12 Oct 2023

Betfred Wheelchair Grand Final: Ones to Watch

There is only three days to go until Leeds Rhinos and Wigan Warriors go head-to-head to lift the Betfred Wheelchair Grand Final trophy at Manchester's National Basketball Centre on Sunday, kick off 3pm.

Ahead of the game, which will also be shown live on Sky Sports Arena, take a look at four players you need to watch out for on both sides of the field.


Josh Butler

2023 Apps: 12

2023 Tries: 33

2023 Points: 132

An extraordinary try-scoring season has seen Josh Butler collect silverware at club and competition level, but he has his sights firmly set on reclaiming the Grand Final trophy this weekend.

Butler's 33 tries in 12 games saw him win the Rhinos Wheelchair Player of the Year last month and earlier this week he was also rewarded with the Wheelchair Super League Young Player of the Year too. In the recent fixtures against Halifax, he has accumulated nine tries (four coming in the semi final win) plus he also scored five as a starter in the 78-28 win over Hull FC.

There is no doubt he will also be on Tom Coyd's radar for the upcoming autumn international against France at the first direct Arena next month as well.


Declan Roberts

2023 Apps: 9

2023 Tries: 17

2023 Goals: 67

2023 Points: 205

Playing alongside his dad Phil in the Wigan side, Declan Roberts will be hoping that two Grand Final trophies come back to the DW Stadium this weekend. 

A former England international who announced his international retirement in 2023 after the World Cup win over France, Roberts remains committed to the Warriors where he has scored 17 tries during the regular season as well as kicking 67 goals (second in the Wheelchair SL competition). The semi final clash against the Roosters saw him combine with his dad for one of his two tries, plus he slotted seven goals and an important drop goal in the 43-34 win.


Nathan Collins

2023 Apps: 12

2023 Tries: 32

2023 Goals: 89

2023 Points: 306

Like many of his Leeds team mates, Nathan Collins has previous experience as a winner and finalist in the Grand Final.

A winner in 2018 and 2021 against Halifax Panthers, the World Cup winner looks to turn the page on last year's final defeat to the Panthers after another stellar campaign in 2023. He topped the goal-kicking charts for the Wheelchair Super League with 89 goals and was only one try behind Butler with 32 tries. Six of his tries came against Wigan in 50-38 and 68-36 wins.

Catch up with Nathan when he joined Tom Halliwell on 'B ReaL with Caitlin Beevers and Keara Bennett' earlier this year.


Jack Heggie

2023 Apps: 8

2023 Tries: 20

2023 Points: 76

Alongside team mate Adam Rigby, who you will see marshalling the troops on Sunday, Jack Heggie's performances this season has seen him included in Tom Coyd's England Performance Squad ahead of this autumn's international.

Heggie last pulled on an England shirt during the 2013 World Cup campaign but missed out on last year's team. Since joining Wigan in their first two seasons as part of the Super League, he has been the team's joint top try scorer with 17 tries (six of them coming in a 138-2 win over Warrington), before he then added another three tries to help seal victory over London Roosters.


Be at the Final

Be there for the season finale at the Wheelchair Super League Grand Final on Sunday 15 October (KO 17:30) at the National Basketball Performance Centre.

All tickets for the Grand Final are only £5 Adults and £2 U16s. To book Accessible Seating for the Wheelchair Grand Final, please email ticketing@rlcommercial.co.uk providing your name, contact details and seating requirements. For more information on Accessible Seating at RL major events, please visit HERE.

Secure your tickets HERE.

Don't forget that you can also watch the game live on Sky Sports Arena from 5pm.

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