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Teams
Hull KR: Mourgue, Davies, Hiku, Gildart, Burgess, Lewis, May, Sue, McIlorum, Waerea-Hargreaves, Hadley, Batchelor, Minchella. Replacements: Litten, Luckley, Whitbread, Martin.
Wigan Warriors: Field, Miski, Keighran, Wardle, Marshall, French, Smith, Byrne, O’Neill, Thompson, Walters, Farrell, Ellis. Replacements: Havard, Nsemba, Mago, Leeming.
Referee: Liam Moore
Aaron Bower
Neil Hudgell has witnessed highs this summer that he and a generation of Hull KR supporters perhaps thought they would never get to experience, but even in these most euphoric of times the low moments are never far from the forefront of his mind.
There have been plenty of those during his 20 years as owner of his boyhood club. Flirtations with administration, relegation from Super League in the most dramatic circumstances in 2016 courtesy of an extra-time defeat by Salford and a 50-0 loss to Leeds in the 2015 Challenge Cup final that Hudgell ranks as his lowest ebb.
We’ve got time to enjoy some pre-match reading before kick-off, which is coming up … don’t forget you can email me with your thoughts, hopes, expectations and even fears.
Preamble
Wigan Warriors stand on the verge of greatness. Victory at Old Trafford today would secure three consecutive Super League titles, placing them in the same bracket as their most legendary predecessors at league’s winningest club. “We’re 80 minutes away from that,” said the captain Liam Farrell, “and I believe we can go down as one of Wigan’s great teams.”
The only problem? Their opponents, Hull KR, are buoyant after winning two trophies already this season and will not feel like underdogs, even against a side that have claimed the title two seasons running.
Hull KR will be all the more motivated after last season’s Grand Final defeat by same opponents, when they lost 9-2. That sounds more like a terrible poker hand than a rugby score, but shows we are very likely to witness a tense, ultra-competitive tussle over the next few hours. Let’s get it on!
Kick-off: 6pm BST