With Warrington Wolves and Wakefield Trinity making it to the Super League Grand Final, the competition has definitively entered a new era.

It has been pondered for a while if the playing field was starting to level, if these teams that once could not touch the big boys, now had the funds, the backing, the know-how to reach the top.

Not only that, would they leave the original ‘Super League giants’ in shock that others have not only caught up, but have started to usurp them.

To understand the significance you have to know the context. This is the first Grand Final EVER that does not include one of St Helens, Leeds Rhinos, or Wigan Warriors. It has taken until the 29th staging of this event for one of those teams to not be involved.

You only have to look at the list of winners to see it has been complete and utter domination by those three, with a sprinkling of Bradford and last year’s historic win by Hull KR.

St Helens have won it on nine occasions, Leeds eight times, Wigan have seven Grand Final wins, and Bradford three. Hull KR have a ‘1’ next to their name – that is what one of Wakefield Trinity and Warrington Wolves will have come Saturday night.

In 2026, St Helens missed out on the play-offs for the first time in their history, Leeds were beaten by Warrington, Wigan were dominated by Wakefield, Bradford finished bottom, and Hull KR were dumped out by the Wolves in the Eliminators.

The guard has started to change. History alone is no longer enough to power you through and now, there are sides intent on creating their own lasting legacy that will do everything in their power to make it happen.

When Warrington and Wakefield walk out to the cacophony of noise at Old Trafford on Saturday, that exact history beckons.

They say that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome. Wakefield and Warrington have ripped up repetition and instead decided that making waves is the way forward.

Indeed, it is a final in which we cannot look at either team as the one that has ‘been there, done it, and got the t-shirt’.

Nerves will be on display but in the best way because they highlight once again that sport and fairytales intertwine – they will be a sign of a great story, an exceptional story, and it is up to one of Warrington and Wakefield to be the protagonist.

The Wakey way: From relegation to jubilation

Wakefield have provided an underdog story for the ages – the team were relegated in 2024 and within two years of returning to Super League, they are in the biggest match of them all.

Not many would have believed that could occur except those in their inner sanctum. That inner sanctum, among others, consists of owner Matt Ellis, head of recruitment Ste Mills, and head coach Daryl Powell.

Working in tandem, they came up with a plan for how they would continually progress: they have signed raw talent, made them stars, provided a stadium that both home and away fans enjoy attending, and now brought the progressive and rapid success that their most faithful have been waiting so long to see.

They have turned potential that was nearly forgotten into diamonds on the cusp of international selection. They have built an environment players want to be involved in, and now, they are 80 minutes from one of the biggest moments in the city’s history.

Mills actually started his career at Warrington and worked up to being one of the best brains in recruitment. When Powell left Warrington, so did he and now, they have created their own unique and special blend of experience and raw talent that has impressed throughout 2026.

‘It is always your year’: The moment the chant ends?

Warrington also have their chance to live down a chant that has followed them and get their reward for trusting the process.

Opposition fans have forever sang ‘It is always your year’ at the Wolves faithful, taunting them with their lack of Super League silverware. They have had the backing for a long time, have been near the top, have Challenge Cups, but despite appearing at the Grand Final four times previously, have never gotten over the line.

It has taken eight years for Warrington to rebuild to this point and get to the ‘Theatre of Dreams’ once again. They finished outside the play-offs in 2025 but came together, backed their coach, worked on their culture, and became arguably the best ‘team’ in the league.

If you play even slightly poorly they will pounce and don’t expect points against them to come easily. They back their youth to shine and they have. They want to work hard for each other and will leave it all out there.

They will now want to be able to say ‘Just like the last one, it is always our year’ and mean it.

It is also a huge night for their captain George Williams. Williams made a massive call back in 2021 to not return to his hometown club of Wigan and head to Warrington on his return from the NRL.

It has been levelled against him the amount Wigan have achieved in those five years but a vindication could be on the horizon if he shines in his last Warrington hoorah.

Two teams will step out onto the Old Trafford turf with a million reasons running around their minds of why this is their moment and those odd doubtful thoughts telling them the alternative.

After 80 minutes, we will know which team has defined themselves as the flashpoint of the potential beginning of a new era.

How to watch the Super League Grand Final

The Super League Grand Final takes place at Old Trafford on Saturday October 3, live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports+.

The match will take place at 6pm, with coverage on Sky Sports from 5pm.