Wigan Warriors reached their first Super League Grand Final in three years with an emphatic semi-final win over Hull Kingston Rovers at the DW Stadium.
The League Leaders' Shield holders prevailed 42-12 to reach Grand Final number 12, where Catalans Dragons will be waiting courtesy of their 12-6 win over reigning champions St Helens on Friday.
Entering Saturday's clash on an eight-game winning streak since being bested 11-10 by Hull in the Challenge Cup semi-finals, Wigan had already avenged that beating with a 64-9 thumping of KR at the start of August.
The Warriors are blowing Hull KR away at the start of this second half 💥#C4League | #SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/pV4N3287ZJ
— Channel 4 Sport (@C4Sport) October 7, 2023
Two months later, the 22-time Super League champions were in a similarly merciless mood against their beleaguered opponents, with Liam Marshall notching two tries and Jai Field also crossing the line inside the opening 12 minutes as Wigan raced into an 18-0 lead.
Elliott Minchella gave Hull a slice of hope in the 22nd minute, but handling errors were bedevilling the Robins, and Marshall completed his hat-trick just four minutes after the restart.
The second half continued in a similar vein to the first, as Abbas Miski and Toby King also registered alongside Field's second of the match, before Jez Litten gave the glum KR fans something to cheer with a late consolation try.
The 2023 Super League Grand Final will take place at Old Trafford next Sunday evening.
Ben Knapton
