WIGAN Warriors are into their third-consecutive Betfred Super League grand final, and their 14th in total.
They are aiming for their third-consecutive title, their eighth of the Super League era, and their 25th in the club’s history.
Near neighbours Leigh Leopards have been vanquished after a hard-fought 18-6 win in Friday’s semi-final at the Brick Community Stadium, and either fiercest rivals St Helens or treble-chasing Hull KR await at Old Trafford on October 11.
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The Warriors are heading back to Old Trafford 🍒#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/cTvhgS3oVx
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) October 3, 2025
Whichever opponent Wigan end up facing, Kaide Ellis knows there can be no let-up – and he knows their opponents will likely have a lot of neutrals in their corner, too.
“It would be very easy to take the foot off the pedal, I guess,” Ellis told BBC Five Live. “We’ve done two years back-to-back which the club hadn’t done before [in Super League].
“It would have been easy to coast and take it for granted, but that’s another thing we spoke about.
“Not many people want us to be where we are and that’s a lot of motivation for us.
“It’ll be a big game next week and whoever we play, it ain’t going to be easy.”
The Warriors by no means had it easy against Leigh either – a team they stormed past 38-0 at this stage of the play-offs last year.
Two of their three meetings in the 2025 regular season had ended in defeats too, yet Matt Peet’s side got the result when it mattered as two tries from Bevan French, one from Sam Walters and three goals from Adam Keighran saw the hosts over the line.
Back row Ellis, who led Wigan’s defensive effort with an incredible 50 tackles, admitted it took the Warriors pack a while to get going against their Leigh counterparts and warned the forwards need to set the tone early whoever of Saturday’s semi-finalists they face at Old Trafford.
#SuperLeague Grand Final 2025, here @WiganWarriorsRL come! 👀
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) October 3, 2025
“We pride ourselves on being physical and throwing the first punch, essentially, and I thought they did that,” Ellis said.
“They got over us a little bit, so we’re going to have to be a lot better than that next week whether it’s St Helens or KR.
“That’s where it’s going to be one, so it’s a nice little message to mark our card this week and get it right next week.”