Category: Wigan warriors

With all the buzz surrounding the autumn Ashes series, Wigan Warriors forward Junior Nsemba seems to be one of the stars being used to promote the internationals in England.

It might have been a surprise appearance at Wembley, but Warriors star Nsemba was in attendance for the Cup Finals Day over the weekend for media duties to push the test series.

He was spotted before Warrington Wolves’ captain’s run on Friday, taking some promotional shots and videos on the Wembley pitch in full England attire, along with sharing his experiences on his Instagram account.

Nsemba looks to be a shoo-in for England coach Shaun Wane’s Ashes series squad come October, but it could be one of the most competitive squads to date for England.

With many players playing well in multiple positions, nobody is a certainty for selection, including Nsemba, which he admits gives him the motivation to improve week on week.

Speaking to BBC Sport before the Cup final, he said: “I feel like Wigan as a team are doing well, we’re connecting on and off the field, so that is making each player a better player.

“I need to do my game so that Waney can see that I want to be in that Ashes series. It’s obviously a big accomplishment to get in his side, so hopefully he sees that (hard work).

England boss Wane is constantly keeping tabs on both Super League and NRL-based players ahead of the Ashes, but the Wigan Warriors forward shared that he’s very clear on what he wants from every single player.

He added: “Wane doesn’t favour anyone, but he tells us how it is. When we do have meetings, he’ll tell us what we need to do to improve and stay consistent in the England team.”

Wigan Warriors star on representing his country and playing in front of sold-out Ashes series crowds

As one of the most marketable rugby league players in England and not only a star for the future but also the now, Nsemba is relishing the idea of playing more for his country as well as representing them in the Ashes series.

What would it mean to him to play in the Ashes?: “It would mean the world, the Australians are seen as the top dogs for me, and I think that England are seen as the underdogs.

“With Everton being sold out and Headingley being sold out, it shows that the fans are behind us, so if we can get a few more to Wembley, then it will give us the extra 10% that we need.”

With additional tickets now available in the upper tier at Wembley for the first test, it’s sure to be an exciting autumn for England fans.

Wigan Warriors captain Vicky Molyneux cut an incredibly proud figure in the post-match press conference after she lifted the Women’s Challenge Cup at Wembley.

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The Warriors ran in seven tries through different scorers to end St Helens’ four-year dominance in the Cup, whilst earning the first competition success under the famous Wembley arch thanks to a 42-6 win over their rivals on Saturday afternoon.

Speaking in the post-match press conference, Molyneux’s pride was bursting through her voice, and she couldn’t take the smile off her face.

“It’s such a difficult question to answer, to be honest,” she replied when asked what lifting Cup win means to her by Wigan Today.

“I signed for this club in 2019, and I’ve never beaten Saints, so to do it today feels really good. They’re a tough team, who are inundated with internationals, a physical team with experienced athletes, and we were the better side by far.

“I got asked this week ‘Did you believe this would happen?’ Obviously, if I looked a long time ago, never would I believe that I would play at Wembley, but did I believe that we’d do the job today? 100 per cent, we felt ready and looked ready.

“Denis (Betts) said in the changing rooms before the game that he was proud of us no matter what, and we genuinely believed that. The club have invested so much into us, so it just means the world to go out there.

“Kris Radlinski (Wigan CEO) said to us, ‘remember, you are just going out there on a grass pitch playing rugby with your mates’ and that’s what it felt like. We just all worked together, it felt like we were all in sync, and every single person who took to the field left everything out there, we earned it, and we deserved it.

“I remember a few years ago when we were at the start of that building phase. I remember saying to Rachel (Thompson) ‘How are we going to get these girls, who are so young, to believe they can beat teams like St Helens, Leeds and York, who have experienced and established international athletes?’.

“We didn’t really know the answer, but we just said we need to keep being positive and believing in the process. We’ve prepped so well this week, and we are all quite nervous characters in there, and Grace (Banks, fullback) gets very nervous, but she felt really relaxed today, and I said, ‘it’s because we’re ready’.

“The aim was to get to a final, and once you get to that final point, you can only back your defence and take your chances when they come, and we did that. We kept it simple, we were clinical, we trusted the process, and I thought our performance was outstanding.”

Molyneux, whose father Jim represented the Wigan club between 1968 and 1972, juggles life as a mum and her full-time job as a teacher alongside her playing duties with the Warriors, but she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I never use the word sacrifice, I don’t like it, it’s a choice,” said Molyneux. “If I decide not to go out on a bender on a Saturday night because I’ve got rugby the week after, then that’s my choice, I don’t sacrifice anything.

