Wakefield have never reached a Grand Final in the Super League era, while Warrington have made four losing appearances.
A related bit of trivia: this is the first Super League showcase event without the presence of either Wigan, Leeds or St Helens. WhatâÂÂs not to like about that?
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Kick off in just over half an hour, in the meantime you can let me know all your thoughts, or question my view of rugby history on the email. I look forward to hearing from you.
Warrington Wolves:
Josh Thewlis; Matty Ashton, Toby King, Arron Lindop, Albert Hopoate; George Williams, Ewan Irwin; James Harrison, Danny Walker, Liam Byrne, James Bentley, Sam Stone, Ben Currie.
Interchange: Sam Powell, Joe Philbin, Kelepi Tanginoa, Luke Yates.
Wakefield Trinity:
Max Jowitt; Lachlan Walmsley, Corey Hall, Cameron Scott, Tom Johnstone; Jake Trueman, Jack Sinfield; Mike McMeeken, Tyson Smoothy, Ky Rodwell, Zac Lipowicz, Isaiah Vagana, Jazz Tevaga.
Interchange: Jay Pitts, Caleb Hamlin-Uele, Caius Faatili, Mason Lino.
Why not read about the respective journeys to the final hereâ¦
Sport and history at their best are about the stories. Rugby league feels the weight of history more than any other football code in this land and has the best story.
Ask most rugby union or soccer fans when their game was founded and their response will be an âÂÂErrr?â followed by a quick Google, but put the same question to RL followers and âÂÂ1895â is the immediate response. The year of the Great Split, 21 clubs in the George Hotel, the canary issue of broken-time payments and a clear throwing off of the rugby, and therefore societyâÂÂs, establishment. A move that same establishment never forgave, as demonstrated by their active and relentless ignoring at best and persecution at worst of RL over the next century: league wasnâÂÂt allowed to be played in the armed forces until 1994, the sport didnâÂÂt get itâÂÂs first Knight until Sir Billy Boston in 2025, and donâÂÂt even get me started on what they did to RL in France.
ItâÂÂs hard to thrive when everyone in power would rather you didnâÂÂt exist. Yet heritage through this adversity is a hell of a story and one that tonightâÂÂs teams know plenty about.
The oppressive heft of the past is something Warrington & Wakefield have grappled with to a greater extent that most clubs. Two sides from two of the largest human settlements in England that do not possess a professional team of any other code â there is only the Wire and Trinity in these places â so how difficult it has been for their fans to not win a league championship for over half a century of deindustialisation, Thatcher and all that this brought. At least when the government abandoned Liverpool in the 80s their soccer teams were hammering everyone.
WarringtonâÂÂs lack of a title since 1955 is the regular subject of opposition terrace chant mockery (told you, league fans know their history), while WakefieldâÂÂs legendary team of 1968 featuring Neil & Don Fox (âÂÂthe poor ladâÂÂ) and Harold Poynton were the last to hoist the trophy high in their city.
One of these teams has to win the Championship again over the coming hours and etch some history in real time. Both as a name on the trophy and into the culture and tales of their community. What an event it will be down by the Mersey or in West Yorkshire when a victorious team is welcomed back after so many decades, writing another story for this brilliant sport.