Had Wigan won just one major trophy this season, that would be considered the benchmark for a club of their stature – figureheads of northern hemisphere rugby league.
Two? With the riches head coach Matt Peet has to offer in his squad, such an achievement looked a real possibility.
Three would have been an outstanding feat.
But to wrap up all four major domestic and international trophies on offer in a single season is not just impressive, it’s downright ridiculous in the modern era.
Thirty years on from the Wigan side of 1994 lifting all the trophies they could manage in the course of one campaign, the Cherry and Whites have done it again.
Asked in his post-match news conference following Wigan’s 9-2 Grand Final victory over Hull KR whether his side match up to the squad of 1994, Peet batted the question away.
“No, truthfully and honestly,” he said. “It’s nice to be asked and nice to be mentioned.”
Modest he may well be, but not many can match the Wigan side we have seen over the past eight months.
To put this season’s achievements in context, Peet is not even 100 games into his tenure as Wigan boss. He’s been at the helm for just 99, in fact.
And in that period he has won everything he possibly can do, collecting a total of seven pieces of silverware.
The list makes for incredible reading: two Challenge Cups, two League Leaders’ Shields, two triumphs at Old Trafford in successive Super League Grand Finals, too.
All three have been won this season by the Warriors, on top of the trophy that kicked off their glorious 2024 – the World Club Challenge victory over National Rugby League premiers Penrith Panthers, themselves in the conversation for being among the game’s greatest sides after
The way Wigan have ended their campaign is also nothing short of remarkable.
They did not concede a single try in their final four games and conceded just two points in that time – Mikey Lewis’ penalty in the Grand Final.
In fact, they have only conceded three tries over the course of the past two Grand Finals, the Challenge Cup final win over Warrington in June and their World Club Challenge triumph – so it is no wonder Peet credits his defence as the reason for their success.
“I attach defence to team spirit and culture. Bevan French has his moments with the ball, it’s amazing how he has that innate talent,” Peet said. “But he’s always contributing towards defence.
“Defence runs through everything we do. They looked like they were enjoying defending today.
“We continued to turn up for one another. That’s why defence makes me proud. It comes down to how much you want to do it for each other.”
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