Wigan Warriors’ new dynasty was cemented as Matt Peet claimed Challenge Cup glory

Bevan French led from the front as Wigan recovered from a torrid start to wrap up their 21st Challenge Cup title with an 18-8 win over Warrington at Wembley. The Super League Man of Steel set up Zach Eckersley for Wigan’s first try and stretched for the second himself to ensure his side also became the first side since 2007 to hold all four of the game’s major honors simultaneously.

Warrington rallied and Matt Dufty’s late try gave them a glimmer of hope, but in reality they were second and rarely looked likely to deliver prestigious silverware to head coach Sam Burgess in his first season in charge. Tribute to Leeds great Rob Burrow completed the build-up to the final with Wembley’s 64,845 crowd – the biggest since 2017 – rising for a minute’s silence impeccably observed before kick-off and again on seven minutes from the start of the match in his honor the shirt he wore with such aplomb.

But the two sides were guilty of taking Burrow’s famous fighting spirit a little too literally in a wild start that saw Wigan’s Mike Cooper and Warrington full-back Dufty sent to the sin bin for incidents separate. Cooper, favored for just his third Wigan first-row start of the season, was booked by referee Chris Kendall for a swinging arm which left Warrington winger Josh Thewlis prostrate on the turf.

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But two minutes later, Warrington’s numerical advantage was erased when Dufty also came out for a high tackle on Liam Marshall that sparked a mass confrontation on the touchline. Warrington showed early signs of emerging the better equipped after the early chaos, captain George Williams stopping a few yards from the line before a Wigan offside gave Thewlis the chance to put his side in front.

But the high-value start clearly took its toll, with Burgess’s side guilty of over-eagerness as they gradually handed the initiative to their opponents, culminating in Wigan’s opening try in the 19th minute. their opponents’ territory, French threw into the path of Eckersley, who seized the moment in only his fourth appearance for the club, shrugging off Matty Ashton to touch down.

Ashton’s sock-on three minutes later from Harry Smith’s high ball kept Warrington on their backs and led to Wigan’s second try, Abbas Miski and Jai Field stretching the Wire defense before French touched down following a melee

Warrington looked ragged and unfocused, Williams remarkably off the pace and they were lucky to get within touching distance of the break after French stretched his arm out only to be penalized for a marginal double move. Ten points adrift, Burgess’s side desperately needed to start the second half on the front foot and they went close five minutes after the restart when Ashton latched on to a looping pass from Williams only to be put in contact in line sight.

At the other end, Rodrick Tai’s superb tackle denied Marshall a certain try and there were signs, particularly through the increasingly influential Williams, that Warrington were stirring. Enter Warriors veteran Liam Farrell, who scored his fifth finals with a short pass from Field, stepping inside Josh Drinkwater, then going through a last-minute challenge from Matty Nicholson to leave a gap between the two sides.

Smith’s third conversion gave Matt Peet’s men an 18-2 lead but Warrington responded well and gave themselves a glimmer of hope with 15 minutes remaining when Dufty crossed from the left, Thewlis’ conversion reducing the arrears to 10. But Wigan saw out the final. moments with minimal fuss to lift the trophy for the second time in three years and add to the Grand Final, League Leaders’ Shield and World Club Challenge they already hold.