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Betfred Super League - Round 2 - Hull FC - The MKM Stadium, Hull - 21st February, 2025
Wigan Rugby League Football Club - Match #4,978*
The 2025 Season has well and truly kicked off and there was no shortage of news that came with it.
As expected, Wigan entertained neighbours Leigh Leopards in front of a Round One Super League record crowd of 21,748, eclipsing the 2007 effort of the Warrington Wolfies. Wigan went to town to make sure Super League got off to a glitzy opening and they didn't disappoint. Legendary stadium announcer Michael Buffer introduced the teams onto the field which I was looking forward to. All week I have been trying to show my girls YouTube videos of his work - but they were having none of it.
Leigh came with a good following, which is a credit to their recent successes in the Super League and of a fanbase that are sticking by their team. If only some of the Yorkshire clubs could once again justify opening our North Stand like days of old.
Another record was also to be had on that cold Thursday evening. After 80 minutes the score was deadlocked at 0-0. Not since 1993 had a game of Rugby League in this country finished with such a score line. And there was no snow or mud to help out! The final score of 0-1 is now the lowest Super League score line. Wigan have never lost 1-0 but have had plenty of 0-0's in th'olden days.
The last time Wigan and Leigh finished 0-0 during a League match was in March 1904. A year later at Wheater's Field, Broughton, the two sides finished 0-0 in the Lancashire Cup Final. Luckily, Wigan won the replay 8-0 at the same venue a week later to win their first Lancashire Cup (and first 'major' trophy).
Wigan's last 0-0 score line came way back on January 5th, 1974 against Castleford. Before that was versus Oldham in the 1950s and then Salford in 1923. In total Wigan have had 23 0-0's, mostly pre 1905. may we wait another 51 years until the next 0-0 or 1-0 score line?
And now on to Hull FC this weekend. The Black and White's have been in the doldrums for far too long and after a spritely pre-season, a take over and a decent first game display down in Perpignan, it looks like Hull FC mean to push their city rivals off their perch. It will be a while before Hull FC will be 'feared' I guess in terms of being competitive in my view, but we shall see how their season starts. They're already doing better than last year!
A cold February Friday night in 'ull. Us Wiganers wouldn't want it any different would we? The ticket prices are still quite expensive but apart from their exquisite Chicken Balti pies as an attraction, Wiganers will turn out in numbers as always. If you're heading over, wrap up.
This will be the 209th meeting between Hull FC and Wigan in all competitions post-Northern Union. Strangely, Wigan and Hull FC have never met in the Rugby Union days and it was the coming of the NU that they first locked horns in December 1895.
Coaches Quotes
After the 1-0 loss to Leigh Leopards:
"There are things we will fix up in terms of execution, but the commitment and effort of both sets of players was incredible. " - Matt Peet
After Hull's 24-4 win in Perpignan:
"I'm really excited for the players after a performance and a result like that. We've had a tough time of it recently as a club, coming off a rough few seasons, but we didn't show that tonight." - John Cartwright
Recent Form:
Both teams sailed through their Challenge Cup opening fixtures with ease but differing fortunes at the opening of the Super League season.
WIGAN - W L
HULL FC - W W
Out of the previous 208 meetings between the Colliermen and th'ull, Wigan have been victorious 141 times, with Hull FC coming out tops 63 times, with 4 drawn matches. In recent history, games between us have usually been quite tight affairs. Ten times within the past 10 seasons since 2015 have there been a score within 1 or 2 points at full time.
WIGAN HAVE LOST 5 OF THE PAST 7 MEETINGS AGAINST HULL FC AWAY
First Match:
December 7th, 1895
Lost 0-3
Longest Winning Run:
x10 matches 13th March, 1991 ~ 13th February, 1994
Longest Winless Run:
x4 matches 7th December, 1895 ~ 31st January, 1903
Biggest Victory:
66-06 (h) - 1st August, 2008
Biggest Loss:
54-12 (a) - 21st August, 2005
Remember "Seven" French? x7 tries in 2022 versus Hull FC had Bevan to break the Super League record.
This will be Wigan's 4978th match in all competitions since 1895. Of course, it should be 4,979, but that figure should be resolved soon by the Rugby Record Keepers Club (RKC) - and that's another story.
KEY STATISTIC
JAMES LEYTHAM and BILLY BOSTON have both scored 16 tries against Hull FC during their playing careers.
Ancient & Loyal Predictor
For the 209th competitive match between the two sides, it will be a closer encounter. I was horribly wrong with my opening prediction and is a reason why I am hopeless at betting. A few Wigan Old Boys will be looking to prove a point in the form of Cade Cust, Amir Bourouh and Zak Hardaker. New signing and captain Aidan Sezer and Atalani Asiata made assured debuts also down in Perpignan.
Wigan's defence against Leigh was sound enough as the Leythers never looked like scoring (in open play), the issue was the toothless attack and poor decision making. I expect this to be a close game and although Bevan French is unlikely to score another 7 tries, we can hope. The Hull forwards will need to be at their best, lead by Ese'ese and Asiata. If they can keep French and Harry Smith quiet I can't see Wigan producing much given what we saw against Leigh. Jai Field will need to be on his game to diffuse the kicks of Sezer deep into territory and is he can, he will be the key to opening up the 'ull defence and setting up the backs.
Zak Hardaker will find the commute too long on the way back as a passenger to Pontefract. But, luckily for him it won't be as long as usual as the A63 between Brough, Brantingham and South Cave should be relatively clear by the time he leaves the MKM.
Key Player:
WIGAN: JAI FIELD
HULL FC: HERMAN ESE'ESE (photo)
HULL BY 4
Photo: SW Pix
t'uther News this week
The next round of the Challenge Cup has been made and we will face Hull FC at The Brick Community Stadium. This is the 19th time that Wigan and Hull would have faced each other in the Challenge Cup, Wigan winning 10, Hull FC 8. Of course, we all know about the 1985 Final, but forget 2017.
It would have been nice to have an away trip to Batley or Featherstone but alas, a home tie shall suffice.
The standout tie has to be St. Helens versus Leeds Rhinos in what will be a guaranteed BBC tie, and hopefully both teams lose somehow. Widnes and Warrington will meet in a competitive match for the first time since 2018 in what should be a bumper gate for the Chemics.
First looks on who will go through to the quarter finals:
WARRINGTON, SALFORD, LEEDS, HKR, LEIGH, CATALANS, WAKEFIELD, WIGAN
Salford are still in a bit of a pickle. From the outside looking in, St Helens' 82-0 victory was nothing but a farce. Saints can only play what is in front of them and luckily for them, it was a team of Salford academy players. On Monday, the RFL launched an investigation into Salford potentially being in breach of operational rules. A statement read, "The RFL have today contacted Salford Red Devils to confirm that a compliance investigation will be launched to consider the circumstances around their squad selection for Saturday's Betfred Super League fixture at St Helens, and whether they have brought the sport into disrepute."
Despite the salary cap restrictions, Paul Rowley decided to field a weakened team. Why? Who knows, and we shall find out. But credit to those loyal Salford supporters knowing they'd be on a hiding to nothing, they've gone through a lot recently and hopefully with the takeover near completion, this famous old club can once again flourish.
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