| Leeds Rhinos 42 (16) |
| Tries: Boyd-Ward 3, Collins 4, Halliwell, Mulhall Cons: Collins 2, Halliwell |
| Wigan Warriors 50 (28) |
| Tries: Heggie 3, Lane 2, Wooloff, Roberts 2, Rigby Cons: Roberts 7 |
Wigan Warriors defeated Leeds Rhinos in a thrilling Wheelchair Grand Final in Manchester to become Super League champions for the first time.
Wigan led 32-16 three minutes into the second period, but five tries from Leeds put them 42-38 after 70 minutes.
Late scores from Jack Heggie and Martin Lane turned the match back in the Warriors’ favour.
It was a second successive Grand Final defeat for the Rhinos, who lost to Halifax Panthers last year.
The triumph completed a weekend double for Wigan, with the men’s team having beaten Catalans Dragons in the Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford.
Warriors stun favourites Rhinos
Leeds had won the League Leaders’ Shield for topping the table at the end of the regular season and had defeated Wigan in both previous meetings.
But the Warriors, inspired by a team-talk during the week from men’s head coach Matty Peet, took the lead with an early try from Heggie.
That set the pattern for the first half at the National Basketball Centre as Wigan scored five tries to Leeds’ four, with Declan Roberts to the fore for the Warriors.
They went in 28-16 up and the Rhinos would come to regret missing all their conversions.
Yet the Yorkshire side, who were aiming to repeat their Super League title of 2021, were rejuvenated after the break.
Jodie Boyd-Ward completed her hat-trick before Nathan Collins’ fourth try took Leeds into the lead for the first time.
However, there was still time for another twist as Heggie’s hat-trick score and a second try for Lane, both converted by Roberts, secured a famous Wigan win.
Wigan Warriors head coach Chris Greenhalgh told Sky Sports:
“This is incredible. It has probably come ahead of schedule, but we had a good end of season.
But nobody backed us to beat London Roosters in the semi-final and I don’t think anyone backed us to win this. But we quite like the underdog mentality.
There is a real sense of inclusive around the club. Matty Peet contacted us about coming to see us and that was a massive thing for us as most of the players have been Wigan season ticket holders since they were babies.”
Leeds Rhinos head coach James Simpson:
“Congratulations to Wigan, they thoroughly deserved it.
“Missed kicks and discipline cost us. We left a lot of points out there, so we were always playing catch-up. And we had a frank conversation at half-time.
“I thought Declan Roberts was absolutely unplayable for Wigan today, not only for his running threat but for his passing as well.”