St.Helens’ Academy Head Coach Derek Traynor previews the big finale to the 2024 Under 18s Academy Championship season.
The Saints will take on old foes Wigan Warriors on Wednesday, 25th September at the Totally Wicked Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 7:30pm – and fans are encouraged to avoid queues by arriving early where possible.
It has been an impressive season for our Under 18s team who finished top of the league at the end of the regular season for a third successive season. By doing so, the Red V earned a home Semi-Final against fourth-placed Hull FC, and Traynor’s Saints put down the Black & Whites 38-6 in a strong showing.
Wigan hosted the other Semi-Final by virtue of finishing second and hosted Warrington Wolves who they beat 22-16, so a Derby Day Grand Final at the home of St.Helens was set.
It is always a standout clash when any Saints/Wigan meeting happens, but this Academy Grand Final has plenty of intrigue. Some of the youngsters for either club gaining elite Super League match minutes this season, Wigan are looking to get their first Academy title since 2019, but the Saints want to make it back-to-back Academy titles.
On Monday evening following training, Traynor introduced fellow Academy coach and former Saint Gary Wheeler to do the honours of presenting our Under 18s their match shirts for the 2024 Academy Grand Final. It was a touching occasion for Wheeler, and for the team as a whole to briefly reflect on the season so far as they look to finish it off with silverware.
Speaking to saintsrlfc.com to preview the Academy Grand Final, Traynor said: “Getting to this stage is a great rewards for the lads, for all the effort they have put in since pre-season last November. There’s been a lot of hard work, sweat and tears that goes into it, and they deserve to be in the Grand Final, but it’s a massive game and they’ve got to go and perform again.
“Wigan have some very good players and together the two clubs are typically up there in the top reaches of the table each year. We battle it out, respect them, and I am certain it will be a very tight and tough game.”
Reflecting on the performance against Hull FC, Traynor was pleased with the efforts but knows to get the Academy Grand Final victory his Saints will need to perform at their absolute best.
“We asked them to start fast, to be tough and competitive against Hull, and they did that by getting points early on. The ten or fifteen of the second half we lost a little bit of our discipline and got a little bit loose, but I thought they were really professional in the second half against Hull who had a really good dig.”
The Derby always makes for an intense atmosphere, and with silverware up for grabs, Traynor issues a rallying call to our supporters to get down to our home ground to cheer the Saints on!
“Anybody who comes to the game will not be disappointed with the effort that both teams will put in. Both sets of lads will throw absolutely everything at one another, and you’ll not go away disappointed, I promise that.
“For our supporters it is simple, get down the ground, get here early and cheer our lads on!”
TICKET & ENTRY INFORMATION
2024 Saints Members can enter the Totally Wicked Stadium for FREE as this match is included as part of Membership!
Supporters wishing to attend the Saints’ Academy Grand Final match against Wigan Warriors can enter the Totally Wicked Stadium by heading to the South Stand of our ground. Turnstiles 1-9 in the South West section and Turnstiles 10-14 in the South East will be open for supporters from 6:30pm before the 7:30pm kick-off.
Tickets are available online now – or supporters wishing to pay on the day can do so at the Turnstiles via contactless payment only.
Entry for non-Members will cost:
- Adults – £5
- Concessions – £3
- Under 16’s – £2
😤 HOW THE SEMI-FINAL PLAYED OUT
Take a look at the Saints TV highlights from the 2024 Academy Championship Semi-Final between St.Helens and Hull FC.
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