Wigan Warriors 9 Hull KR 2

Matt Peet is a keen advocate of visualisation, but surely not even he could have foreseen winning seven trophies in just three seasons as head coach of Wigan Warriors.

This Grand Final victory, chiselled on Bevan French’s brilliance and obstinate defending, kept the Super League trophy in Wigan’s possession along with the game’s other major honours – the World Club Challenge, Challenge Cup and League Leaders’ Shield.

Wigan are top dogs again, as they were during their glory days of the late 1980s and early 1990s when the likes of Shaun Edwards, Andy Gregory, Ellery Hanley and Martin Offiah graced the famous cherry-and-white jersey.

Now they can count on talents such French, whose try will be talked about for decades.

It came midway through the first half when he collected possession 40 metres from Hull KR’s line and displayed impish footwork, daring and ambition to outstrip three defenders before crossing the line.

From there Wigan never really looked back and Hull KR, who last won a trophy in 1985, could not find the quality to unlock the most aggressive of defences.

Victory saw Wigan win back-to-back Grand Finals for the first time and also marked their first domestic treble of the Super League era.

That is testament to the outstanding job that Peet has performed since being appointed ahead of the 2022 campaign.

The poetry-loving 40-year-old, who never played the game professionally but worked his way up through the club’s coaching ranks, is a good story in his own right.

He practises visualisation, meditation and yoga and uses a life coach, with his players having bought into his methods.

Peet proudly declared: “It’s unbelievable really but testament to the hard work of so many people.

“I’m so grateful to play a part of it for the time being but I’ve always thought it is where we belong as a town and a rugby-league club.

“I do know that this isn’t the end. It’s for other people to make comparisons because there have been some amazing teams down the years. To be mentioned alongside them is just ridiculous.”

Among the 68,173 crowd here were England rugby-union stars George Ford and twins Tom and Ben Curry.

It was the best-attended Grand Final since 2017 and the educated boot of Hull KR’s Mikey Lewis, the newly crowned Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel, soon came to the fore.

In the 10th minute, a high bomb from Lewis went to the left corner, where half-back partner Tyrone May knocked on before Lewis grounded the loose ball.

Referee Chris Kendall ruled it out as a no-try, a view supported by video referee Liam Moore, and French soon seized centre stage, a role he seems born for.

It was a try to take the breath away and Adam Keighran’s conversion made it 6-0.

Liam Marshall, a proven performer on the big stage, touched down in the left corner moments later, only for it be ruled out for an infringement.

A period of Rovers pressure came to nothing before Harry Smith landed a drop-goal to send Wigan in at the break with a 7-0 advantage.

Rovers pushed hard for a try shortly after the interval, yet Wigan simply refused to buckle.

A penalty from Lewis finally got the Robins off the mark but Wigan held on to retain their title and French, fittingly, received the Rob Burrow Award as man of the match.

Rovers had no answer to French’s brilliance and coach Willie Peters said: “Bevan’s a freak, isn’t he?

“He does things other players can’t. We played against a team who know how to win these games.”