AS the confetti and the aftersmell of pyrotechnics floated around Old Trafford, Wolves were left yet again to ponder what might have been.

Indeed, this latest Grand Final heartbreak will be all the more agonising given the fact they did very little wrong.

For the first half, they defended stoutly when Wigan broke, looked dangerous in attack and when their chance came, they were ruthless.

However, in games of this magnitude you need the big moments to go your way. On Saturday night, neither of them did.

When Ryan Atkins stole the ball and streaked away, the resultant plays would have surely resulted in a Wire try despite Josh Charnley steaming back to haul him down but referee Robert Hicks incurred the wrath of the Wolves faithful by pulling the centre back for being inches offside.

Then, with Tony Smith’s side 6-2 up in the second half, he looked to have scored the crucial second try but video referee Ben Thaler spotted the ball coming loose under pressure from five Wigan defenders.

Before that, Declan Patton had proven once again that Wolves’ future is now. Warrington born and bred, the former Latchford Albion junior has been playing most of his rugby on Victoria Park this year but showed he was just at home at the Theatre of Dreams.

He showed why Smith stuck with him amid the burning temptation to start with the returning Chris Sandow by putting a fantastic show-and-go on the Wigan defence for the game’s first try.

The formula was simple for Wolves for the second period, just keep doing what you’re doing and the points will come.

Sadly, they did not count on a Warriors fightback and it took two moments of genuine quality to beat them.

George Williams’ short ball to set Liam Farrell scorching through the Wolves line and set up Oliver Gildart for the leveller was pretty good, but you have to hold your hands up and say Dan Sarginson’s grubber kick followed by Charnley’s near-impossible finish was sensational.

Sandow was called for, if ever there was a stage for him this was it. He tried everything, along with the rest of his teammates, but it was just not their day.

It even took a heroic, Danny Houghton-esque tackle from Sarginson to deny Kurt Gidley a try that surely would have brought about golden point extra time.

So, just like six weeks ago at Wembley, Wolves were left slumped on the pitch while their adversaries enjoyed champagne and silverware.

A third Grand Final defeat in five years will take some getting over. A true test of character, if ever there was one.

INTERESTING NOTES:

  •  Third Grand Final defeat in five years for The Wire.
  • Oliver Gildart’s try was the 100th scored in Super League Grand Finals.
  • Tony Smith sets a new record with six Grand Final appearances as a coach (three for Wolves, three for Leeds Rhinos).

MATCH FACTS:

Super League Grand Final, Saturday, October 8, 2016.

Warrington Wolves…6 Wigan Warriors…12.

Wolves: Stefan Ratchford; Tom Lineham, Rhys Evans, Ryan Atkins, Matty Russell; Kurt Gidley, Declan Patton; Chris Hill, Daryl Clark, Ashton Sims, Sam Wilde, Jack Hughes, Joe Westerman. Subs: Toby King, George King, Chris Sandow, Ryan Bailey.

Warriors: Dan Sarginson; Josh Charnley, Anthony Gelling, Oliver Gildart, Lewis Tierney; George Williams, Matty Smith; Frank-Paul Nuuasala, Sam Powell, Ben Flower, John Bateman, Liam Farrell, Willie Isa. Subs: Taulima Tautai, Ryan Sutton, Dom Crosby, Sean O’Loughlin.

Scoring: Smith penalty, 8mins, 0-2, Patton try, 21mins, Patton goal, 6-2; Gildart try, 56mins, 6-6, Charnley try, 64mins, 6-10; Smith penalty, 74mins, 6-12.

Penalties: Wolves 5 Warriors 6.

Referee: Robert Hicks.

Attendance: 70,202.

Top man: Stefan Ratchford.