Wigan searching for Semi-Final spots | Betfred Challenge Cup Quarter-Finals

Wigan’s Men’s and Women’s teams are in action this weekend in their respective Betfred Challenge Cup quarter-finals, hoping to become one step closer to booking a place at Wembley Finals Day.

Wigan Warriors, 20 times Challenge Cup winners, will travel to face Castleford Tigers at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle for the second time this year, but this time there's a semi-final place at stake.

Matt Peet’s men last lifted the sport’s most historic trophy in 2022, in what was his inaugural season as the club’s head coach. Since then, Wigan have gone on to dominate the competition, winning the 2023 League Leaders’ Shield and Super League Grand Final in style, before edging NRL’s Penrith Panthers in a thriller to clinch the World Club Challenge earlier this year.

And with the Challenge Cup Final just around the corner, the current Champions will be determined to get their hands on yet another trophy and continue this magnificent array of success.

“I think our whole history revolves around this competition, to be honest,” Peet said in his press conference.

"I think most of our best memories as a club comes from the Challenge Cup and then each individual around it. Most of us look back on trips to Wembley or more recently Tottenham, as well as semi-final wins and some of our heart-breaking losses along the way. 

"They are all memorable occasions."

And Peet will be hoping for many more memorable occasions, as he admitted an appearance and a win at Wembley are ultimately the end goals:

“It is something we talk about. It's important the players know that it (the quarter-final) isn’t just a regular game and that we’re two games from a huge occasion.

“It’s an opportunity we’re determined to take.”

Looking ahead to their opposition in the Tigers, who recorded their first league win last Friday, Wigan's Peet is aware of the threat they can pose:

“Everyone knows Castleford away is one of those grounds, venues, and fixtures that has the potential to upset any team.

“And that is the same whether they are flying high or whether they are having a difficult period. The fact is their last performance was a strong one and it was a win.

“This is knockout for them as well. 

“We’ve got to concentrate and block some of the noise coming out of there, and from our perspective, it can’t affect the preparations.

“I think it’ll be two teams really desperate to win. Castleford’s left edge got a lot of joy and was very direct last week. They played some really good rugby with some good attack.

“I think their two halfbacks [Jacob] Miller and [Danny] Richardson are really talented – they both take the line on, and both have a kicking game, so that’s where the threat comes.

“They’ve got big, athletic outside backs as well. We’ll be expecting to be challenged, and we’re going to have to be at our best to turn them away.”

Likewise, there’s a chance of a semi-final spot up for grabs for Wigan Warriors Women on Saturday, who will travel to Leigh Miners Rangers’ Sutton Park to face Cardiff Demons in their quarter-final cup clash.

The Warriors Women finished top of Group Two in the group stages, with maximum points over Salford Red Devils, Barrow Raiders, and Cardiff Demons respectively.

They will take on the Demons back-to-back as they aim to reach the final four of the Challenge Cup competition for a second year running.

The Women are yet to feature in a Challenge Cup Final since their formation in 2017, although did come agonisingly close last year, before falling short to Leeds Rhinos Women in the semi-finals.

Ready for a big year in his first season as the Warriors Women head coach, Denis Betts will be hoping the winning culture Wigan Warriors have built can double over into his side, as they prepare for their quarter-final tie.

Reflecting on their previous group stage match with Cardiff Demons, Betts was impressed with how his side dealt with the conditions, but has emphasised that the Wigan Women will need to take each game as it comes:

“We know Cardiff are actually a better side than what they showed. They did some good things and if had been a dry day, it could have been a different game.

“That first half was probably the best we’ve been with the ball so far this season. We’ve not been anywhere near high enough on our completions even with comfortable wins, but we were over 80% at the weekend in the first half, and that’s built a bit of a platform for us.

“We’re not looking too far ahead; the next opposition is the next opposition, and it doesn’t matter if we’ve just played them. It’s more about us and how we can be better every single week.”

Betts, who boasts a decorated career, including his time spent with Wigan as both a player and coach, spoke of positively of his new coaching role and challenge, as he hopes to make a significant impact as their new boss:

“I’m enjoying it – I’ve been coaching now longer than I was playing, which is strange.

“The girls are fantastic; they’re understanding and want to get better. That’s what's exciting for me at this moment in time, that every girl in this group wants to get better and wants to learn.

“They’re bursting for knowledge and the questions are flying thick and fast.”

More than pleased with the signs his side have shown so far, Betts believes his youthful Warriors Women have the potential to go on to develop into challengers and title contenders, aligning with the Men's team:

“There’s so much potential within this group. I also think the exciting thing is that the club has a great vision for the women’s team, the wheelchair teams, for every team connected to the organisation.

“There’s a great vision and understanding that you’re a part of this successful club and you need to give your all.

“We’ve got an ambition to be within the top four teams and not just be on the edge of it, and not just be competing in semi-finals. We need to turn ourselves and our mentality into a finals team, and I can see that within the girls.

“We have a really young group and that’s what’s exciting for me. There’s a lot of years in the team to keep getting better and challenge for some honours.”

Vice-captain Rachel Thompson was also in attendance on Thursday’s press conference, and was full of praise for her new head coach:

“It’s been really good; the girls love him. I think it's a completely different feeling within the team at the minute.

“He has a mountain of knowledge behind him, and the girls have really taken to that. There’s a lot of respect for him and it’s a really good environment to be in at the minute.

“He’s a little bit of a legend around the club, so it’s always nice to have that kind of experience around you.

“We want to show young girls that there’s something there and we want to inspire them. Hopefully years down the line they would be getting to play at the DW Stadium every week.”

With the focus firmly on Saturday’s Challenge Cup quarter-final, Thompson knows her side must deliver if they are to enjoy any form of success where the Challenge Cup competition is concerned:

“You can’t get too complacent. We know we need to win and there’s no second chance after the weekend.

“We can’t really worry about what’s been, we have to look forward to what’s coming.

“We have to start again. It’s 0-0. They might have the same players or a different team, and it’s a new pitch. It’s a completely new game and we have to give it our all if we want to get to the semis.”

A full Betfred Challenge Cup Quarter-Finals Preview can be found here.

A full Betfred Women's Challenge Cup Quarter-Finals Preview can be found here.

The Men's 2024 Betfred Challenge Cup Final (KO 3pm) and Betfred Women's Challenge Cup Final (KO 11.45am) are part of a Finals Day triple-header at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 8 June, alongside the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup (KO 5.45pm). Plus, there will be the traditional Year 7 Boys’ Champion Schools Final at 10am. Tickets are available online now from only £20 Adults and £10 Under 16s, with family packages also available.