Wigan thrash Catalans 50-12 to seal sixth League Leaders' Shield
Wigan Warriors will enter the play-offs as the team to beat after thrashing Catalans Dragons 50-12 to win the League Leaders' Shield.
The victory at the Brick Community Stadium on Friday 11 September sealed top spot in Super League, the top division of rugby league in Britain and France. It also secured Wigan's sixth Shield, the trophy given to the club that finishes first after the regular season BBC Sport.
Wigan ran in nine tries in total. Seven came without reply as they pulled clear of Catalans and closed out the regular season in style Super League.
Club captain Liam Farrell was among the scorers. The forward, who leads the team on the field, has already announced he will retire at the end of this season.
Head coach Matt Peet watched his side keep their foot down from start to finish. In rugby league, teams get six tackles to move the ball before possession changes hands, so field position and sharp finishing decide games. Wigan had both.
The reward is more than silverware. Under the current play-off structure, the Shield winners go straight through to the semi-finals. The rest must fight through eliminators to join them, with the season ending in the Grand Final at Old Trafford.
The result also wrapped up a domestic double for Wigan and kept them on course for the treble, the clean sweep of the season's three major trophies Sky Sports.
The Shield itself dates back to 2003, when it was introduced for the side top of the table at the end of the regular season. In 1996 and 1997, the league leaders were simply crowned champions, before the play-offs and Grand Final were brought in to decide the title.
For fans, this means momentum. Wigan did not just win. They finished fast, shared the tries around and gave their captain a night to remember before the knockout rugby begins.
