Wigan Warriors hailed for 'historic achievement'

Rugby League Commercial Chair Frank Slevin has hailed the “historic achievements” of Wigan Warriors in completing a clean sweep of 2024 trophies in Saturday night’s Betfred Super League Grand Final, and of their Australian stand-off Bevan French in winning the first Rob Burrow Award as Player of the Match.

Slevin also saluted the players and supporters of Hull KR for their contribution to an epic Grand Final, completing Super League’s most successful Play-Off series since well before the Covid pandemic.

“Even for a club with such a rich Rugby League history as Wigan, this season’s achievements have been remarkable,” said Slevin.

“They started by beating the NRL champions Penrith Panthers in the World Club Challenge in an unforgettable night on home soil. Four months later, they overcame Warrington Wolves in the Wembley sunshine, maintaining the consistency to add the League Leaders’ Shield in September, and topping it off with their Old Trafford win against Hull KR.

“It is a year which deserves to be celebrated and remembered, in Rugby League and well beyond.

“The same applies to the Play-Off series we have just enjoyed. It started with a stadium record for Salford Red Devils, and continued with the best Play-Off attendance for 20 years at Wigan – with the visiting supporters of Leigh Leopards contributing significantly to both those milestones.

“We celebrated our highest ever viewing figure for a Play-Off match when Warrington Wolves beat St Helens in Golden Point extra time in the Eliminators, thanks to the joint coverage from Sky Sports and BBC Sport, then beat that figure for the Wigan-Leigh Semi Final.

“Hull KR also welcomed a capacity crowd for their Semi Final against Warrington, and their run to a first Old Trafford Grand Final was a storyline that resonated widely – with the attendance of 68,173 the highest for seven years.

“The reaction of their supporters after Saturday’s match, applauding the efforts of their players, was instructive - they recognised an outstanding effort, and that they had been beaten by an outstanding team, and one moment of sheer sporting brilliance.

“Bevan French was therefore a fitting winner of the first Rob Burrow Award, following our decision, with the Rugby League Writers and Broadcasters Association, to rename the Player of the Match award from 2024.

“The images of Rob’s children carrying the new award on to the pitch from the Old Trafford tunnel before the match, and of Geoff Burrow kissing the trophy before presenting it to Bevan afterwards, encapsulated the sport of Rugby League at its best.”