Women’s Match Preview: Semi Final – Wigan Warriors

HERE’S EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW AHEAD of the Betfred Challenge Cup semi-final with WIGAN WARRIORS v Leeds Rhinos at the Totally Wicked Stadium on Sunday 19 May (12.30pm KO)

Wigan Warriors Women make the short trip to the Totally Wicked Stadium on Sunday 19th May as they prepare to face Leeds Rhinos in the semi-final of the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup for the second year running.

The Warriors enter 2024 unbeaten on the back of their biggest ever win – 102-0 against Huddersfield Giants in the Betfred Women’s Super League.

Team news

Head coach Denis Betts has named his 21-man squad for the semi-final with one change as Sinead Doria replaces Gracie Bradshaw.

Opposition

Head to head

The Warriors and Rhinos are yet to meet in any competition in 2024. Wigan went into the game on the back of a 102-0 league win, while Leeds also came into the game off the back of a win over York Valkyrie.

Wigan have not beaten the Rhinos since their 2018 Grand Final win at the Manchester Regional Arena.

Last ten meetings:

• Leeds 24, Wigan 0 (SL-G1, 9/9/23)
• Leeds 16, Wigan 4 (CCSF, 23/7/23)(at Headingley, Leeds)
• Wigan 0, Leeds 52 (SL-G1, 9/7/23)
• Leeds 64, Wigan 6 (SL-G1, 21/7/22)
• Wigan 12, Leeds 48 (SL-G1, 07.03.22)
• Leeds 28, Wigan 10 (SL-PO, 9.12.21)
• Wigan 6, Leeds 28 (SL, 11/7/21)
• Leeds 16, Wigan 0 (SL, 29/9/19)
• Wigan 4, Leeds 12 (SL, 12/5/19)
• Leeds 16, Wigan 18 (SLGF, 13/10/18)(at Manchester Regional Arena)

Coach Quotes

Looking ahead to Sunday’s semi-final, Betts said: “The physicality, the competitive element of it will be through the roof, but it’s not a bad place to be.

“I expect a very difficult match, I think Leeds is the best team in the competition. They have a great group of girls who work really hard for each other, you can tell that they have a good cohesion within the group and an understanding of each other.”

He added: “Our challenge is to go after them, be competitive in the game and be fearless in our own approach.”

Read the full preview with the women’s head coach HERE or watch on Wigan TV HERE.

Player quotes

Vice-captain Rachel Thompson also spoke to the media ahead of Sunday’s semi-final match: “These big games were new for all of us last year, the opportunity to play at Wembley was new and exciting and I probably overdid it a bit. We realize we have to take each game as it comes but we also have to perform and if we don’t perform we won’t get to those big stages.”

She added: “These are not things we have to do every week, so we have to enjoy it. It’s 80 minutes away from Wembley but you have to put that to the back of your mind and focus on the task at hand first.”

Read the full preview with Rachel Thompson online HERE.

Checking the kit

Our Warriors women will be wearing the traditional Cherry & White home kit for Sunday’s game. Don’t have yours yet? Buy the Kappa 2024 Kit HERE.

Information about the match

Sunday’s game takes place at Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens (12.30pm KO) before the second of the men’s semi-finals between Warrington Wolves and Huddersfield Giants (3.15pm KO)

Today, the turnstiles will open at 11.30am and the Stadium Ticket Office (next to the Stadium Reception) will open at 10.30am for pre-paid ticket collection and match day sales

Key information:

• Matchday ticket sales will be available from the ticket office, with prices starting at £20 for adults and £10 for under 16s.
• Totally Wicked Stadium is a cashless venue.
• Food and beverage concessions will be open throughout the stadium and alcohol will be allowed to be consumed in stadium seating. Refreshment counters are located under each of the Stands, are fully accessible and easily accessible from all pitchside seating areas. Please note that you will not be able to bring your own food and drink into the ground.
• Smoking is not allowed throughout the stadium. Vaping is only allowed in outdoor areas. You will not be allowed to re-enter the stadium if you leave the stadium.
• The use of flares and any pyrotechnic devices on match day is strictly prohibited at all times.
• Please do not bring luggage larger than A4 size and bags may be searched at the turnstiles upon arrival.
• If you are bringing a flag, please note that your flag pole cannot exceed 1m in length and cannot have a metal pole.
• More information on how to get to the stadium is available HERE
• The Totally Wicked Stadium ground rules can be viewed HERE.

How to follow

You can listen to Saturday’s women’s match live with Joe Mills and Andrew Rimmer (Bilko) from 12.20pm!

Go to our Mixlr page by clicking HERE. Alternatively, you can simply use the pop-out player below:

WiganTV is on Mixlr

Sunday’s Women’s Betfred Challenge Cup semi-final between Wigan Warriors and Leeds Rhinos will be available to watch live on BBC iPlayer.

Social Media

Wigan fans can follow every bit of the action via our social media channels and website.