Despite their exhausted bodies and inevitably sore heads, the last men standing in Wigan Warriors’ threadbare squad will be riding the high of what their coach described as their “best ever” win as they hobble away from the perfect end to their remarkable Super League campaign.

A 12-6 victory over Warrington Wolves at Old Trafford brought Wigan their fourth Super League crown and added the sweetest of cherries to the top of a Cherry and White cake.

After a season in which they have been decimated by a seemingly endless injury list, Wigan’s patched-up squad held firm in the face of late Warrington pressure to protect the lead given to them by departing duo Dan Sarginson and Josh Charnley.

It was a fitting end to both their Wigan careers, with Charnley racing on to Sarginson’s kick to score the winning try. Charnley now makes the move to Sale Sharks in rugby union, while Sarginson is joining Australian side Gold Coast Titans.