Wigan looking to retain Grand Final this time against St Helens

Australian coach Nathan Brown will lead his St Helens side out at Old Trafford for the Grand Final against Wigan, and has said it means more to him than appearing at Wembley.

“When you’re an Aussie, Old Trafford is better than Wembley.

“A lot of English people will take Wembley for the tradition, but from a pure Aussie point of view you’ve always had Grand Finals there, and that is what you strive to,” continued Brown, whose side are odds-on at 2/5 with Coral to retain their crown.

“Old Trafford, for St Helens, was just the done thing and for the past two or three years the fans haven’t had the opportunity to come,” he said, with the Saints appearing five years in a row, losing each occasion (four times to Leeds Rhinos, and once against Wigan).

“The fact that St Helens are back at home, in some of the fans’ eyes, is great and a reward for the club.”

Saints should not be written off, and have been the form team in Super League this season, winning the League Leaders Shield. Odds of 7/4, though, suggest they are outsiders against an impressive Wigan outfit.

Joel Tomkins, who scored first against Warrington in the semi-final, is 18/1 in the same market and a very respectable 9/4 to do so anytime, plus will be spurred on by having brother and former teammate Sam in the crowd.

Centre Josh Charnley has been prolific for Wigan this season, scoring on 19 occasions, which is why he is the Warriors’ best hope of scoring with odds of 7/1 to cross the whitewash first. Anthony Gelling has also discovered some form recently, scoring against the Wolves last time out, so is well-priced at 11/8 to breach the in-goal area anytime.

Saints, meanwhile, have the terrific Tommy Makinson, with the centre crossing 25 times this term and will be hoping for at least four points in the Grand Final, after no opportunities presented themselves to him against Catalan. As a result, he is 8/1 to score first; while Adam Swift, who was so impressive against the side from the south of France, is 11/1 in the same market. Forward Mose Masoe is also in fantastic form for St Helens, and is 6/1 to record four points anytime.