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Wigan|16}}|home_half1 = 6|home_half2 = 0|home_total = 6|away_half1 = 2|away_half2 = 10|away_total = 12|date = 8 October 2016Old Trafford (football ground)>Old TraffordENG}} Manchester|MoM_title = Harry Sunderland TrophyENG}} Liam Farrell ({{leagueicon16}} Wigan Warriors)|anthem_title = HeadlinersFeeder (band)>Feeder|referee = Robert Hicks|attendance = 70,202|network = Sky SportsEddie Hemmings (rugby league)>Eddie Hemmings|commentators2= |commentators3= |tournaments = Super League Grand Final2015 Super League Grand Final>20152017 Super League Grand Final>2017}}The 2016 Super League Grand Final was the 19th official Grand Final and conclusive and championship-deciding match of the Super League XXI season. It was held on Saturday 8 October 2016,NEWS,weblink 2016 FIRST UTILITY SUPER LEAGUE FIXTURES ANNOUNCED, 18 October 2015, RUGBY-LEAGUE.COM, 6 October 2016, at Old Trafford, Manchester, with a 6pm kick-off time. British rock band Feeder provided the pre-match and half-time entertainment.NEWS,weblink FEEDER TO HEADLINE ENTERTAINMENT AT GRAND FINAL, 15 August 2016, RUGBY-LEAGUE.COM, 6 October 2016, The Wigan Warriors were crowned champions, winning their fourth Super League crown, and prevented Warrington from winning their first championship in 61 years.

Background

{{further|Super League XXI}}{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"! style="width:20px;" abbr="Position"| Pos! style="width:175px;"| Team! style="width:20px;" abbr="Played"| Pld! style="width:20px;" abbr="Won"| W! style="width:20px;" abbr="Drawn"| D! style="width:20px;" abbr="Lost"| L! style="width:25px;" abbr="Points for"| PF! style="width:25px;" abbr="Points against"| PA! style="width:25px;" abbr="Points difference"| PD! style="width:20px;" abbr="Points"| Pts {{leagueicon16}} Warrington Wolves| 43 {{leagueicon16}} Wigan Warriors| 42

Route to the Final

Warrington Wolves

{{See|2016 Warrington Wolves season}}Warrington took part in the Challenge Cup final, when they went down 12–10 against Hull FC. Then in the rematch of the final, Warrington won 23–6 to win the League Leader's Shield. They then beat St. Helens for only the 2nd time at the Halliwell Jones Stadium to clinch the first Final spot.

Wigan Warriors

{{See|2016 Wigan Warriors season}}Wigan were quieter than usual this season, however in the back end of the season Wigan fought back to finish second by beating Hull F.C. and Warrington Wolves away. Drawn at home to Hull F.C. at the semi-final Wigan won 28–18 to set up the final against Warrington.

Match day

Pre-game

The match was a rematch of the 2013 Super League Grand Final, where Wigan won the trophy after trailing at half-time. This is Wigan's fourth consecutive Grand Final appearance. Warrington have been in the Grand Final twice before and have never won the Super League trophy, with their last league trophy win coming 61 years ago in the 1954–55 Northern Rugby Football League season.NEWS,weblink Grand Final: Warrington and Wigan set for Super League's 2016 final, 7 October 2016, BBC SPORT RUGBY LEAGUE, 8 October 2016, Wigan were underdogs coming into this match as a host of their regular players were missing through injury. Players such as Sam and Joel Tomkins, Michael McIlorum, Dominic Manfredi, and Lee Mossop. Skipper Sean O'Loughlin was also amongst this list but was rushed into the team for the Grand Final and was placed on the bench after two 'successful' training sessions. Warrington's Chris Sandow was also a late inclusion for the Grand Final after he recovered enough to play, however he also started the game on the reserves bench.This was the last rugby league match for Wigan's Josh Charnley before heading off to play rugby union. Teammate, Lewis Tierney, son of 1998 Super League Grand Final winner and dual-international, Jason Robinson, created history by becoming the first son to play in a Grand Final after his father did.NEWS,weblink Lewis Tierney will write his name in the Grand Final history books on Saturday, 1 October 2016, DAILY STAR, 8 October 2016, Notably, Oliver Gildart's father Ian Gildart had also won various silverware with Wigan, but this was prior to the Super League era.

