Wigan Warriors have become almost synonymous with Grand Final appearances in recent years, and the club’s routine this season is clear: chase a historic treble in 2026. After already securing the Challenge Cup and the League Leaders' Shield, the Warriors are now a single victory away from a coveted spot in the Betfred Super League Grand Final. The next hurdle is a semi‑final clash with Wakefield Trinity on Saturday, 26 September, broadcast live on Sky Sports. Wakefield earned their place after a convincing win over Leigh in the eliminator round, and they will arrive at the match bristling with confidence and battle‑hardened resolve.
Head coach Matt Peet, who suffered his first Grand Final defeat at Old Trafford in 2025 when Hull KR swept the club aside, has turned that disappointment into motivation. "We have been through this experience a few times now, learned some lessons, and it is exciting," Peet told Sky Sports.
"It is not a case of everything we did last year being wrong; we got some things right, but we simply weren’t good enough on the night." Peet emphasized that the focus must remain on the present task rather than dwelling on past failures. "We will do what is right for this year's team, for this moment on their journey and our journey. It is more about looking forward than back," he added.
The coach’s philosophy is simple: keep the eyes on the prize that lies directly ahead – the semi‑final – and let the larger goal of a Grand Final appearance fall into place naturally. Should Wigan emerge victorious, Peet would claim his tenth trophy since taking the reins of his hometown club in 2022, a tally that underscores the rapid success he has enjoyed.
Yet the numbers mean little to him; the next piece of silverware is always the most important. "It is not about that, the next one is always the one," he said. "We just want to play well in the semi‑finals.
Not thinking too much about Old Trafford or the trophy or talking about that. We know we are going to be up against a very determined and capable team in the semi‑finals who have just had a fantastic win.
They will be battle‑hardened and confident, so we just have to concern ourselves with that." The 2025 season was a bittersweet one for the Warriors. They reached the Grand Final but were outclassed by Hull KR, suffering a 24‑6 defeat that also saw Brad O'Neill sin‑binned for a dangerous tackle.
O'Neill, however, has rebounded spectacularly in 2026, earning a place in the Super League Dream Team and vowing to help right the wrongs of the previous year. "I feel like going away together before the semi‑final, when we get the week off, is a great opportunity to get some work in but also a good time to bond as well and get away and fresh. Just to enjoy each other's company," O'Neill explained to Sky Sports.
"We have done it for the last few years and everyone seems to like it. I feel like it would mean a lot. Last year was a tough one to take at Old Trafford for myself personally and for the club.
To put those wrongs right would mean a lot to us all. We have given ourselves the best opportunity to do it, we just have to commit now and get through this semi‑final first." Wakefield Trinity entered the semi‑final on the back of a 26‑16 victory over Leigh Leopards on 18 September, while their opponents, Warrington Wolves, had dispatched Hull KR 35‑12 a day later. The semi‑final schedule continues with Leeds Rhinos facing Warrington Wolves on 25 September, followed by the Wigan‑Wakefield showdown the next day. The Super League playoffs are in full swing, with each match streamed live on Sky Sports and culminating in the Grand Final at Old Trafford on 3 October.
For Wigan, the immediate challenge is to execute their game plan against a rejuvenated Wakefield side, stay disciplined, and keep their sights firmly on the next match. If they can do that, the prospect of adding a third trophy to their season’s haul—and perhaps securing that elusive 2025 redemption—will be within reach. In summary, Wigan Warriors approach the semi‑final with a blend of experience, determination, and a forward‑looking mindset.
Coach Matt Peet’s emphasis on learning from the past while concentrating on the present, combined with the players’ desire to avenge last year's disappointment, creates a compelling narrative. Wakefield Trinity, fresh from a solid eliminator win, will test Wigan’s resolve, but the Warriors' recent successes and their hunger for another triumph suggest they are well‑positioned to advance to the Grand Final and chase that historic treble.