final appearance. The Wolves have fallen short in each of their previous four visits to Old Trafford in 2012, 2013, 2016 and 2018, but now have another opportunity to finally get their hands on the Super League trophy. Victory would also secure the club's first league title since 1955.

Wakefield's story is equally compelling.

Just three years after suffering relegation, Trinity will contest their maiden Super League Grand Final. Daryl Powell's side have already achieved the highest Super League finish in the club's history and are now just 80 minutes away from winning their first league title since 1968.

Just ten teams have contested in a Grand Final since its inaugural final in 1998, although this will soon become 11 as Wakefield join St Helens, Wigan Warriors, Bradford Bulls, Leeds Rhinos, Hull FC, Catalans Dragons, Salford Red Devils, Castleford Tigers, the Wolves, and Hull KR, who have all experienced walking out at Old Trafford.

Did you know this is also the first ever Grand Final which has not included one of Wigan, Leeds, or St Helens?

Did you also know that Wakefield’s head coach Daryl Powell played in the first Super League Grand Final, at stand-off in the Rhinos' 10-4 defeat to the Warriors in 1998?

The Road to Old Trafford:

Both Warrington and Wakefield have taken impressive routes to Old Trafford.

Warrington have been one of the competition's most consistent sides throughout the year, spending virtually the entire season in the top three. Sam Burgess' men eliminated defending champions Hull KR before edging past Leeds Rhinos in a dramatic Semi-Final to book their place in the Theatre of Dreams.

Wakefield's rise has been one of the stories of the season. After overcoming an early setback, Trinity developed into genuine contenders, securing a top four finish before defeating Leigh Leopards in the Eliminators and then producing a stunning Semi-Final victory over Wigan Warriors at The Brick Community Stadium to reach their first Grand Final.

A Grand Final of stories:

There are stories galore everywhere you look.

Veteran Jay Pitts could become the oldest player to score in a Grand Final, while Warrington youngster Ewan Irwin could become the youngest.

Wakefield hooker Tyson Smoothy has the chance to join an exclusive club of players to win both NRL and Super League Grand Finals, having been part of Brisbane Broncos' Grand Final-winning side in 2025.

With victory, Smoothy would also be the first player to complete the double in successive years since Ben Harris, who triumphed in 2004 (Canterbury Bulldogs) and 2005 (Bradford Bulls).

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There are milestones on the line too. Matty Ashton, who recently hit 100 Super League tries, needs three tries to reach 150 in his career, while Tom Johnstone requires one try to reach 150 Super League tries and eight points to bring up 500 points for Trinity.

George Williams is also just one point away from 500 in Super League, before he jets off to play in the NRL next year. How fitting would that be if he could bow out with a win at the weekend?

With the likes of Williams, Toby King, Joe Philbin and Sam Powell all preparing for their final appearances in Warrington colours, and loyal servants such as Jay Pitts and Max Jowitt set to depart Wakefield at season's end, emotions are sure to be high on both sides.

Previous Grand Final experience:

Could Grand Final experience could prove crucial on the big stage?

The Wolves have seven players who have featured in Grand Finals before, including Williams and Sam Powell, who between them have appeared in 10 Grand Finals and won five Super League titles.

Williams has won two Grand Finals AGAINST Warrington - 2016 and 2018 when he played for their local rivals, Wigan.

Meanwhile, Toby King, Liam Byrne, James Bentley, Joe Philbin and Kelepi Tanginoa have also experienced rugby league's biggest occasion.

In comparison, Wakefield have only two players with previous Grand Final appearances. Johnstone featured for Catalans Dragons in 2023, while captain Mike McMeeken has played in three Grand Finals, having represented the Tigers and the Dragons on the big stage. Having suffered defeat in all three of his previous Old Trafford appearances, another loss would see McMeeken equal the record for the most Grand Final appearances without a win, which would certainly be an unwanted feat.

Whether that experience proves decisive remains to be seen, but on paper, Warrington's players will be more familiar with the demands of rugby league's biggest occasion…

Head-to-head:

Recent meetings suggest there is very little to separate the two clubs.

Wakefield have won four of the last five encounters between the sides, including victories in both meetings during 2025 and a 25-18 success earlier this month.