Fantastic occasion - nervous as hell but enjoyed every second.

What an atmosphere, what a noise - so what if the HT entertainment wasn't up to much, but that s the time to take a rest from such an intense game

Obviously losing the game affects your opinion, but it is one stunning event

By the way, we drove there, parked for free, got away easily and were home by 9

Same next season for me

This.

People coming out with drivel about it hurting less than a Locker Cup defeat, it feeling like a normal loss to Leeds, and other such tripe are either just not that passionate or are absolutely kidding themselves.

It was the biggest game we've played in my life and I wanted the world to open up and swallow me as I walked away from the ground.

Even before the cretins turned up, or the match started, I felt completely underwhelmed by the whole event. It may have been a fantastic game but considering this was supposed to be the pinacle, the ultimate, the biggest and best game/event of the season it all seemed such an anticlimax. Old Trafford may be big, but as a stadium it's nothing special. Too many idiots and not a huge amount to do in or around the stadium.

The best games I have ever been to, as a neutral, were the Challenge Cup finals at the Millenium Stadium. A modern comfortable stadium in the city centre with loads to do right on the stadiums doorstep. The distances involved would also go a long way to deter the numpties who's only interest seems to be to get as bladdered as possible and cause problems with other fans. As a venue for a big game, the Millenium Stadium wipes the floor with Old Trafford and IMO should should host the Grand Final

I've been saying this for years.

The Grand Final is great for tension but I always feel its an anticlimax. I don't think playing it in the evening helps (not least because it means we have idiots that have been drinking since 1pm and are already smashed by the time they are in the ground).

The NRL do their Grand Final much better than we do.

I also feel like the trophy presentations are a bit rushed, and everyone is in a hurry to get out if they need to catch a tram as the queues are massive, even if you're in the car the congestion is dire.

What would be wrong with having a 1pm kick off and then they could extend the occasion a bit.

I preferred the CC when played at the millenium and murrayfield stadiums. OT has been expanded beyond its purpose (more about cramming fans in than spectator experience) the top levels behind the sticks offer poor and some obstructed views. The North West may be prime RL territory but the occasion is let down by the stadium, would fans travel south to Wembley or the millenium for a GF? On the plus side your team and fans did contribute to the best GF for years

Pretty much what Sally said. After building up to it for so many years, I was just "underwhelmed" by the whole occasion.

Lets face it the Grand Final is just a money spinner for Sky TV so they start building it up in February as if its the greatest sporting event ever,

I had a belting day out. The atmosphere could have been cut with a knife, very tense and always on the edge of my seat (No, not because it was cramped)



I thought The game just felt.... Bigger, The crowds sounded more vocal as well IMO. Loved the GF and love the CC final. I just love finals!

Not fit to lace Wembleys boots,neither the event or the venue, disappointed frankly.

I've been to a fair few finals now at OT and Wembley and they're both on an equal par IMO. The new Wembley, as impressive as it is, is as souless as most other modern stadia only on a much larger scale. The old Wembley, now there was a ground with atmosphere. I've never failed to enter that place and not get goosebumps. The FA missed a trick with the new one.

I think if I'd been there as a neutral I'd have been disappointed by the lack of pre-match entertainment, but as it was I was sitting there staring at the pitch for an hour before kick-off with butterfiles growing in my stomach and I don't think having JLS there would have added much.

Strange thread.. seems a bit "lets cheer ourselves up by putting down the event" to me.

Ask yourself a question; would this post ever have been created if the game had finished Warrington 26 - Leeds 18? If we are honest. the answer is no.

Alright I dont really like the playoff format as it stands, or that the league winners get sweet fa for their efforts over 20+ rounds if they dont make and win the GF, but it is what it is. Wigan are suffering just as we did in 2011 in that respect. It's rather hollow.

At the end of the day though, it's not often you get to support your team (or even see RL in general) in a stadium with 70,000+ fans watching under floodlights with an electric atmosphere. I don't really see how it get's any better as a final. If it was that bad, it wouldnt attract so many people every single year.

I'll be there again next year, with Wire or without them. I think it's a great event.

The atmosphere around me was quite unpleasant and intimidating despite being sat behind the sticks at the Wire end of the ground. Old Trafford is big, and local but other than that I didn't see it as anything special.

It was my first Grand Final as I wanted to lose my GF virginity with the Wire. I always figured that once that was done I'd happily 'sleep around' and go each year, but I won't be. After my experience this year I definately won't be attending any Grand Finals as a neutral, I definately won't be taking the wife or kids whether Wire are there or not, and to be completely honest, the way I feel right now I probably wouldn't want to go again even if Wire were there.

I'm still very upset, disappointed and angry that, win lose or draw, what should have been the highlight of 35 years of following the Wire was so unpleasant.

I was in the west stand, upper, WU205 right behind the sticks. We saw some scuffles to our right (as we were looking towards the pitch), but other than that I didn't notice anything really. Not saying it didnt happen and if you are unlucky enough to be near someone kicking off then I understand it can be unpleasant. I was in the middle (not literally) of the fight that broke out at Wembley in 2010. Wasnt nice. It won't prevent me from going back in future but perhaps if I had gone with a young family at the time I wouldn't be saying that.

