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Betfred Super League - Round 3 - Warrington Wolves - Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas - 1st March, 2025
Wigan Rugby League Football Club - Match #4,979*
AT THE TIME OF KICK-OFF IN LAS VEGAS, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN 24,494 DAYS SINCE WARRINGTON LAST WON THE LEAGUE - IT'S THEIR YEAR
Firstly, I may just give up with my predictions. I was hopelessly far off with my 'Hull by 4' thinking. Saying that, it was a welcome delight to see Wigan win quite comfortably in the end against Hull FC by 46-4. According to the television people, it was 441 minutes between Wigan conceding their last try in September 2024, against Hull KR, and the one scored by Lewis Martin on Friday evening. These 441 minutes are not a Club Record of not conceding a try of course. According to my calculations, we have to go back to the 1901-2 season for this particular record. Wigan went unbeaten between January 1st ~ March 19th when this particular record was set. A 10-3 win against Stockport on January 1st started the ball rolling. Wigan did not concede a try against Hull KR (twice), Millom, Birkenhead, Radcliffe, Bramley and Widnes, before finally conceding against Radcliffe on April 7th. In its self, that spanned seven matches and a minimum of 560 minutes. To go deeper and know when Radcliffe scored their try is impossible, as the timings are not available in old match reports. Still, quite impressive from Matt Peet's men.
The 326th meeting between Wigan and Warrington since 1895 will see pastures new for Rugby League. The United States of America play host to their first competitive match of Rugby League between two British domestic sides. Of course, Warrington and Wigan faced each other on June 10th, 1989, in Milwaukee, but this was an exhibition match and not officially sanctioned. You won't find this game in the records books.
As for countries played in, the USA will become the eighth nation that the famous Cherry and Whites have gone into battle, following England, Wales, Scotland, France, Australia, Ireland and of course Spain. We played Leeds in Dublin back in 1995 for the Charity Shield. We missed out on a trip to Canada when the Toronto Wolfpack collapsed and we have as yet never played in New Zealand. How long before Rugby League follows other sports and play matches in Dubai? We have also played in the Crown Dependency of Isle of Man in the Charity Shield.
And now for the trip to Las Vegas. Wigan have given up a 'home' tie to be a part of this spectacle whilst Warrington have lost nothing and gained, well, quite a lot. Warrington have really gone to town with their merchandise and done a really good job, making items available to all. I could give my two-penny's worth here but lets go for some positivity regarding the match instead.
"A New Audience" is expected to tune in to the rugby game and hopefully the rhetoric coming out of those stakeholders involved will prove successful. But this is Rugby League... and British Rugby League at that.
So away from the possible merits and pitfalls let's treat this as a normal match instead of the pro's and con's of such an incentive. Hanging off the coat tails of the NRL, the idea of Wigan playing in America is nothing new. Harry Sunderland, the famous rugby league administrator and former secretary to the Wigan club, floated the idea of Wigan going on a World Tour back in 1939. The initial plans concerned a Tour of Australia, but later included possible matches in the USA. On his way to Wigan from Australia, Sunderland made his way across the USA and was impressed by the American Football code (and the wages those players got per game at $400, Sunderland was on £300+/year) during a stop over in Chicago. Ultimately, the tour never happened and will feature on this website at some point.
Warrington go in to the game having a winning start to their 2025 campaign after their triumph in the Challenge Cup against Whitehaven and opening League season wins against Huddersfield and Catalans last time out. It's their Year, clearly. I have it on good authority that Warrington Council have set about routes for their forthcoming parades in June and October when they complete the Double. The Wire have clearly strengthened and with another year as Head Coach under his belt, Sam Burgess will no doubt be relishing the trip to Vegas.
Coaches Quotes
"I thought it was a strong performance. Given the enthusiasm around Hull FC at the moment we knew we were stepping into a challenge, and we managed to get things right at the start of the season and that stood us in good stead." - Matt Peet after Hull FC
"They threw things at us we hadn't really had a look at. They offloaded the ball a lot and really challenged us, but I was very proud of my team's effort. They never stopped trying or turning up for each other. - Sam Burgess post Catalans
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 W
WARRINGTON - W W W
Out of the previous 325 meetings between the Colliermen and the Wire, Wigan have been victorious 188 times, with Warrington coming out tops 126 times, with 11 drawn matches.
First Match:
November 2nd, 1895
Won 9-0
Longest Winning Run:
x13 matches 12th April 1993 ~ 30th June 1996
Longest Winless Run:
x10 matches 18th December, 1897 ~ 4th April, 1903 (9 losses, 1 drawn)
Biggest Victory:
58-4 (h) - 19th April, 2002
Biggest Loss:
47-7 (a) - 1957
This will be Wigan's 4979th match in all competitions since 1895. Of course, it should be 4,980, but that figure should be resolved soon by the Rugby Record Keepers Club (RKC) - and that's another story. I said the same last week. Here is the Official Ancient and Loyal Guide to the match, everything you need to know.
KEY STATISTICS
JAMES SULLIVAN has kicked a total of 109 goals against Warrington during his 40 matches opposing them. With the added two tries, Jim has rocked up 224 points against Wire for Wigan.
JAMES LEYTHAM HAS SCORED 18 TRIES AGAINST WARRINGTON
17 TIMES HAVE WIGAN SCORED 40+ POINTS AGAINST WARRINGTON, WHEREAS THE WIRE HAVE ONLY MANAGED THAT ON 6 OCCASIONS, INCLUDING THE LAST TIME THE TWO CLUBS MET
Ancient & Loyal Predictor
Jai seemed to have had a Field day against Hull FC the other night. May he be having a keen eye on the NRL next season? If so, it's a win for him and a win for Wigan but alas, it is only one game so far so let us not get carried away.
I have been hopelessly terrible at predictions thus far.
Despite it being Warrington's Year, I cannot see them outscoring Wigan's tight defence. Emotions will obviously run high and an intense match will be guaranteed, and here's hoping for a cracker, but Wigan should be the fitter and if our attack continues where we left off in Hull, it should be a win for the Cherries.
Key Player:
WIGAN: JAI FIELD
WARRINGTON: GEORGE WILLIAMS (photo)
WIGAN BY 12
"I came to Warrington to win trophies" ~ George Williams, 2021
Pic: SWPix
t'uther News this week
Danika Primm, the vice-president of the RFL and anti-Wigan Society was charged this week with sexual assault. Great image at the start of the 2025 Season. And so too this: taken from abc.net.au Canberra Raiders pair Hudson Young and Morgan Smithies have apologised for a Las Vegas hotel "scuffle" that briefly saw them both kicked out of the premises.
The two international stars became involved in an altercation with each other after a night out on Thursday, when a hotel mix-up left one of them without a room.
Hotel security was called and briefly removed the duo.
Young and Smithies fronted media in Vegas overnight (AEDT) to explain the incident and offer apologies.
"I want to apologise for the actions on Thursday night. It wasn’t good enough," Young said.
"The NRL invests so much time and effort into this game. It’s such a great space to be a part of here in Vegas and a great spectacle.
"We came back after a night out on Thursday and there was an issue with the room.
What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas... right?
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