WILL it be third time lucky for Warrington Wolves in the Super League Grand Final?

Saturday’s title decider will be The Wire’s third in five years, with the two previous visits to Old Trafford in the summer era ending with Wolves’ players going home without winners’ rings on their fingers.

It has been said by coaches and players that sometimes “you have to lose one to win one” such is the need for learning how to get the job done on the biggest night of the year in the unique cauldron atmosphere under floodlights in usually damp conditions.

Tony Smith, who won at Manchester United’s home in 2004 and 2007 when in charge of Leeds, steered Wolves to the 2012 and 2013 showdowns on the back of three Challenge Cup successes in four years.

His former club, and Wolves’ 2012 Wembley victims Leeds, were the opponents four years ago.

And although Wolves held the upper hand in the Challenge Cup for the second time in three years, Leeds’ experience of four wins in five previous Grand Finals gave them the edge when it came to deciding the year’s champions.

They also had the event’s master tactician in Kevin Sinfield.

Twelve unanswered points, through tries from Joel Monaghan and Ryan Atkins, handed Wolves an 18-14 lead early in the second half but the final 33 minutes probably still haunts some of the Wire men on show that night.

Through a series of bad luck, poor decision making, handling errors and costly penalties, Wolves rarely had possession in Leeds’ half of the field again.

After spending 12 minutes heroically defending deep inside their own half, most of it on their own try line, Leeds bagged a lead they knew how to keep through impressive centre Carl Ablett.

In their inspirational leader Sinfield, the Harry Sunderland Trophy winner, they had a man who ground teams down with effective long kicks on the back of punishing runs down the middle channel, then supported by highly committed defence.

The inevitable winning try finally came in the 71st minute through Ryan Hall and Sinfield converted from wide out to establish an eight-point cushion and a fifth title in six years.

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Super League Grand Final, Saturday, October 6, 2012

Warrington Wolves...18 Leeds Rhinos...26

Wolves: Brett Hodgson; Joel Monaghan, Stefan Ratchford, Ryan Atkins, Chris Riley; Lee Briers, Richie Myler; Chris Hill, Micky Higham, Ben Harrison, Ben Westwood, Trent Waterhouse, Simon Grix. Subs: Adrian Morley, Michael Monaghan, Paul Wood, Mike Cooper.

Tries: Myler, J Monaghan, Atkins. Goals: Hodgson 3.

Rhinos: Zak Hardaker; Ben Jones-Bishop, Kallum Watkins, Carl Ablett, Ryan Hall; Danny McGuire, Kevin Sinfield; Kylie Leuluai, Rob Burrow, Jamie Peacock, Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Brett Delaney, Ryan Bailey. Subs: Ian Kirke, Darrell Griffin, Stevie Ward, Shaun Lunt.

Tries: Sinfield, Jones-Bishop, Ablett, Hall. Goals: Sinfield: 5

Referee: Richard Silverwood

Attendance: 70,676

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Hopes were high when Wolves led Wigan 16-2 at the 35th-minute mark in the 2013 showdown.

Smith’s men were in total control until match-ending injuries to Joel Monaghan, Stefan Ratchford and Ben Harrison forced several reshuffles.

Wolves were down to one sub rotation for the final 30 minutes, with Garreth Carvell (broken rib) and Richie Myler (ankle) among the walking wounded having to play on.

Shaun Wane’s men were ruthless in taking advantage, gathering momentum in the second halfand taking total charge although the final was only decided by Blake Green’s try in the 69th minute.

It was difficult to absorb and accept Wolves’ misfortune, ignored by much of the media, as Wigan were hailed for one of the greatest comebacks in Grand Final history.

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Super League Grand Final, Saturday, October 5, 2013

Warrington Wolves...16 Wigan Warriors...30

Wolves: Stefan Ratchford; Joel Monaghan, Chris Bridge, Ryan Atkins, Chris Riley; Lee Briers, Richie Myler; Paul Wood, Micky Higham, Chris Hill, Ben Westwood, Simon Grix, Ben Harrison. Subs: Adrian Morley, Michael Monaghan, Garreth Carvell, Mike Cooper.

Tries: J Monaghan, Grix, Westwood. Goals: Ratchford 2.

Warriors: Sam Tomkins; Josh Charnley, Darrell Goulding, Iain Thornley, Pat Richards; Blake Green, Matty Smith; Gil Dudson, Michael McIlorum, Lee Mossop, Harrison Hansen, Liam Farrell, Sean O'Loughlin. Subs: Jack Hughes, Ben Flower, Scott Taylor, Dominic Crosby.

Tries: Goulding, McIlorum, Charnley, Green, Richards. Goals: Richards 5.

Referee: Richard Silverwood

Attendance: 66,281

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