The Betfred Championship reaches its conclusion on Saturday, as Wakefield Trinity take on Toulouse Olympique in the hotly anticipated Grand Final, live on The Sportsman.
Daryl Powell’s Wakefield side have home advantage when they welcome Toulouse to the DIY Kitchens Stadium, having finished the regular campaign as convincing League Leaders. And Rugby League fans will want to act quickly as the occasion heads for a sell-out, with limited tickets remaining.
The French side finished in second spot, 13 points behind their opponents. They have now reached back-to-back Grand Finals and will be looking to avoid another heartbreaking defeat this time around, after losing to London Broncos last year.
In 2024, Trinity are unbeaten at home and have been a force to be reckoned with in this year’s Championship competition. The West Yorkshire side have snapped up all available pieces of silverware on offer this year, including the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup, League Leaders’ Shield and a clean sweep at Rugby League Awards night – and are aiming for a Championship treble.
Trinity have also scored over 1000 attacking points and have endured just one loss all season. Interestingly, however, their sole loss came against a strong Toulouse side in the south of France back in Round 16, where they were comprehensively beaten 32-4, with Olly Ashall-Bott scoring a hat-trick on the night.
Toulouse have been one of the Championship’s most consistent sides in 2024, having enjoyed a 12-game unbeaten streak mid-season. They have also won their last six matches, so will certainly have the momentum behind them and take confidence from their most recent performance against Wakefield.
In history, the sides have faced each other six times in total, and it’s currently three a-piece.
Last time out at the DIY Kitchens Stadium, Wakefield claimed a 28-12 victory against the French side, with Lachlan Walmsley scoring a sensational try.
All previous meetings:
- Toulouse 32, Wakefield 4 (Championship Round 16, 20/7/24)
- Wakefield 28, Toulouse 12 (Championship Round 6, 27/4/24)
- Toulouse 38, Wakefield 26 (Super League Round 18, Magic Weekend, 9/7/22)
- Toulouse 20, Wakefield 14 (Super League Round 12, 15/5/22)
- Wakefield 18, Toulouse 6 (Super League Round 5, 11/3/22)
- Wakefield 40, Toulouse 22 (Challenge Cup Round 6, 8/5/16)
It’s set to be a fiery contest between the top two after they both came through their dramatic semi-finals.
Trinity found themselves in the rare position of chasing the game against York Knights, with two late tries from Derrell Olpherts and Iain Thornley proving to be the only difference in what was an extremely physical and aggressive encounter.
The hosts will need to produce a much-improved performance if they are to compete with Championship heavyweights Toulouse and come away with a third trophy.
Similarly, Sylvain Houles’ men also trailed against Bradford Bulls in their semi-final tie, but managed to forge a second half comeback and hold out for the tightest of wins.
Ones to watch:
Both outfits are littered with stars and previous Super League experience, with plenty of ones to watch.
The top four try scorers of this year’s Championship include players from both sides. Derrell Olpherts leads the way with 24, Jowitt is in second (23), Paul Ulberg third (21) and last season’s top try scorer Lachlan Walmsley sits in fourth place with 20 tries.
There are playmakers on either side - veteran Luke Gale and Mason Lino could be set to partner in the halves for Trinity, while Ryan Rivett and Jake Shorrocks have formed a dangerous partnership for Toulouse.
Fans will also want to keep an eye on either side's lethal edges - the likes of Young Player of the Year, Oli Pratt and Jermaine McGillvary certainly know their ways to the try-line, as do Ulberg and Reubenn Rennie, who have been causing chaos for their opposition in 2024.
Wakefield-born Jowitt is Mr. Reliable for the Trin with a whooping 54 try assists this year, and he will go up against speedster Ashall-Bott.
On the back of last Sunday, Jowitt moved into second place on the all-time list for most points in a season. Two points will see him draw level with Leeds legend Lewis Jones in first, while three points would see him become the all-time points scorer.
Six points would also ensure he is the first player in British Rugby League history to reach a total of 500 in a single season - could history be made on Saturday night?
There are powerhouses to look out for in either outfit too - Ky Rodwell and Renouf Atoni have been stand out performers for Trinity, and Joe Bretherton and Lambert Belmas know how to make a solid impact.
Workhorses Jay Pitts and Anthony Marion are set to be at loose forward on the night - Pitts was recently awarded with one-year contract extension for his exceptional efforts, and France international Marion is currently in his eighth season with the French side.
Will we witness a game of explosive attack or will it be a gritty defensive display? And which team will be crowned Championship Champions of 2024?
Can Wakefield’s unbeaten home record continue in Saturday's final, or can Toulouse make it two straight wins against Trinity? Limited tickets are available here with live coverage on The Sportsman from 6:45pm.
Teams:
Wakefield Trinity: Max Jowitt, Jermaine McGillvary, Oli Pratt, Iain Thornley, Lachlan Walmsley, Luke Gale, Mason Lino, Josh Bowden, Liam Hood, Renouf Atoni, Matty Ashurst, Jay Pitts, Liam Kay, Caleb Uele, Matthieu Cozza, Ky Rodwell, Isiah Vagana, Thomas Doyle, Jack Croft, Derrell Olpherts, Jake Trueman
Toulouse Olympique: Olly Ashall-Bott, Reubenn Rennie, Ryan Rivett, Lambert Belmas, Harrison Hansen, Dominique Peyroux, Eloi Pelissier, James Roumanos, Benjamin Laguerre, Mac Walsh, Robin Brochon, Paul Ulberg, Paul Marcon, Jake Shorrocks, Calum Gahan, Maxime Stefani, Anthony Marion, Joe Bretherton, Guy Armitage, Greg Richards, Dimitri Biscarro, Eric Anselme
Betfred Championship Grand Final:
Wakefield Trinity v Toulouse Olympique, Saturday 19 October (K.O. 7pm) – live on The Sportsman.
