Hull KR vs Wigan Warriors Prediction: Warriors to make it a three-Peet

The 2025 Betfred Super League season gets the climax it deserves on Saturday when the two best teams in the competition go toe to toe under the Old Trafford lights for the game's top prize.  (18:00 BST, Sky Sports Main Event)

Champions Wigan put their title on the line against League Leaders and Betfred Challenge Cup winners Hull Kingston Rovers as an expectant crowd welcomes the very best the British game has to offer.

Team News

They say champions come into their best form at just the right time, and Wigan boss Matty Peet has named an unchanged 21-man squad for the third consecutive game as they bid to join the elite list of teams to win three Grand Finals in a row.

Bevan French is fully firing in the halves and the Warriors are as strong as they can be, with goal-kicking centre Adam Keighran, prop Luke Thompson and winger Abbas Miski all coming through the semi-final win over Leigh Leopards unscathed having nursed niggles in the lead up to it.

Rovers are boosted by the availability of retiring prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, who was initially banned for a head contact offence in the semi-final win over St Helens but successfully appealed the decision and managed to turn a three-game suspension into no suspension at all.

The other key issue surrounds veteran England hooker Micky McIlorum, who is also set to retire.

The former Catalans and Wigan man fractured his ankle in training last month and hasn't featured in any of their last seven games, but has been named in their 21-man Grand Final squad. It feels like history repeating for the club and player, who featured in the Challenge Cup final victory in June six weeks ahead of schedule after a torn bicep.

I have no idea whether McIlorum is fully fit - I would suspect not. But I'm pretty confident that he will play, like he did at Wembley where his 27 minutes played a big part in a narrow win. This could prove a gamble given the depth and fitness in Wigan's squad - Hull KR cannot afford to carry a passenger - but such is his experience and influence I would be staggered if McIlorum does not turn up against his former team for one final hit out.

Hull KR vs Wigan Warriors Odds

Hull KR are 6/4 to prevail in regulation time and claim their first-ever Grand Final victory. Wigan Warriors are 8/13 to defend their crown, while the draw is valued at 14/1.

Wigan Warriors 6-10 points @ 18/5

We are offering £5 in Free Bets to use In-Play, for any In-Play bet of £10 or more (odds 1/2+) on this Betfred Super League Grand Final.

We will also be the top price on either side to win the Grand Final, using Oddschecker for the comparison. (from 09:30 Friday)

So who are we backing, as champions face League Leaders in a repeat of the 2024 Grand Final - a third title in a row for Wigan or a first-ever win for Rovers?

A key factor in my consideration is whether we see the Rovers side of a few months ago who were destroying every opponent with ease en route to the two pieces of silverware they have so far acquired this year, or the slightly more jaded Robins who suffered a couple of setbacks towards the end of the regular season before that hard-fought 20-12 semi-final win over St Helens.

I have to admit, as a Leeds boy I was backing the Rhinos to reach the Grand Final via victories at home to Saints and then on the road at Rovers. I felt Rovers were vulnerable. Unfortunately Leeds blew their chance in dramatic fashion against Saints and I never got to find that out.

However, having watched Hull KR pass their first big-match audition at this season-end, I did feel more confident that they can take the game to Wigan in the big one.

Let's make no mistake, Rovers may have been the best side over the course of this season - in fact there is no 'may' about it, they were easily the most impressive team in my eyes. But that does not make you favourites in a winner-takes-all contest against a team who knows how to win when the eyes of the world are upon them.

For that reason Wigan are favourites, and the handicap of four points feels about right when considering this game could come down to one single moment of genius, a dropped ball or a split-second bad decision. Those three things I just mentioned tend to be determined by who stands firm under the most intense pressure that these games put you under. And I would back Wigan to come out on top in each of those facets.

A look at the recent history between these two sides also favours Wigan. Hull KR crucially won the most recent game - 10-6 at Wigan in August, which ultimately clinched top spot. Wigan won away at Hull KR 28-12, and of course the meeting before that was 12 months ago at Old Trafford, won 9-2 by Wigan.

What about the other stats?

Only two points separated the sides at the top of the regular season table.

The sides have only ever met in two major finals and Wigan won them both - 12 months ago and then in the 80s in a nervy John Player Special Trophy Final won 11-8.

Wigan have won the last two Grand Finals 9-2 and 10-2 (against Catalans in 2023) so we can expect this to be tight either way.

Wigan are seeking a first ever "Three-Peet" (we can change the spelling for their head coach can't we?) - only Saints and Leeds have ever done this.

So how do Rovers win?

They need to play with the freedom that underpins their electric attack, but with the kind of 'die for your mate' defensive effort that had them streets ahead of the field through most of the season.

And more than that, Peters' men need to play pretty much error-free rugby league for 80 minutes. No silly penalties, no kicks out on the full, no careless high shots, and no slip-ups when the bodies tire in the final 20 minutes. Because these Grand Finals are unforgiving. Sometimes 79 perfect minutes won't win you the game if you let that focus slip for one second. Ask Leeds fans.

Star man Mikey Lewis has to be the lead character. If he goes missing then Wigan will win. And I feel like Rovers have to win the arm wrestle early and then keep on the front foot for as long as their fitness allows.

Will Wigan prove too good on the big stage? Possibly. But I do still feel that Rovers are the better side this year. If the Robins can shut out the noise and just play rugby then I can see them winning.

But, and this is a big but. My gut is that Wigan's experienced heads will - again - on the big stage, just be too good.

Bevan French anytime try scorer @ 7/4

We are also offering Super League Double Delight Hat-Trick Heaven for this fixture, so if your player scores the first try of the match and then goes on to score again, Betfred will double your first try scorer price, and treble it if he completes a hat-trick!

The first scorer market is trickier to predict than the anytime scorer of course, so it is a case of looking at the latter and then seeing if we are confident enough in them landing the game's first score. This comes down to just a chosen few in my eyes who are capable of seeing this punt come off - for Wigan Liam Marshall, Jai Field and Bevan French feel the only likely contenders, while for KR it would be Joe Burgess or star man Lewis.

However, given these Grand Finals are usually low-scoring - Wigan's last two wins have been 9-2 and 10-2 as we mentioned - then there is perhaps more value in looking at the first try scorer than the anytime scorer market, given we are only expecting to see a couple of tries.

I am always a little boring though, as followers of this column will know, so my tip is for a Bevan French anytime try. Jai Field has been our go-to selection most of the season and is available at 6/4, but since French returned from injury it has been he who has been amongst the tries, including two in last week's semi-final win over Leigh Leopards. His lightning break was the only try 12 months ago, and I am backing French to shine again.

Offers

Available 09:30 10/10/25 – 18:00 11/10/25. Top Price or joint Top Price on either side to win in 80 Mins in the Super League Grand Final with selected bookmakers using Oddschecker for comparison. Max Stakes Vary. Prices subject to fluctuation. T&Cs Apply.

Super League Double Delight - if your player scores the first try of the match, then goes on to score another, we'll DOUBLE your first tryscorer price!

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