Ahead of the Super League Grand Final between Warrington Wolves and Wakefield Trinity, on Saturday October 3 at Old Trafford, we take you through everything you need to know…
When and where is the 2026 Super League Grand Final?
The Grand Final is taking place on Saturday October 3, 6pm kick-off, live on Sky Sports, with the ‘Theatre of Dreams’ Old Trafford once again the host venue for the blockbuster event.
Starting back in 1998, the Grand Final has always taken place at the home of Manchester United (barring 2020 at Hull), with 10 different teams having competed for the trophy… so far!
Now that becomes 11 as Wakefield join St Helens, Wigan Warriors, Bradford Bulls, Leeds Rhinos, Hull FC, Catalans Dragons, Salford Red Devils, Castleford Tigers, Warrington Wolves, and Hull KR in experiencing walking out of the tunnel
However, not all these teams have won it.
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Chris Kamara led the celebrations as Wakefield Trinity made their first ever Grand Final. Sky Sports pundit Jon Wilkin said no other Super League team would have beaten Wakefield today
Indeed, only Wigan, Saints, Bradford, Leeds, and Hull KR have lifted the coveted trophy, with the rest of Super League daring to dream they can one day join that very small list.
We now know that one of Warrington and Wakefield will join those other five. Remarkably, it also marks the first ever Grand Final which has not included one of Wigan, Leeds, or St Helens.
Times are changing.
Super League Grand Final teams: Consistency and an underdog mentality
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Highlights from the Super League semi-final clash between Leeds Rhinos and Warrington Wolves
The Super League Grand Final marks a meeting between the two teams who finished third and fourth in the table in 2026 and probably went under the radar more than they should have.
Both teams are packed with stars but only a couple got individual plaudits. Warrington Wolves’ loose forward Ben Currie and Wakefield Trinity prop Caleb Hamlin-Uele were included in this year’s Dream Team.
Despite that, they both pulled off the ultimate wins to make it to the final as Warrington battled past Leeds and Wakefield annihilated Wigan in one of the biggest semi-final wins ever.
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Wakefield Trinity booked their place in their first-ever Super League Grand Final as they produced a huge upset to defeat Wigan Warriors
What has made both Warrington and Wakefield so formidable in 2026 is that they play so in sync as a team. Job roles are defined, and they will do absolutely anything for one another, defensively putting their bodies on the line.
Keep your eyes out for Warrington’s George Williams and Ewan Irwin bringing the flair, Matty Ashton bringing the pace, and James Bentley, Currie, and James Harrison laying down a marker.
For Wakefield, Tyson Smoothy is the anchor of the ship, with Tom Johnstone a constant threat on the edge, then the likes of Hamlin-Uele, Isaiah Vagana, and Caius Faatili tearing it up the middle.
Who are the favourites?
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Highlights from the Super League clash between Wakefield and Warrington
This is such a tough question to answer in 2026. Warrington beat Wakefield 27-16 all the way back in round 3 but then Wakefield won a hard-fought game 25-18 in round 26.
It is one of those games where you would not be shocked if either team took the victory.
Also at play here is experience. Warrington have not been in a Grand Final since 2018 and Wakefield have never been in one.
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Highlights of the Super League match between Warrington Wolves and Wakefield Trinity
However, both teams have big-game players who are going to have to guide them through this moment.
It is for moments like this that Williams was brought to Warrington – he wants to leave with a trophy and this is his final shot.
On the other side, Smoothy won an NRL Grand Final just 12 months ago.
The stage is set for someone to take hold of and own the match.
Who are the previous winners?
Four teams have kept a tight grip on the trophy, one joined them last year, and now we know we will get a sixth…
What is the player of the match trophy?
Known as the Harry Sunderland Trophy from 1998 until 2023, the 2024 Grand Final saw the first Rob Burrow Award presented to the player of the match. Bevan French was the inaugural winner after his game-breaking display for Wigan Warriors and Mikey Lewis then picked it up in 2025 for a game of sheer dominance.
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Mikey Lewis can’t hold back the tears after Hull Kr’s victory over Wigan Warriors in the Super League Grand Final
It was previously named after Sunderland who was a rugby league administrator both in the UK and Australia but the Rugby Football League Association announced in February that the player of the match award would be renamed to honour the late, great Leeds Rhinos No 7 and MND campaigner.
Burrow was the first player to win the Harry Sunderland Trophy twice and now the award is named after the rugby league legend as a “show of our gratitude to Rob for being the player he was.”
The list of winners is littered with big rugby league names and a lot of legends…
What else can you expect at the game?
Sir Kevin Sinfield has already set off on his final challenge which started at the home of world club champions Hull KR on Sunday September 27 and visits each of the home grounds of the 12 English Super League clubs, before finishing at Old Trafford ahead of the Grand Final on Saturday October 3.
Sinfield, who led Leeds to seven Grand Final glories at the Theatre of Dreams, will present the match ball in readiness for the current-day gladiators to do battle.
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Sir Kevin Sinfield hopes his seventh and final challenge of running seven ultra-marathons in consecutive days, to raise money for motor neurone disease (MND) charities will also help bring the Rugby League community together
Sinfield has helped raise more than £11m for the MND community with his team since his first annual challenge in 2020.
Soul Symphony will provide pre- and half-time entertainment for fans to enjoy and Laura Wright returns to perform a spine-tingling rendition of Jerusalem as is customary before the big dance.
How to watch the Super League Grand Final
The Super League Grand Final takes place at Old Trafford on Saturday October 13, live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports+.
The match will take place at 6pm, with coverage on Sky Sports from 5pm.
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