IT was tough, it was demanding, and yet again it was ultimately painful for Warrington Wolves and York’s own Tom Lineham.

The Wire lost the Challenge Cup final to Catalans Dragons in the summer and they suffered even greater agony in this weekend’s Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford, falling 12-4 to their chief nemesis, Wigan.

And whereas former York College student Lineham was the two-try hero of their shock semi-final victory over runaway league leaders St Helens, including a sparkling late winner, it was his opposite winger Dom Manfredi who got the decisive double in the big one at Old Trafford.

It was a second double whammy for the Wolves in three years, having lost both major finals in 2016, too. Wigan beat them in that year’s Grand Final as well, Lineham again on the receiving end. They did likewise in 2013.

In fact, Warrington, who are still seeking their first title since 1955, have won only one final against Wigan down the years in all competitions, now in 13 attempts. They have also played in four Grand Finals in the last seven years and lost them all.

It had looked promising in the opening quarter after they took a 14th-minute lead as Stefan Ratchford put in right-winger Josh Charnley to score against his former club.

However, Manfredi equalised on 26 minutes after some brilliance by Oliver Gildart sucked in defenders. It followed a penalty, harshly awarded, for a supposed foul by Bodene Thompson as Tommy Leuluai kicked forward.

That was the second key refereeing call to go Wigan’s way, Sam Tomkins having got off lightly for an apparent trip on Bryson Goodwin. A third came just before half-time too, when Tomkins, again, clattered into the back of Daryl Clark’s head with his knees. The full-back apologised immediately and again escaped a card, but if it wasn’t deliberate it was pretty reckless.

Within five minutes of the equaliser, left-winger Tom Davies gave Wigan a crucial lead as he raced onto a George Williams kick into goal and touched it down before sliding off the Old Trafford pitch and into the ditch.

With no conversions added, it remained 8-4 at half-time, a set-to occurring in the tunnel as the teams left the field, players presumably fired up by the after-effects of the Tomkins incidents.

Tough, almost robotic defences were on top again in the third quarter as the game became even more of a war of attrition.

Lineham had a tiny sniff wide left but was crowded out into touch. The excellent Ratchford – one of few Grand Final men-of-the-match to come from a losing side - twice broke the line but Wire made nothing of it.

Wigan forced pressure when tackling Charnley into touch following a pinpoint Williams kick. Again defence held out.

Surely something had to give as fatigue crept in.

A Wigan spill gave Warrington a chance but their defence was immense. So was Ratchford’s when Frenchman Morgan Escare scampered up the other end. Wire made another half-break. Again nothing.

As the clocked ticked into the last 10 minutes, Wigan opted to go for a penalty from near half-way, such were the lack of try-scoring opportunities. Tomkins sent it wide.

Warrington, nevertheless, were utterly worn out by Wigan’s defending, and the Warriors – in coach Shaun Wane’s last game in charge - duly sealed victory with three minutes left as Manfredi leapt beyond Lineham’s despairing tackle and into the corner.

For Lineham, he is left seeking his first major medal, having now lost in three finals.

A former York RUFC junior who switched codes at York College, he was quickly snapped up by York City Knights and became their then youngest-ever player when he made his debut in 2009, aged 17 years 301 days.

He blasted onto the scene in 2010, scoring 11 tries in 18 appearances and being nominated for the Championship One (League One) Young Player of the Year award.

A knee reconstruction sidelined him the following year - and also put an impending move to Hull FC on ice - but he made his Super League debut the following season.

He was briefly back at York in 2013 on dual-reg, scoring four tries in two games, before returning to the KC Stadium and going on to win Super League’s Albert Goldthorpe Rookie of the Year Medal.

He scored 50 Super League tries for the Airlie Birds before Warrington bought him for a reported £125,000 in 2015.

With 49 league tries for the Cheshire club, his blank at Old Trafford left him stranded on 99 career touchdowns in the top flight. And in cup final pain yet again.