October
edit2010 was Wigan's fourth appearance in a Grand Final, three less than their opponents and local derby rivals St Helens, who held the record for most finals and were playing at Old Trafford for the fifth consecutive time having lost the previous three finals to Leeds.[1] Wigan's most previous final had been the defeat to Bradford in 2003, and O'Loughlin was the only survivor in 2010 from the team that played that day.[1] Compared to St Helens' Grand Final record of four wins from seven, Wigan's record was poor, with their only Super League championship after the playoffs were introduced coming in 1998 against Leeds.[1] With the league's statistically best defence in Wigan opposing the league's best attack in St Helens, and the top two teams from the regular season league table playing each other, the final was deemed by several commentators as a close match to call.[2][3][4]
The match was preceded with a minute's silence to Newton.[5] Wigan earned the early advantage with the former St Helens player, Gleeson, scoring the game's opening try after three minutes following an Iosia Soliola knock-on.[6] Deacon continued to put St Helens under pressure with threatening kicks to Richards, but it was Gleeson who scored his and Wigan's second try thanks to a move that started in the Warriors' half with Sam Tomkins and Deacon.[6] Another Deacon kick was not properly controlled by St Helens, and Goulding touched down an easy try in the sixteenth minute.[6] Richards scored his second goal with the conversion attempt, but did not last the first half as he suffered an injury to his Achilles tendon wich ended his participation in the final.[6] After coming close to a try through Matty Smith, St Helens eventually replied through Andrew Dixon to reduce the margin to ten points at half-time.[6]
Richards' injury cost Wigan points, as Riddell, the stand-in kicker, missed two relatively easy penalty attempts.[6] However, Sam Tomkins scored the first try of the second half on the right wing, with Riddell managing to successfully kick the conversion.[6] Liam Farrell also had a try disallowed for obstruction, before St Helens scored their second try of the match through Francis Meli.[6] It was the final try of the game though, as Wigan managed to run down the clock without conceding again to win their first Grand Final in twelve years.[6] The 22–10 victory meant Wigan were crowned Super League XV champions.[6]
In addition to O'Loughlin and the Tomkins brothers who played against France earlier in the season, Fielden and Goulding were both selected to join the England squad in the post-season 2010 Four Nations tournament.[7] It confirmed the day after the Grand Final that the injury Richards had sustained meant that he would be out of action for at least five to six months, which included the post-season international matches as well as the start of the next season, although Richards stated, "If I'd known that would happen and we'd still end up winning, I'd have taken it."[8]
- ^ a b c "St Helens share Grand Final victory record". Liverpool Echo. 2 October 2010. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
- ^ "Too close to call". Sky Sports. 1 October 2010. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
- ^ "Final thoughts". Sky Sports. 1 October 2010. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
- ^ Slater, Gary (2 October 2010). "Wigan Warriors 22 St Helens 10: match report". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
- ^ Barraclough, Neil (2 October 2010). "Wigan 22 St Helens 10: Title glory is all for 'Our Terry' Newton, says Martin Gleeson". The Daily Mail. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Lancaster, Rob (2 October 2010). "Warriors too good for Saints". Sky Sports. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
- ^ Laybourne, Ian (5 October 2010). "Morley to captain England in Four Nations". Herald Sun. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
- ^ "Wigan's Pat Richards out with Achilles tendon tear". BBC. 3 October 2010. Retrieved 16 July 2011.