“The girls have a common purpose, we had a long pre-season and we came under a little bit of criticism from other clubs, but this is what we wanted to do, we know what we’re signing up for.

“It’s not pressure as such when you pull on a Wigan shirt, but it’s the expectancy and that desire to win trophies, and that’s what we’ve wanted for a long time.

“We are fully on board with what we want to achieve, and the girls have worked so hard because we love each other and we love doing what we do.

“It is difficult and tiring at times, but in one of our pre-season meetings with Denis was that we need to focus, and I feel like that little bit of focus has put us in really good stead to be sitting here now with a gold medal and not a silver one.”

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Wigan Warriors celebrate a try during their 2025 Women’s Challenge Cup final win against St Helens

Wigan Warriors’ rise under Denis Betts has been a remarkable one, and on Saturday, it reached a new height as his side knocked St Helens off their perch to lift the Women’s Challenge Cup for the first time.

Saints‘ dominance in the Challenge Cup has been unprecedented, winning the competition in each of the last four seasons.

After beating York Valkyrie at the Leigh Sports Village in 2021, they went on to conquer Leeds Rhinos thrice.

But this term, the new kids on the block have been Wigan, who have been growing at a rate of knots since club legend Betts took charge ahead of 2024.

And under the arch on Saturday, they left their mark on their nearest and dearest in style under the arch to cap off what has been a truly outstanding start to 2025, romping to a 42-6 victory.

Wigan Warriors’ remarkable rise reaches new heights with St Helens Challenge Cup triumph

Having breezed past Leeds to reach their maiden Challenge Cup final last month, the Cherry and Whites arrived at Wembley with a 100% record this term in-tact. And they left with it, too.

With teenage half-back duo Izzy Rowe and Jenna Foubister at the heart of Betts’ side, both homegrown, the Warriors tore Saints’ defence open three times during the opening 40 minutes in the capital.

Meg Williams, Mary Coleman and Papua New Guinea international Emily Veivers all crossed for tries, with young gun Rowe slotting home the three conversions with ease to leave the score come the break at 18-0.

Rowe herself got on the scoresheet with a try less than five minutes after the restart, and though Saints got their only try through Katie Mottershead not long after, it proved only a temporary reprieve.

The Warriors’ women went on to add three more tries through back-rower Eva Hunter, Player of the Match Grace Banks and England international Anna Davies, and Rowe remained perfect with the boot throughout.

This isn’t Wigan’s first major honour having been crowned Women’s Super League champions back in 2018, but it’s the first since then, the first of a new era, and it looks likely to be the first of many.

It also goes down as the biggest-ever winning margin in a Women’s Challenge Cup final at Wembley (36), and the biggest in any Challenge Cup final in the Women’s Super League era.

For some in the team, like skipper Vicky Molyneux, it’s a piece of silverware befitting of their service not only to the club but the game itself.

When those elder stateswomen do opt to hang up their boots, they’re leaving the Warriors in very capable hands both on and off the field.

Ian Bentley, head of performance at Wigan Warriors, is tackling the Lake District Marathon on Saturday in aid of a charity very close to his heart.

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Bentley, who has been on the Warriors’ backroom staff for well over a decade, will attempt just his second marathon this weekend at the age of 40, with the aim of raising funds for Baby Beat, a charity that helps fund vital equipment, research and support services for premature and poorly babies at Royal Preston Hospital.

Bentley and his partner welcomed baby daughter Edith into the world on January 17th, 2025, but the pregnancy wasn’t without its hardships, as the Warriors’ head of performance bravely opens up on the difficult months leading up to Edith’s birth.

Explaining the story behind his ‘why’ this weekend, Bentley told Wigan Today: “It was when my missus was pregnant with our daughter Edith. The pregnancy was going fine, and then at week 26, my missus started getting high blood pressure, and it was caused by a condition called preeclampsia, which is really common for pregnant women, but to get it so early was not as common; it was quite unusual.

“She had regularly check-ins for the next six weeks and then we were constantly back and forth from Preston Hospital, having a lot of different scans every few days to check on her, and then she came at week 33, but she hadn’t been really growing, she was 2.2lbs, and she needed support.

“My missus had a C-section, and then she was in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Preston Hospital for seven weeks, and the care that they gave her was amazing.

“She had one-to-one support and all the way through to when she left, she was heavier and healthier, but she wouldn’t have been if she hadn’t been given the support that they gave her, so they were amazing.

“Edith is doing really well now, she’s 16 months old. She was born on January 17th, so she’s 16 months old now, doing really well, and is a thriving and healthy little girl.”

