Challenge Cup – Hull KR 6-38 Wigan: Warriors reach Wembley after semi-final win

Betfred Challenge Cup semi-final

Try: Wardle 2, Miski 2, Nsemba, Smith, Dupree Objectives: Smith 2, Keighran 3

Wigan Warriors demolished Hull KR to book their place in the Challenge Cup final and the chance to record their 21st win in the competition.

Wigan lost to the Robins by a single point at the same stage of the 2023 semi-finals, but five unanswered first-half tries ensured there would be no repeat.

Jake Wardle, Abbas Miski – who bagged a brace – Junior Nsemba and Harry Smith all crossed in a dominant first 40 minutes at Doncaster’s Eco-Power Stadium.

Tyler Dupree and Wardle added two more in the second half after Joe Burgess scored Hull KR’s only try.

Matt Peet’s side will head to Wembley on June 8 to play either Huddersfield Giants or Warrington Wolves, who clash at the Totally Wicked Stadium in St Helens on Sunday (3.15pm BST).

Since losing to Hull KR at Headingley in the semi-final last July, Wigan have won 21 of their last 23 games.

That spell saw them capture the League Leaders’ Shield, the Super League Grand Final and the World Club Challenge.

Now this outstanding team will have the chance to complete the set with the Challenge Cup.

One of their two defeats in that run came three weeks ago at Sewell Group Craven Park against the same opponents.

However, Wigan showed why they are a cut above the rest with an almost exemplary 80 minutes in both attack and defence.

The dominance began in the fourth minute as, from the first attacking position, center Wardle spotted a gap in the defensive line and exploited it to score.

Hull KR tried to respond and were aggrieved by a call when they felt Tyrone May had been tripped by Smith while chasing a kick.

But after soaking up the pressure, Wigan showed their class as they made their way up the pitch.

In the fifth tackle, Bevan French conjured another bit of magic from his box of tricks with a beautiful kick that fell just over Ryan Hall and was superbly caught and touched by Miski in the same move.

And there was a third try before half-time as the Warriors again proved their ruthlessness.

They pressed Robins full-back Niall Evalds into a high shot and with field position in their favour, the move ended with teenager junior Nsemba slotting home.

But the Super League champions didn’t stop there and two more tries before the break effectively booked their place at Wembley.

Miski crossed for the second try after a quick pass from Liam Marshall and Marshall set up the next and Smith lined up to touch a grobber kick.

Fans traveled in large numbers from east Hull in the hope of seeing their team return to Wembley and win the Challenge Cup for the first time since 1980.

After losing last year’s final 17-16 to Leigh and finishing in the top four, the Robins are believed to be on the rise.

This was backed up by head coach Willie Peters, receiving a new four-year contract in the build-up to this match.

But it wasn’t until the 50th minute that they had something to celebrate when Burgess scored in the corner.

There was no comeback as a mistake from the Wigan restart gave the Warriors possession near the Hull KR line and with a try inevitable, Dupree applied the finishing touch.

Wardle completed the scoring with his side’s seventh try of the match and Wigan now look to repeat the feat in 2022.

That was at Tottenham Hotspur’s stadium, though, and it’s been 11 years since they lifted the Challenge Cup at the competition’s spiritual home, Wembley.

Hull KR head coach Willie Peters told BBC Sport:

“I wasn’t mad at my players. I thought my players did their best.

“We’ve just been beaten by a better team – Wigan is the benchmark.

“We can’t let that affect us. Last year we were beaten in the final and we came back from that.

“Obviously, we’re not happy with the performance, but we were beaten by a much better team.”

Wigan Warriors head coach Matt Peet told BBC Radio Manchester:

“Our fans love Wembley, our team would love to play the Challenge Cup there.

“The history of this club is synonymous with Wembley and we hope we can now add our own memory.

“It was really good (the performance). The boys focused on themselves during the week and I had a feeling that a strong performance was coming.”

Hull KR: Evalds; Burgess, Hiku, Opacic, Hall; May, Lewis; Sue, Litten, Whitbread, Hadley, Batchelor, Minchella.

Exchanges: King, Parcell, Luckley, Tanginoa.

Wigan: Field; Miski, Keighran, Wardle, Marshall; French, Smith; Havard, O’Neill, Thompson, Nsemba, Farrell, Ellis.

Exchanges: Mago, Leeming, Dupree, Walters.