Women’s Match Preview: Semi-Final
HERE’S EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW AHEAD OF WIGAN WARRIORS Betfred Challenge Cup Semi-FInal tie against Leeds RHinos at the Totally Wicked Stadium on Sunday 19 May (12:30PM K.O.)
Wigan Warriors Women make the short trip to the Totally Wicked Stadium this Sunday 19 May as they prepare to take on Leeds Rhinos in the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup Semi-Final for a second year running.
The Warriors come into the tie unbeaten in 2024 and off the back of their biggest ever win – 102-0 against Huddersfield Giants in Betfred Women’s Super League.
Squad News
Head Coach Denis Betts has named his 21-player squad for the Semi-Final with one change as Sinead Doria replaces Gracie Bradshaw.
Opposition
Leeds Squad
Lois Forsell has also named her 21-player squad for the fixture, as Beth Lockwood is named in the squad for the first time this season following injury:
Head-to-Head
The Warriors and Rhinos are yet to meet in any competition in 2024. Wigan enter the game off the back of a 102-0 league victory, whilst Leeds also come into the game on the back of a win over York Valkyrie.
Wigan have not claimed victory over the Rhinos since the 2018 Grand Final win at Manchester Regional Arena.
Last ten meetings:
- Leeds 24, Wigan 0 (SL-G1, 9/9/23)
- Leeds 16, Wigan 4 (CCSF, 23/7/23)(at Headingley, Leeds)
- Wigan 0, Leeds 52 (SL-G1, 9/7/23)
- Leeds 64, Wigan 6 (SL-G1, 21/7/22)
- Wigan 12, Leeds 48 (SL-G1, 3/7/22)
- Leeds 28, Wigan 10 (SL-PO, 12/9/21)
- Wigan 6, Leeds 28 (SL, 11/7/21)
- Leeds 16, Wigan 0 (SL, 29/9/19)
- Wigan 4, Leeds 12 (SL, 12/5/19)
- Leeds 16, Wigan 18 (SLGF, 13/10/18)(at Manchester Regional Arena)
Coach Quotes
Looking ahead to Sunday’s Semi-final, Betts said: “The physicality, the competitive element of it is going to be through the roof but it’s not a bad place to be.
“I’m expecting a very tough game, I think Leeds are the best team in the competition. They have a great group of girls who work really hard for each other, you can tell they have good cohesion within the group and an understanding of each other.”
He added: “Our challenge is to go after them, be competitive within the game and be fearless in our own approach.”
Read the full preview with the Women’s Head Coach HERE or watch on Wigan TV HERE.
Player Quotes
Vice-Captain Rachel Thompson also spoke to the press ahead of Sunday’s Semi-Final tie: “These big games were new to all of us last year, the opportunity to play at Wembley was new and exciting and we probably overplayed that a little bit. We realise we have to take every game as it comes but we also have to perform and if we don’t perform we won’t make it to those big stages.”
She added: “These aren’t things that we get to do every week so we have got to enjoy it. It’s 80 minutes from Wembley but you have to pack that to the back of your mind and focus on the task in front of us first.”
Read the full preview with Rachel Thompson online HERE.
Kit Check
Our Warriors Women will wear the traditional Cherry & White home kit for Sunday’s fixture. Not got yours yet? Shop 2024 Kappa Kit HERE.
Match info
Sunday’s fixture takes place at the Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens (12:30pm K.O.) prior to the second of the Men’s Semi-Final fixtures between Warrington Wolves and Huddersfield Giants (3:15pm K.O.)
On the day turnstiles will open at 11:30 with the stadium’s Ticket Office (next to Stadium Reception) opening at 10:30 for pre-paid ticket collections and matchday sales
Key Information:
- Matchday sales for Seating and Standing tickets will be available from the Ticket Office with prices from £20 Adults and £10 Under 16s.
- Totally Wicked Stadium is a cashless venue.
- Food and beverage concessions will be open throughout the full stadium and alcohol will be allowed to be consumed in stadium seats. Refreshment counters are located under each of the Stands, they are fully accessible and within easy reach of all pitchside seating areas. Please note that you will not be able to bring your own food and drink into the ground.
- Smoking is not permitted throughout the stadium. Vaping is only permitted in open air areas. You will not be allowed re-entry into the stadium if you vacate the stadium.
- The use of flares and any pyrotechnic devices on match day is strictly forbidden at all times.
- Please do not bring any bags larger than A4 size and bags can be subject to search at the turnstiles on arrival.
- If bringing a flag, please note that your flag’s pole cannot exceed 1m in length and it cannot have a metal pole.
- Further information on how to get to the stadium is available HERE
- Totally Wicked Stadium Ground Regulations are available to view HERE.
How to Follow
You can listen to Saturday’s Women’s fixture live with Joe Mills and Andrew Rimmer (Bilko) from 12:20pm!
Head to our Mixlr page by clicking HERE. Alternatively, you can simply use the pop out player below:
Sunday’s Women’s Betfred Challenge Cup Semi-Final between Wigan Warriors and Leeds Rhinos’ will also be available to watch live on BBC iPlayer.
Social Media
Wigan fans can follow every piece of the action via our social media channels and website.
- X (Formerly Twitter) (@WiganWarriorsRL) – full match updates.
- Instagram (@wiganwarriorsrl) – half time and full time updates.
- Facebook (Wigan Warriors) – half time and full time updates.
- Website (www.wiganwarriors.com) – post-match reaction including a match report.
