Betfred Challenge Cup Semi-Final
Hull KR (0) 6
Try: Burgess
Goal: Lewis
Wigan (24) 38
Tries: Wardle 2, Miski 2, Nsemba, Smith, Dupree
Goals: Smith 2, Keighran 3
Wigan Warriors crushed Hull KR to advance to the Challenge Cup final, aiming for their 21st win in the competition.
After a narrow semi-final loss to Hull KR in 2023, Wigan dominated this time with five unanswered first-half tries. Jake Wardle, Abbas Miski (twice), Junior Nsemba, and Harry Smith scored in a commanding first 40 minutes at the Eco-Power Stadium in Doncaster.
Tyler Dupree and Wardle added two more tries in the second half. Joe Burgess scored Hull KR’s only try.
Matt Peet’s team will face either Huddersfield Giants or Warrington Wolves in the final at Wembley on June 8. Since their defeat to Hull KR last July, Wigan has won 21 of their last 23 matches, securing the League Leaders’ Shield, the Super League Grand Final, and the World Club Challenge.
Wigan’s dominance was evident from the fourth minute when Wardle exploited a defensive gap to score. Miski added another try shortly after, followed by Nsemba, Miski again, and Smith before halftime, effectively securing their place at Wembley.
Hull KR fans, hopeful for a Challenge Cup win since 1980, were left disappointed. Despite a strong start to the season and a new contract for head coach Willie Peters, Hull KR struggled to find their footing until Burgess scored in the 50th minute.
Wigan continued to press, with Dupree and Wardle sealing the win. Wigan will now look to repeat their 2022 success, this time aiming to lift the Challenge Cup at Wembley for the first time in 11 years.
Quotes
Hull KR Head Coach Willie Peters:
“I wasn’t angry with my players. I thought my players did their best. We just got beaten by a better team – Wigan is the benchmark. We can’t let this affect us. Last year we got beaten in the final and came back from that. Obviously, we’re not happy with the performance but we’ve got beaten by a far better team.”
Wigan Warriors Head Coach Matt Peet:
“Our fans love Wembley, our team would love to play in the Challenge Cup there. The history of this club is synonymous with Wembley and hopefully we can add our own memory now. It was very good [the performance]. The lads had a focus about them in the week and I had a feeling there was a strong performance coming.”
Teams
Hull KR: Evalds; Burgess, Hiku, Opacic, Hall; May, Lewis; Sue, Litten, Whitbread, Hadley, Batchelor, Minchella.
Interchanges: King, Parcell, Luckley, Tanginoa.
Sin-bin: Opacic (65)
Wigan: Field; Miski, Keighran, Wardle, Marshall; French, Smith; Havard, O’Neill, Thompson, Nsemba, Farrell, Ellis.
Interchanges: Mago, Leeming, Dupree, Walters.
Sin-bin: Keighran (65)
Referee: Chris Kendall
Credit: BBC Sport