I took the mrs, she doesn't go to many rugby matches.. she has been to 2 cup finals at Wembley and loved them. However she wanted to go home at half time in the grand final. She felt very uncomfortable and couldn't get out of the ground fast enough. She will never go back to one.... I think kick off time and the levels of alcohol consumption are probably to blame.

even if wire were to get ot nxt year i would prolly stay away unless they changed the time of k-o,as i said in an earlier post,my day was ruined by leeds nobhead fans,plus the whole day was tense as ppl were kicking off all arouind me,even in the toilets and bar ppl were looking for aggro!man city ground would be a better proposition imo,i loved it there! great atmosphere as well!!true rl fans having a good day out! also even tho a lot were

it was more friendly if you know what i mean!

Sadly, I think 6pm is a totally unsuitable ko time for such a big match. They ban alcohol at your seats but that actually makes it worse I think – it encourages people to spend as long as they can in the pubs and arrive last minute and then they get boisterous. Surely Sky don’t wield so much power that they’d be unwilling to screen it earlier? I wonder what the police say about it? After all, it’s clashing with prime time Saturday night TV, so why not put it on earlier? Apart from the problems at the match, you then have the scramble afterwards of people trying to get him by a decent hour.

She could always try drinking less next time....perhaps?

Strange thread.. seems a bit "lets cheer ourselves up by putting down the event" to me.

Ask yourself a question; would this post ever have been created if the game had finished Warrington 26 - Leeds 18? If we are honest. the answer is no.

Actually, if I am honest...........YES ITS WOULD. Like I originally stated, the feelings of deflation were felt by, and discussed between my daughter and myself before kick-off and at half-time, both times when Warrington were well and truly "still in it". The thread was not a knock at the result (we made too many mistakes to win it) or the fact that winning the GF trophy was THE GOAL, or even the playoff structure itself (which I personally think should be changed...but thats just a personal opinion). It was an obseravtion that after waiting so many years to make it to the final I suppose I expected "more". Leaving OT on Saturday I never had the gut wrenching "we just lost the final" feeling that I remember when losing to Wigan in the 1990 cup final. That may be due to having so many seasons of feeling numb at the loses or the fact that this year we already have a trophy.

My daughter is a relative newby to the Warrington supporters. Not a glory hunter as she started just before the success but it is only as she came into her teens that she started to follow the wire. Now at university its harder for her to get back for games but you do tend to think "is it really that special" when she says "dont know if I'd come back next year" whereas a trip to Wembley is a MUST.

Some people have brought up the crowd issues and that will affect their experience but I saw problems at Wembley, I remember the historical "agro" between Warrington and Wigan fans so that doesnt necessarily affect the opinion. Its rugby, people were drinking, drink causes issues. Prats who drink cause bigger issues. I get it.

At the end of the day though, it's not often you get to support your team (or even see RL in general) in a stadium with 70,000+ fans watching under floodlights with an electric atmosphere. I don't really see how it get's any better as a final. If it was that bad, it wouldnt attract so many people every single year.

Totally agree that its not that often you get these chances and thats my point. As a prize, yes as a Warrington fan I want it. As an event (ignoring what it stands for) I could take it or leave it. Good though that moment the teams came onto the pitch to the roar was, I felt more emotion watching Warrington v Australia under floodlights at Wilderspool with a far smaller crowd.

Part of the reason for the post was to raise the question from a general RL point of view, part was for my own self-doubt of "was it me". This was never intended as a "make me feel better" thread after all, not only did we lose but it cost us a packet for the priveledge..enough to depress anybody

. What it has meant though is that I cannot tell whether to be happy that its not just me, or whether I should be disappointed that its not just me !

I had a fantastic day out, the result was pooh but everything else that mattered to me was great. The pubs around O/T were poop but I don't drink a great lot so this doesn't score for me. The atmosphere was fantastic where I was sat & the hairs on the back of my neck were standing on end when the teams came out. The only negative were to many drunken fans around me, I was in block 205 and next to me were a bunch Leeds fans all young males who were a real pain. I deffo want to go back next year and not as a neutral.

I wonder if "The Trafford Pub" on Warwick Road charges £2.00 on United's home games to get in. When the "Premier Inn" was free entry & you could stand outside.
Much prefer Wembley even though London stinks.

I wouldnt go to the GF as a natural but go every year to the CC.

Before the game had a few pints in Manchester but it was off the train and into the ground. The game was great but I wasnt as gutted as I thought I would be about losing maybe because I not a fan of the play off system. Was more up for it when we beat hull away last year.

The kick off time wont change even though its Saturday night prime tv it pulls in the biggest figures of the year. It would only change if they made it a super Sunday grand final day with a 3pm kick off.

KO time for drinking doesnt really effect anything. Anyone thats been to Wembley will see people supping on coaches from 7am and pubs in London full of people from 10am if not earlier.

Fair enough post (not like you needed my approval anyway). Clearly just personal opinion and experience. I unlike you, didnt spend a fortune on the event either. Maybe I would have felt differently if I had.
I admit when I came out of the ground that I wasn't hugely bothered at losing. Though I never am when I think it's been a fair game and the best team has won. I was more depressed when they beat us in last years play offs at HJ than on Saturday. It didnt make the event any more dissapointing for me however, but that's just me. Like I said, it won't stop me going next year.

The Wembley experience is there because it's not a regular occurence and it's quite an effort to get there, when you go Old Trafford two or three times a month the Grand Final doesn't have a WOW factor.

natural.....strange