Bentley has only ever run one marathon previously, in the peak of his powers in his mid-twenties, but he is willing to run through the pain barrier for those who helped his family so much at a time when they needed them the most.

“I did a marathon about 15 years ago, but I’ve not done anything like this for a long, long time,” Bentley said.

“I’ve only ever done one, so this year, I said I was going to do it. When my daughter Edith was ill in the hospital, I said I wanted to do something to raise money for her, and with it being my 40th this year, I thought it would be a good challenge at 40.”

“My missus and Edith will definitely be there at the finish line, it’s just whether I get there,” Bentley laughed.

To make a donation to Bentley’s fundraiser for Baby Beat, please visit https://www.justgiving.com/page/ian-bentley?utm_source=IG&utm_campaign=015&fbclid=PAQ0xDSwKuPd5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABp5UaJf_BnSI41pquMCLxj0Y0JViS_LRfLJD8PKyhILWHUhi5nhZxUfq-PDaC_aem_9JGf6ZPDguhh0VXbfmV3wg.

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Christian Wade, Wigan Warriors badge

Christian Wade will make his Wigan debut tonight!

Christian Wade is set to start on the wing for Wigan Warriors in Thursday evening’s reserves game at Castleford Tigers, Love Rugby League can reveal.

The winger only arrived from Premiership outfit Gloucester earlier this week but looks set to be thrust straight into the action.

Wade, 33, scored two tries in his final appearance for Gloucester in their 41-26 home win over Northampton last Saturday but they failed to make the Premiership play-offs.

That signalled the end of his time at Kingsholm and the former Wasps star quickly linked up with Wigan, having signed a short-term contract until the end of the current Super League campaign.

Wade has been pencilled in to start against Castleford tonight.

It will be his first game of rugby league after a distinguished rugby union career and spell in the NFL playing American football.

Moreover, his availability looks set to be a major boost to Warriors boss Matt Peet with Abbas Miski currently sidelined for a couple of months after undergoing knee surgery.

As he showed on Saturday, Wade remains in outstanding physical condition and has lost none of his speed either.

Should be come through tonight’s game unscathed, the prolific finisher could be in line to make his Super League debut for Wigan in their next game away to Huddersfield Giants on Saturday, June 14.

Andy Powell, another former Wasps player, joined Wigan from Sale Sharks in 2013 a three-year deal but made just five appearances and returned to union the following year.

Yet the former back-rower, who played prop for Wigan under Shaun Wane, reckons Wade can succeed in the 13-a-side code.

Powell said: “I think it’s an exciting move. Christian went to America to try his luck in the NFL and has come back to the Premiership with Gloucester where he’s looked happy and has been scoring tries this season.

“He brings flair, speed and great finishing ability on the wing, so I think he’ll pick up the rules of league quite quickly.

“It’s a completely different game, but he’s a powerful little bugger who can break tackles. I’m excited to see what Christian can do.”

In June 2013, Powell made his Wigan debut against Castleford Tigers.

He remembered: “I picked the rules up quite quickly, but it was just the physical demands that were the biggest challenge.

“I was a fit guy, but there was the technical part of going back 10 and the wrestle on the ground.

“I didn’t get a breather in union so I certainly wasn’t going to get one in league!

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“But I played my first game against Castleford and then scored a try against Hull FC.

“I was lucky to play against that great Leeds Rhinos side with the likes of Jamie Peacock, Kevin Sinfield and Rob Burrow.

“I think I did a 28-minute stint against Leeds and Rob said afterwards ‘mate, for a game you’ve only just taken up, you played well and can hold your head up high’.

“Coming from a great man like Rob Burrow, that meant so much to me and I’ll never forget it.”

Wigan went on to win the Challenge Cup and Super League title in 2013, although Powell played in neither final.

“Of course I would’ve liked to have played more,” he admits.

“I was going through some mental health problems as well and I also injured my neck in a tackle with Huddersfield’s Eorl Crabtree and was out for nine months.

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“I had plates in my neck and I went downhill after that, but Wigan were absolutely brilliant and really helped me.

“I can say I played for Wigan, albeit for only five games, and I’ve no regrets about going there.

“The bus trips back from Wembley and Old Trafford in 2013 were the best. I made some good friends there who I still speak to now.”

Wigan Warriors star Emily Veivers is set to create her own piece of history this weekend when she becomes just the the second Papua New Guinea international to play in a Women’s Challenge Cup final at Wembley Stadium.

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The 24-year-old is currently enjoying her maiden season in the Women’s Super League, having arrived as one of five new signings at Wigan in the off-season.

