Wigan Warriors booked a spot in the Super League Grand Final with an 18-6 victory over neighbours Leigh Leopards at The Brick Community Stadium.

Wigan had a healthy 14-6 half-time lead through a converted Bevan French double plus Adam Keighran penalty, Leigh’s points coming through Robbie Mulhern and Gareth O’Brien.

The home outfit then spent the second half holding onto that lead, their terrific defence keeping Leigh out in front of an 18,523 crowd right until the final hooter as a French pass sent Sam Walters over with the home fans celebrating once again.

The victory puts Wigan on the hunt for their third Grand Final victory in a row after being crowned winners in 2023 and picking up a historic quadruple in 2024.

If they were to make it three in a row, they would join just Leeds Rhinos and St Helens in having completed that feat.

Wigan will now face either Hull KR or rivals St Helens, who face off in the second semi-final on Saturday October 4 live on Sky Sports+ from 5pm.

French stars as Wigan book third Grand Final in a row

With the Brick Community Stadium loud for the latest edition of the ‘Battle of the Borough’ with a spot in the Grand Final on the line, ‘Storm Amy’ made her mark as the rain clattered down.

Leigh believed they had scored in the sixth minute as Owen Trout slid over but after a video referee check, it was deemed he was held up over the line by a Harry Smith wonder tackle.

With that reprieve, it then took Wigan just nine minutes to make sure they were competing high and then capitalise on a Leopards mistake, Bailey Hodgson dropping the ball as he was crunched by Liam Byrne and Liam Farrell. With the ball loose Sam Walters picked it up and sent it on to French who obliged to slide over, Adam Keighran converting for a 6-0 lead.

However, in the 27th minute, Leigh put their territory to good use to hit back as Edwin Ipape fizzed a low pass that Mulhern did outstandingly well to take and go over. Gareth O’Brien converted to bring the game level.

While the game was close, with less than three minutes left on the clock, Ipape gave away a clear penalty for blocking off a chasing French which allowed Keighran to send two points over and then, once again, magic struck.

As Wigan opted to send it through the hands to the right edge with seconds of the half remaining, it allowed Jai Field to break through on the overlap. A supporting French was once again in the right place at the right time to dive over and Keighran slotted over the conversion for a healthy 14-6 half-time advantage.

Leigh came out after half-time and showed plenty of intent with many an opportunity on Wigan’s line, but the Warriors scrambled hard and kept them out, 10 minutes of pressure bringing no points.

As the Leopards continued to keep coming, they thought they were in as Trout went through on the edge for what looked a certain try, but Field came up with a beauty of a try-saving tackle, leaving the visitors with only 15 minutes to get back into the game.

With Wigan’s defence intensely solid, Leigh chanced their arm but to no avail as mistakes arrived under the pressure, Walters rubbing salt in the wound as he ran in as the hooter sounded for an 18-6 win and spot at Old Trafford in the Grand Final on October 11 to defend their crown.

Super League 2025 – remaining fixtures

All live on Sky Sports; all times UK and Ireland

Semi-finals

• Fri October 3: Wigan Warriors 18-6 Leigh Leopards
• Sat October 4: Hull KR vs St Helens – 5.30pm

Grand Final (Old Trafford)

• Sat October 11: Wigan Warriors vs TBC – 6pm