How the Super League Grand Final may break down

“JUST do what you did in the Challenge Cup.”

It seems a simple solution to how Warrington Wolves can get the job done against Wigan in the Super League Grand Final on Saturday – but is it one that will succeed?

> Time for Warrington Wolves to seal long-awaited glory

They will line up against a very different Wigan team to the one they did back in June. A team with the confidence of nine straight victories flowing through their veins.

The likes of Dom Manfredi, Dan Sarginson and Romain Navarette did not play that day, Joe Greenwood has been recruited since then and Tommy Leuluai and John Bateman will be playing in more natural positions to what they were.

None of that should detract from what was a superb Wire performance that day, but I think simply saying “same again” is a dangerous approach.

Of course, there is plenty that can be gained from that day. For starters, it was Tyrone Roberts’ best display in a Warrington shirt by far, although his performance against St Helens last week was up there too.

The way he controlled and managed that game was something we have been looking for from him all year.

Until now, he and Kevin Brown have only showed that level of game management sporadically, meaning there are still people who are yet to be convinced by them as a partnership.

Both have experience of big games. If there is a time to step up and show it, it is now.

On the other side of the field, a lot of Wigan’s game management rests on Sam Tomkins, who takes on responsibility for many of their last-tackle plays.

He will keep turning The Wire around and marching them back down the field if he is allowed the time and space to do so. Getting in his face and hounding him whenever he is on the ball is imperative.

As an attacking unit, there are very few airs and graces about Wigan, but what they do well is move the ball from edge to edge very quickly. They are probably the best team in the competition at doing that.

Like many teams, they will target the third man in from either touchline to try and create an overlap.

Using Greenwood as a lead runner on their left edge has been a particularly potent weapon in recent weeks. His sheer size means the third man is forced to account for him, allowing George Williams to hit Tomkins out of the back.

Warrington’s edge defence will be soundly tested, so remaining disciplined out wide will be key.

In the same way, though, there are perhaps weaknesses on the Wigan edges that Warrington will be looking to exploit.

Like Tomkins is for the Warriors, Stefan Ratchford will be key when he joins the line, in particular his catch-and-pass skills.

He is renowned for being able to release the ball very quickly after receiving it, and we saw just that to create both of Tom Lineham’s tries at Saints last week.

Manfredi and fellow winger Tom Davies have been known to bite in on their opposing centres, so moving the ball quickly along the line may open up chances for Lineham and Josh Charnley.

Down the middle, the battle will be brutish and fearsome as ever, but the Wire pack has shown it can stand up to the fiercest of examinations a few times this year.

When all of these ingredients are tossed into the mix, it makes for an intriguing encounter.

I cannot see it being a points-fest – these big finals rarely are – but hopefully we see a gripping game that ends in a historic primrose and blue victory.