Shaun Wane says Wigan have own reasons to win Grand Final
Thursday 8 October 2015 17:58, UK
Wigan coach Shaun Wane says opponents Leeds do not have a monopoly on sentiment going into Saturday's Grand Final.
The Rhinos will bid farewell to Jamie Peacock, Kylie Leuluai and Kevin Sinfield at Old Trafford this weekend but the Warriors also have a trio of players hoping to end on a high.
Full-back Matty Bowen is to retire while Joe Burgess and Larne Patrick play their final games for the club before heading to Sydney Roosters and Huddersfield Giants respectively.
Wane says: "For all the respect I've got for those three Leeds players who are retiring, the thing I'm concerned about is my own club and we have our own reasons.
"Matty, one of the best players in the world, has never won a Grand Final and that means a lot to the players. They love him to pieces.
"Tony Clubb gave up a lot coming from London and bought into our club. He's never won anything and he came to us to win things.
Matty [Bowen], one of the best players in the world, has never won a Grand Final and that means a lot to the players.
"Ben Flower has also never won anything, so there's quite a few reasons we want to make sure we get something from this game.
"Leeds have their reasons and we have ours."
And Wigan skipper Sean O'Loughlin says they are desperate to go one step further following last year's defeat by St Helens.
He pointed out: "The Leeds boys who are leaving are all world-class players and I'm sure they will use that to motivate the rest of the squad, but we're in a similar position.
"Matty Bowen has only been here two years but he's been an absolutely fantastic player and he's personally keen to win a Grand Final.
"When you see that in blokes like him who are coming to the end of their careers and are desperate to win stuff, it does generate some emotion around the squad."
Wane is expecting a close encounter, adding: "It's two very evenly matched teams and it's got the making of an absolute classic.
"Leeds have got many good athletes and are very well coached. They're not very structured in the way they attack, they're very second phase, very reactive, so it's a different challenge to the one from St Helens, who are very structured like us.
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"I don't want to be the coach of a team that has played well in a close game and lost.
"I'm not interested in that. I want a ring on the players' fingers. I want us to get something out of this year."
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