But for Veivers, who was born in Australia and is of Papua New Guinean heritage, 2025 wasn’t her first time playing in England, as she represented the PNG Orchids at the Rugby League World Cup in 2022, where they were defeated by the Australian Jillaroos in the semi-finals.

“I’m loving it here at Wigan, it’s been really good,” Veivers told Wigan Today. “The girls have been amazing, and Denis (Betts) the coach, is great; they’ve really welcomed me. It’s like a second home away from home.”

Queenslander Veivers has won seven caps for Papua New Guinea, qualifying to represent the Orchids through her mother, who was born and raised in Port Moresby before moving to Australia at the age of 17.

“My mum was born in Port Moresby, she actually grew up on a street just around the corner from the Santos Stadium. I was trying to work out where the street was when I was over there, and the girls showed me, so it was so cool to see where my mum grew up. It was amazing.

“She is my biggest fan and number one supporter, always. She is always at every game (back home in Australia). My family are all so close, my dad, brother, my grandma turned 89 the other week, even my aunties and uncles are very close to one another.”

Veivers, who has her PNG Orchids heritage number tattooed on her arm and plans to get her Wigan heritage number inked in the future, works in Denis Betts’ cafe a couple of days a week, combining her job as a barista with her playing duties with the Warriors women.

The versatile forward has played a key role in Wigan’s unbeaten start to 2025, with Betts’ side having won seven from seven, heading off to Wembley in a rich vein of form.

Saturday will mark the first time a Wigan-St Helens derby will be played at the new Wembley Stadium in any format, and for Veivers, she will create her own history as she becomes the just the second PNG international to play in a Women’s Challenge Cup final at Wembley, following in the footsteps of Tara Moxon, who played for Leeds Rhinos in their defeat to St Helens in the 2023 final.

“It feels amazing,” Veivers said after Wigan clinched their spot in their first-ever Women’s Challenge Cup final thanks to an impressive 44-14 win over Leeds Rhinos in the semi-finals in York last month.

“When I first came over, I didn’t know too much about the Challenge Cup, and the girls have been going crazy about it, so over the last few months it has been really exciting, and I’m so excited.

“As soon as the girls started going crazy about it, I thought I’d have to find out more about this place! I was searching it up, and the place is massive, it’s huge.”

Emily Veivers in action for Papua New Guinea at the Rugby League World Cup in 2022Emily Veivers in action for Papua New Guinea at the Rugby League World Cup in 2022

Emily Veivers in action for Papua New Guinea at the Rugby League World Cup in 2022 | Will Palmer/SWpix.com

But the atmosphere at Wembley will have to be absolutely electric if it is going to top representing the Orchids at Santos Stadium, Papua New Guinea’s national football stadium in Port Moresby, the nation’s capital.

“They use rugby league to get kids through school,” Veivers said of Papua New Guinea, one of only two countries where rugby league is the national sport, alongside the Cook Islands. “It’s so good, it gives the kids something to work for and drive for.

“Obviously, PNG hasn’t got it as easy or as well as the likes of Australia or England do; it’s completely different, but you can feel the passion coming from the crowd when you are on the field.

“The energy they bring and the excitement, it’s so good. It’s an indescribable feeling, it’s so good. I’m excited for Wembley and I reckon we’re going to have an amazing crowd and I’ve played at Suncorp in front of a massive crowd and I’ve played in a World Cup, but nothing will ever compare to playing at the Santos Stadium in PNG because of the atmosphere and the passion they give.

“Every single top carry and every single kick we make, we get around each other, but the whole crowd gets around us. You get the odd big shot here, and people are like ‘yeah, nice tackle’ but over there, they are screaming and out of their chairs, it boosts us up. It’s a good feeling.”

But whatever the result on Saturday, Veivers is incredibly proud to be flying the flag for her Papua New Guinean heritage and birth nation Australia, in the Women’s Super League, with the burning ambition of making her family proud on the other side of the world, which no doubt she is doing.

“I’m just putting my best foot forward whilst I’m over here and giving it everything I’ve got and trying to make my family proud,” a smiling Veivers added.

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Wigan Warriors centre Adam Keighran has been playing ‘really, really well’ all season, having settled into life with the reigning Super League champions, according to his coach Matt Peet.

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Keighran has been impressive throughout the first half of the 2025 campaign, despite having missed a small chunk of action with a knee injury.

The 28-year-old has kicked more goals than anyone in Super League this season so far, with 47 to his name in nine appearances, whilst registering three tries and six assists.

Keighran has also proven to be a hit on the defensive side of the ball, too, producing a number of big hits throughout the first half of the season, with his defensive reads coming to the fore.