Match details

{{rugbyleaguebox |bg = #eeeeee |date = 8 October 2016 |team1 = {{leagueicon|warrington|16}} Warrington Wolves |score = 6–12|report = |team2 = 16px Wigan Warriors |points1 = Tries: Patton 21'Goals: Patton (1/1) 22'|points2 = Tries: Gildart 55' Charnley 63'Goals: Smith (2/4) 8', 74'|stadium = Old Trafford, Manchester |attendance = 70,202 |referee= Robert Hicks (Oldham)}}{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; font-size:90%;"! colspan="2" style="width:138px; background:blue; color:yellow; border:2px solid yellow;"|Warrington Wolves!Position! colspan="2" style="width:138px; background:red; color:white; border:2px solid white;"|Wigan Warriors!6{{flagicon|ENG}} Stefan Ratchford {{rlp|FB}}!4{{flagicon|ENG}} Dan Sarginson!2{{flagicon|ENG}} Tom Lineham {{Rlp|WG}}!2{{flagicon|ENG}} Josh Charnley!3{{flagiconRhys Evans (rugby league)>Rhys Evans {{Rlp|CE}}!3{{flagicon|COK}} Anthony Gelling!4{{flagicon|ENG}} Ryan Atkins {{rlp|CE}}!20{{flagicon|ENG}} Oliver Gildart!5{{flagicon|SCO}} Matty Russell {{rlp|WG}}!22{{flagicon|SCO}} Lewis Tierney!1{{flagicon|AUS}} Kurt Gidley {{rlp|SO}}!6{{flagiconGeorge Williams (rugby league)>George Williams!26{{flagicon|ENG}} Declan Patton {{rlp|SH}}!7{{flagiconMatty Smith (rugby league)>Matty Smith!10{{flagicon|FIJ}} Ashton Sims {{rlp|PR}}!24{{flagicon|NZL}} Frank-Paul Nu'uausala !9{{flagicon|ENG}} Daryl Clark {{rlp|HK}}!16{{flagicon|ENG}} Sam Powell!8{{flagiconChris Hill (rugby league)>Chris Hill (c) {{rlp|PR}}!10{{flagicon|WAL}} Ben Flower !12{{flagiconJack Hughes (rugby league)>Jack Hughes {{rlp|SR}}!12{{flagicon|ENG}} Liam Farrell!27{{flagicon|ENG}} Sam Wilde {{rlp|SR}}!14{{flagiconJohn Bateman (rugby league)>John Bateman!14{{flagicon|ENG}} Joe Westerman {{rlp|LF}}!25{{flagicon|SAM}} Willie Isa !7{{flagicon|AUS}} Chris Sandow Interchange!8{{flagicon|ENG}} Dom Crosby!18{{flagiconGeorge King (rugby league)>George King Interchange!13{{flagiconSean O'Loughlin (Captain (sports)>c)!24{{flagiconToby King (rugby league)>Toby King Interchange!19{{flagicon|AUS}} Taulima Tautai !33 {{flagiconRyan Bailey (rugby league)>Ryan Bailey Interchange!21{{flagicon|ENG}} Ryan Sutton !{{flagiconTony Smith (rugby league born 1967)>Tony Smith Coach!{{flagicon|ENG}} Shaun Wane

First half

Wigan opened the scoring in the 8th minute with a penalty goal from Matty Smith due to teammate, John Bateman, being held too long in a tackle.In the 17th minute, Wigan dotted the ball on the line out wide with Charnley, however the try wasn't awarded, due to a flick from Gelling which went forward due to pressure from Warrington's defence. This was Wigan's only notable effort in the first half as errors, such as this one, from both teams cost them opportunities.However, in the 21st minute, Warrington did score, thanks to a try from Declan Patton, who was only making his 9th appearance of the season. He then converted his own try to give his team a 6–2 lead, which they'd hold onto until half-time.WEB,weblinkweblink 2022-05-01, subscription, live, Super League Grand Final: Josh Charnley signs off in style as Wigan Warriors defeat Warrington Wolves, 8 October 2016, The Independent, 10 October 2016, {{cbignore}}

Second half

In the 54th minute, Ryan Atkins made his way over the try-line for Warrington. However, referee Robert Hicks sent the final decision to Video Referee Ben Thaler, as he couldn't see whether or not the ball was grounded on the try-line, after 5 Wigan players were tackling Atkins. Eventually after a short delay, Hicks' initial TRY decision was overturned by video referee, Ben Thaler, due to Atkins seen losing control of the ball before he could get it down.WEB,weblink Josh Charnley signs off with Wigan winner in Super League Grand Final, 8 October 2016, Daily Telegraph, 10 October 2016, A minute later, Liam Farrell broke Warrington's defensive line, and then gave a pass off to Oliver Gildart, who'd go on to score the 100th Super League Grand Final try. After kicking from a wide angle, Matty Smith was unable to convert and the scores remained level.In the 63rd minute, Josh Charnley wasn't denied this time around, scoring after grounding the departing team member Dan Sarginson's grubber in the in-goal area. Matty Smith again had to convert from out wide, but he again failed to capitalise on the extra 2 points.Smith then finally added another two points, courtesy of a penalty goal, conceded by Daryl Clark. The penalty-goal made the score 12–6 to Wigan with only 6 minutes remaining. After this moment, all the chances belonged to Warrington, but Wigan's defence stood up when it mattered most, tackling players out of play and tackling them on the 5th tackle, to create a turnover each time. Wigan held on to win their 4th Super League title.WEB,weblink Warrington 6-12 Wigan: Super League Grand Final – as it happened!, 8 October 2016, Guardian, 10 October 2016,

Post-match

Wigan's victory was their fourth Super League title.NEWS,weblink Wigan's Josh Charnley downs Warrington in Super League Grand Final, 8 October 2016, theguardian, 9 October 2016, Liam Farrell won the Harry Sunderland Trophy/ Man of the Match award The match was also the last for SkySports commentator, and former Great Britain international, Stevo, after 26 years of commentating the sport.NEWS,weblink Farewell to Stevo: Sky Sports pundits pay tribute to Mike Stephenson, 7 October 2016, skySPORTS, 9 October 2016,

World Club Series

By winning this match Wigan had qualified for the World Club Series Final, to be played at DW Stadium against the winners of the 2016 NRL Grand Final, the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. Warrington, as the runners up, would play 2016 NRL Grand Final runners up Melbourne Storm at the Halliwell Jones Stadium. The third game would have seen Challenge Cup champions Hull F.C. take on Canberra Raiders at KCOM Stadium. However circumstances later dictated that only Wigan and Warrington would play games, against Cronulla and Brisbane Broncos respectively.

References

{{reflist}}{{Super League}}{{2016 in rugby league}}