Wakefield Trinity v Warrington Wolves: Super League Grand Final facts and figures

Here, courtesy of the RFL’s stats expert Danny Spencer, are some facts and figures ahead of the big game.

Previous titles: Trinity have been crowned champions twice in their history, in 1967 and 1968. They were also runners up in 1960 and 1962 and this is their first Betfred Super League Grand Final.

If Warrington come out on top it’ll be their first championship since 1955. They also won it the previous year and in 1948. They’ve fallen at the last hurdle 10 times, including Grand Finals in 2012, 2013, 2016 and 2018.

Past meetings: This is the first time Wakefield and Warrington have squared off in any major final. It will be the 61st game between the sides in Super League. Warrington hold the upper hand with 36 victories to Trinity’s 24.

NRL/Super League double: Trinity hooker Tyson Smoothy is aiming to become the first player since Ben Harris in 2004 to win southern hemisphere and European Grand Finals in successive seasons. Harris was an NRL champion with Canterbury Bulldogs in 2004 and featured in Bradford Bulls’ Old Trafford triumph 12 months later. Smoothy was among Brisbane Broncos’ substitutes when they beat Melbourne Storm in the NRL showpiece last October.

Fourth time lucky: A Wakefield defeat would see their captain Mike McMeeken equal the unwanted record of four Grand Final appearances without a win. He was a runner-up with Castleford Tigers nine years ago and Catalans Dragons in 2021 and 2023.

Other players to have featured in and lost four European title deciders are Paul Clough, Chris Flannery and Matt Gidley of St Helens, Warrington’s Chris Hill and Stefan Ratchford and the late Terry Newton who was a runner-up once with Leeds and on three occasions for Wigan Warriors.

Youngest and oldest: Warrington’s Ewan Irwin - at 18 years, 238 days - could become the youngest player to score in a Grand Final. Trinity’s Jay Pitts (36 years, 298 days) has a chance of being the oldest.

Grand Final appearances: Only two of Trinity’s squad have past Super League Grand Final experience. Mike McMeeken was a runner up for Castleford and twice with Catalans Dragons, both those alongside winger Tom Johnstone.

Seven Warrington players have previously played at Old Trafford: James Bentley (one win for St Helens, one defeat for Leeds Rhinos), Liam Byrne (one defeat, one win, both for Wigan), Toby King (one win for Wigan, two defeats for Warrington), Joe Philbin (one defeat for Warrington), Sam Powell (three wins, three defeats, all for Wigan), Kelepi Tanginoa (one defeat for Hull KR) and George Williams (two wins, two defeats, all for Wigan).

Milestones: Wakefield’s Cam Scott needs one appearance to reach 150 for his career. Tom Johnstone is one try away from 150 in Super League and needs eight points to reach 500 for Trinity. Mason Lino is six points away from 500 as a Trinity player.

A hat-trick would take Wolves’ Matty Ashton to 150 for his career. George Williams needs one point to reach 500 in Super League.

Grand Final records:

Most finals - 14, Wigan Warriors and St Helens.

Most wins - nine, St Helens.

Most losses - seven, Wigan.

Highest score and widest margin - Bradford Bulls 37, Wigan 6 (2001).

Highest aggregate score - Leeds Rhinos 32, St Helens 16 (2011).

Most tries by a team - six, Bradford v Wigan (2001).

Most points by a losing team - Wigan 20 Leeds 22 (2015).

Biggest attendance - 73,512, Leeds v Wigan (2015)

Fastest try - two minutes, 22 seconds by Matty Lees, St Helens v Leeds (2022).

Most tries by a player - three, Michael Withers, Bradford v Wigan (2001).

Most goals by a player - seven (including one drop goal), Paul Deacon, Bradford v Wigan (2003).

Most points by a player: 14 (one try, five goals), Kevin Sinfield, Leeds v Warrington (2012) and Pat Richards, Wigan v Warrington, 2013.