Wigan Warriors rout St Helens again in Women's Challenge Cup final

Wigan Warriors dominated St Helens in the Women's Challenge Cup final on Saturday, winning 54-6 at Wembley. This marks the second year in a row Wigan has beaten Saints in the final, after winning 42-6 last year. The gap between the two teams has widened dramatically.

St Helens won the Women's Challenge Cup for four consecutive years from 2021 to 2024. The club has now lost the last two finals to Wigan and faces questions about its future direction. The contrast in squad composition tells much of the story.

Wigan's squad is built on youth and speed. Eva Hunter, 20, scored four tries in Saturday's final. Jenna Foubister, 19, was named player of the match. Izzy Rowe, also 19, starred and kicked well. Grace Banks, 20, also crossed for a try. All four players represent the core of Wigan's attacking threat.

St Helens' leadership group is older and more experienced. Jodie Cunningham and Emily Rudge are both 34. Zoe Harris is 32. Faye Gaskin is 34. Amy Hardcastle is 37. Age alone does not determine performance, but the scoreline suggests the young Wigan side has adapted faster to modern demands of the game.

St Helens co-head coach Craig Richards acknowledged the gap after the match. "We're a real honest group. We train as a squad, but the players do recognise that there's going to be change coming," he said. Richards outlined a measured approach to rebuilding rather than wholesale changes.

"They want the best for the team, they want to do what they can, and you have to see it in training, it's not just about the 17 that takes the field. These players are working, the other players are going to be in it at some stage, and they want to be at the standard," Richards explained. He emphasized that the club has a plan but it will take time to execute properly without overloading younger players.

Wigan head coach Denis Betts credits his players with transforming the women's game in England. "They have transformed this game. This game in England is different now," Betts said. He noted that people from Wigan's past told him they did not realize women's rugby league could look the way it does now.

Betts described his role as supporting the team's vision for how they want to play. "My job as a coach is to support their need to get better, and how they want to play, and how they approach the game. They deliver. They're the players that go on the field, and they've changed the game," he said. Betts added that his team constantly seeks to improve, even after dominant wins.

Jenna Foubister, the player of the match, told the BBC the victory felt special. "It was absolutely amazing, it was everything we dreamed of as a team. We built up to this all through pre-season and all through last year and it's great that it's all paid off," she said. Foubister noted that Wigan expected a tough challenge but executed better than Saints.

Wigan player Anna Davies spoke about handling the pressure of defending their title. "I thought last year was a statement but I think today the pressure was on us to do it and be able to execute it again," Davies said to the BBC. She described a chaotic opening before Wigan regained composure and dominated the second half of the match.