2025 Wigan Warriors season
| Wigan Warriors 2025 season | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team information | ||||
| CEO | Kris Radlinski | |||
| Head Coach | Matt Peet | |||
| Captain | ||||
| Stadium | Brick Community Stadium | |||
| ||||
The 2025 season will be the Wigan Warriors's 45th consecutive season playing in England's top division of rugby league. They will compete in the 2025 Super League season and the 2025 Challenge Cup.
Preseason friendlies
[edit]| Date and Time | Versus | H/A | Venue | Result | Score | Tries | Goals | Attendance | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 January; 15:00 |  Leeds Rhinos
|
A | Headingley | – |
World Club Challenge
[edit]Ahead of the 2024 NRL Grand Final, reports began circulating that the 2025 World Club Challenge would be at risk of being cancelled as teams that could potentially qualify (Penrith Panthers, Warrington Wolves, and Wigan Warriors) would have difficulty arranging travel to either the UK or Australia, then to the United States, with the usual date of the tournament being close to that of the 2025 Rugby League Las Vegas event.[1] Following Penrith's victory in the Grand Final, thus qualification for the tournament, it was revealed that 15 or 16 February would be the latest they would play the tournament, leaving time for travel back to Australia then out to the United States, while also maximising their pre-season, citing player welfare as in issue. However, with this weekend being the opening weekend of the 2025 Super League season, the date was unlikely.[2]
On 9th October 2024, Penrith confirmed to the NRL that they would not play the match before the start of the domestic seasons citing player welfare as the issue stating that their players were delaying their mandated leave to play in the 2024 Rugby League Pacific Championships and 2024 Samoa rugby league tour of England thus not allowing players to have an adequate preseason before the World Club Challenge. The club stated that it was open to working with the NRL for a solution to play the match, but would not as things stand currently.[3]
Following the conclusion of the 2024 Super League Grand Final, Wigan Warriors captain Liam Farrell confirmed the champions commitment to the 2025 World Club Challenge and state that the club would be working to ensure the game goes ahead.[4] These words later confirmed by CEO Kris Radlinski.[5]
On 16 October, Radlinski contacted the NRL and Penrith about playing the game during Magic Round (requiring the NRL to schedule one of Penrith's byes for this round),[6] an idea proposed on social media by Penrith's Nathan Cleary two days prior.[7] However this idea never came to fruition with Penrith facing Brisbane in Magic Round.[8]
| Date and Time | Versus | H/A | Venue | Result | Score | Tries | Goals | Attendance | TV | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not scheduled |  Penrith Panthers
|
A[a] | Western Sydney Stadium[b] | Cancelled | C–C |
Wigan remain world champions by virtue of their victory in the competition in 2024, however did not receive a separate title for 2025 in light of Penrith's withdrawal.
Super League
[edit]On 9 July 2024, the club announced they would be part of the 2025 Rugby League Las Vegas event, playing their home match against Warrington Wolves at the Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada.[9][10] Wigan's matchweek 1, 2, and rival Round fixtures were confirmed on 20 November 2024,[11] with the rest coming the following day.[12]
Challenge Cup
[edit]On 25 June 2024, the RFL announced a change to the Challenge Cup format totalling 7 rounds compared to the previous 9, and Super League teams entering at round 3.[14]
| Date and time | Round | Versus | H/A | Venue | Result | Score | Tries | Goals | Attendance | TV | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/9 February 2025 | Round 3 | A | – |
Transfers
[edit]Gains
[edit]| Player | Club | Contract | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
 George Hirst
|
 Oldham Roughyeds
|
2 years + 1 year | October 2024[15] |
Losses
[edit]| Player | Club | Contract | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Cooper
|
Retired on medical advice | September 2024[16] | |
| Ryan Hampshire
|
TBC | October 2024[17] | |
| Ryan Brown
|
 Leigh Leopards
|
2 Years | October 2024[18] |
| Reagan Sumner
|
 Widnes Vikings
|
1 Year | November 2024[19] |
Notes
[edit]- ^ The match was never officially scheduled however 2025 would have been the NRL Champion's turn to host.
- ^ Penrith played the 2025 season at the Western Sydney Stadium with their home ground, Penrith Stadium, undergoing redevelopment.
- ^ Huddersfield schedule home match against Wigan will be held at an alternative venue due to Huddersfield's home ground, the Kirklees Stadium, being pre booked on the day of the match.[13]
References
[edit]- ^ "World Club Challenge update: identity of Super League, NRL winners key". Love Rugby League. 30 September 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
- ^ "World Club Challenge date and location update after Penrith Panthers win". Love Rugby League. 6 October 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
- ^ "'Only thing that's missing': Penrith co-captain disappointed to abandon World Club Challenge | NRL | The Guardian". amp.theguardian.com. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
- ^ "Now one of rugby league's greatest sides, what next for Wigan Warriors? | Super League | The Guardian". amp.theguardian.com. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
- ^ "Wigan Warriors still open to World Club Challenge rematch with conversations to take place, says Radlinski". Retrieved 14 November 2024.
- ^ "Wigan Warriors chief Kris Radlinski open to Nathan Cleary's World Club Challenge proposal for 2025". Retrieved 14 November 2024.
- ^ "Nathan Cleary: Wigan Warriors chief Kris Radlinski says every Super League club would try to sign NRL star if he considered move". Retrieved 14 November 2024.
- ^ https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby-league/wigan-warriors-chairman-remains-upbeat-despite-world-club-challenge-blow-and-still-4877555
- ^ "Super League in Las Vegas: Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves set for showdown at Allegiant Stadium in 2025". Sky Sports. 9 July 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
- ^ "Wigan Warriors to play Warrington Wolves in Las Vegas in 2025". BBC Sport. 9 July 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
- ^ "Super League 2025: Fixtures for rounds one, two and Rivals Round revealed ahead of new season". Sky Sports. 20 November 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ "Super League 2025: Full fixture list and schedule for new season including Wigan vs Warrington in Las Vegas". Sky Sports. 21 November 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
- ^ https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/super-league-club-forced-to-find-alternative-home-venue-with-change-explained
- ^ "New format for Betfred Challenge Cup in 2025". Rugby Football League. 25 June 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
- ^ McAllister, Josh (9 October 2024). "Wigan Warriors confirm first signing of 2025 with young gun from Sean Long's Oldham". Wigan Today. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
- ^ Fletcher, Charlotte (27 September 2024). "Mike Cooper to retire". Wigan Warriors. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ "Hampshire to leave Wigan as Isa extends stay". BBC Sport. 4 October 2024. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
- ^ Darbyshire, Drew (14 October 2024). "Leigh Leopards sign England Academy prop from Wigan Warriors". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
- ^ Darbyshire, Drew (2 November 2024). "Wigan Warriors youngster makes permanent Championship transfer move following loan spells". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 3 November 2024.