Speaking in his post-match press conference after Wigan’s 46-6 win over Salford Red Devils on Friday night, Peet was asked if we were starting to see the best of Keighran now.

“I think it’s been all this season, to be honest,” Peet replied.

“I’ve seen it a few times in my short time here, the second season for a player that comes from overseas, there’s a bit to contend with, moving your family to a new town and new team and getting to know the lads and all of that.

“I think he has settled in really well. His chemistry is great with the group, and I think he’s playing really, really well.”

Keighran arrived at Wigan from Catalans Dragons on a two-year deal ahead of the 2024 season, meaning he is, as things currently stand, off-contract at the end of this year. He has scored 13 tries and kicked 137 goals in 41 appearances for the Warriors so far, whilst helping Peet’s side complete an unprecedented Grand Slam last season.

The former New Zealand Warriors and Sydney Roosters man was asked about his future by Sky Sports after scooping the Player of the Match award in Wigan’s win over Catalans almost a fortnight ago, with Keighran saying: “No decisions have been made yet, the discussions are underway, but I’ll keep that one to myself until we get a bit further into it, so I’ll keep it to myself for now.”

Next up for Keighran and the Warriors is a trip to Dewsbury to face Huddersfield Giants on Saturday, June 14.

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Wigan Warriors will be watching on with interest this weekend as Christian Wade’s Gloucester take on Northampton Saints in the Rugby Premiership.

Gloucester face off against Northampton this afternoon in their final league game of the season and they know a win could take them into the play-off places. The Cherry and Whites are currently fifth in the Premiership table, but just two points separate them and a spot in the final four.

As such, a win might just extend their season by another week at least and that could have an impact on the date Wade links up with Wigan, having agreed to switch codes when Gloucester’s season comes to a conclusion. Defeat this afternoon would open him up to make the move to the Brick Community Stadium whenever he is ready to do so, but that date could be pushed back in accordance with the play-off campaign in victory.

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Wade has been named in the Gloucester line-up to play the Saints and while it could be his final appearance at Kingsholm, it could also be his last outing in the 15-man code with the possibility for him to stay in rugby league should his stint with Wigan go well.

Wigan Warriors set to welcome Wade

Whenever Wade makes the switch to Wigan, he will join in a position to hit the ground running having made 18 appearances this season already. In that time he has scored 10 tries and two hat-tricks, with his last effort coming earlier this month against Harlequins.

He’ll join a Wigan side who are firing on all cylinders having won seven straight games and are focused on chasing down Super League leaders Hull KR. While it seems unlikely that he will be thrown into the side without taking the time required to get to grips with the 13-man code, it’s fair to say his arrival could be well-timed.

Abbas Miski is currently out injured after going under the knife earlier this month and will probably miss another month of action yet. Zach Eckersley has done a fine job in Miski’s absence over the last couple of weeks, but it’s fair to say Wade’s arrival would give Matt Peet some food for thought on the right edge.

Wigan Warriors coach Matt Peet said he was ‘pleased’ with his side’s display in their 46-6 win over Salford Red Devils, whilst being magnanimous in victory.

The reigning Super League champions made it eight wins in a row as they ran in eight tries to ease past the struggling Red Devils, who remain rooted to the bottom of the table.

Wigan were 22-0 up at the half-time interval, with Jai Field and Jacob Douglas scoring two tries each in the first half. Douglas completed his hat-trick in the second half, whilst Zach Eckersley, Adam Keighran and Jack Farrimond also crossed for the Warriors as they wrapped up a comfortable 46-6 victory.

“Pleased to come through with the win in decent fashion,” said Peet. “I thought, defensively, for large parts, we were very good, and I thought we built our win off that.

“Points-wise and attack-wise, we created a lot, there’s no doubt about that, but we could’ve executed better a few times and scored more points, but I think credit goes to Salford for the way they committed to the game, scrambled for one another and I don’t think anyone would begrudge them that try at the end.

“I thought we looked comfortable (in defence) and there’s always a chance something is going to happen and it did, something sparked up and Salford came to life, it’s a little bit for us to learn from but we won’t dwell on it too much.”

Peet admitted he and his side won’t be able to take too much away from the game in terms of learnings, but paid credit to Salford, who are doing it tough at the moment after being blighted by off-field financial issues since before a ball was kicked this year.

“Probably not,” Peet replied when asked if they could take anything away from the game, with all due respect to Salford.

“There’ll be things in there for individual players, particularly for the younger players. We rotated and that probably showed at times, we weren’t as cohesive as you’d like to be when you rotate, but Salford are a well-coached team and as much as they’ve got their challenges this year, Paul (Rowley) does a good job in getting them to play with commitment, so fair play to them.”

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