By JOHN DAVIDSON
Liam Byrne is hoping his final game for Wigan Warriors will be one to remember – victory in the 2025 Super League grand final.
Byrne has been with Wigan since 2017 and made more than 100 appearances for the club. But he will join rivals Warrington in the off-season after agreeing a two-year deal.
The prop admits that the fact that he will be playing his last game for the Warriors hasn’t fully fhit him.
“I don’t think it actually has sunk in yet,” he told rugbyleaguehub.com Long Reads.
“Maybe it will hit me in the week. Friday being my last home game was a good one. I think it will settle in after the grand final, I imagine it will be quite bittersweet.
“Eight years I’ve been here. It’s been great, honestly, I’m just so grateful for all the lads. All the relationships I’ve made, the coaches have helped me so much and of course the fans backing me.
“Especially backing me and the lads this year, they’ve been amazing. I’m really, really grateful to be in a grand final for the third time. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Byrne has won a stack of trophies in his time at Wigan, with two Super League titles, two Challenge Cups, three League Leader’s Shields and a World Club Challenge.
He concedes it will be hard to leave.
“The lads that we have here and the culture is something I’m really going to miss,” the 26-year-old said.
“It will be really hard to leave but obviously Warrington will be a different challenge next year and I’m looking forward to that as well.”
Byrne started in the front-row in the semi-final win over Leigh, but started on the bench in the 2024 decider.
He isn’t bothered whether he starts on Saturday or comes on as a substitute.
“I didn’t play in the 2023 grand final and I came off the bench last year,” he said.
“I’m not fussed, as long as I get on the pitch and we win.”
Wigan will face Hull KR in the grand final, a rematch of the 2024 final. The prop is expecting a tough challenge at Old Trafford.
“Hull KR have a really strong pack,” Byrne said.
“They’ve been a great team for a few years now. They’ve been on the up so they’ll be firing in next week.”