Heartbreak in the Grand Final but Leaders Shield comes as consolation: Wigan Warriors Season Review

Credit Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com

A strong season from the Warriors saw the side top the Betfred Super League table, claiming the League Leaders Shield.

But it was heartbreak in the Grand Final against local rivals St Helens with a last second Jack Welsby try breaking the hearts of Wigan players and fans.

In the off-season Wigan were the joint favourites with St Helens to become the 2020 Super League champions. This was mostly down to their new signings ahead of the season. Their main signing being the 2019 Man of Steel Jackson Hastings from the Salford Red Devils. Hastings was an integral part of the Salford team that took them to their first ever Super League Grand Final.

The Warriors started well in 2020 with a narrow home win over the Warrington Wolves, a game which saw the visitors a man down for over an hour with Warrington captain Chris Hill seeing red for a high tackle.

Wigan went on to win four of their six games before the forced break in the season. After the return to action, they won their first three games with narrow wins over Castleford, Leeds and Wakefield. Their five game winning run came to an end as Saints got the better of them in the derby in September against a very young Wigan side.

They were left defeated again in the cup, falling short in a very wet Challenge Cup Semi Final, as a stubborn Leeds defence shut down the Warriors attack, helping send the Rhinos to Wembley.

The Warriors revenged their defeat to St Helens in September, with a 18-6 away win at the home of the champions at the end of October. A win that would prove vital in Wigan finishing top of Super League at the end of the regular season, and becoming the winners of the League Leaders Shield.

Wigan had Semi Final success over Hull FC in the play-offs with the Super League crown within sight. But it wasn’t to be, with Wigan losing one of the greatest Grand Finals of all time. A cruel way to finish the season for Adrian Lam’s men.

The end of the season did see long serving Wigan Captain Sean O’Loughlin hang up his boots on an amazing 12-year Wigan career.

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