Wigan Warriors have long established themselves as a powerhouse in the Betfred Super League, and their experience in reaching Grand Finals is practically textbook. This season, the club is on the brink of completing a remarkable treble, having already secured two major pieces of silverware – the Challenge Cup and the League Leaders' Shield – with the Grand Final now just a single victory away.
The next hurdle is a semi‑final clash against Wakefield Trinity, scheduled for Saturday, 26 September, and broadcast live on Sky Sports. Wakefield earned their place by defeating Leigh in the eliminators, and they will arrive in Wigan with confidence and momentum, having just celebrated a hard‑fought win. Head coach Matt Peet, who suffered his first Grand Final defeat as a Wigan manager 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.
He emphasized that the focus must be forward‑looking rather than dwelling on past shortcomings. "It is not a case of everything we did last year being wrong; we had the right moments, but we simply weren’t good enough on the night. We will do what is right for this year's team at this point in their journey and ours. It is more about looking forward than back," he added.
If the Warriors manage to win the Grand Final, it would represent Peet’s tenth trophy since taking the reins at his hometown club in 2022 – an astonishing rate of success. Yet, the coach downplays the statistical significance, insisting that the only trophy that matters is the one directly in front of you. "It is not about that; the next one is always the one," he explained. "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 Wigan under Peet.
The team reached the finals but fell short as Hull KR claimed every available honour, culminating in a 24‑6 Grand Final loss that 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 set the record straight. "I feel like going away together pre‑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 told 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." The semi‑final schedule is as follows: - Friday, 18 September: Wakefield Trinity 26‑16 Leigh Leopards - Saturday, 19 September: Warrington Wolves 35‑12 Hull KR - Friday, 25 September: Leeds Rhinos vs Warrington Wolves, 8 pm kickoff on Sky Sports (Semi‑Final 1) - Saturday, 26 September: Wigan Warriors vs Wakefield Trinity, 5.30 pm kickoff on Sky Sports (Semi‑Final 2) The Super League playoffs continue to unfold live on Sky Sports, culminating in the Grand Final at Old Trafford on 3 October. Wigan's ambition is clear: maintain their composure, execute their game plan, and seize the chance to add another chapter to their already impressive trophy cabinet.
Their blend of seasoned experience, recent triumphs, and a hunger to rectify past disappointments makes the upcoming semi‑final a compelling narrative for fans and neutrals alike. The Warriors understand that every match in a knockout campaign is a fresh battle, and they are prepared to meet Wakefield's battle‑hardened resolve with their own brand of disciplined, attacking rugby. The stage is set, the stakes are high, and Wigan aims to turn preparation into performance as they chase the coveted treble.