Wigan wins Challenge Cup final 40-10 over Hull KR

Wigan Warriors beat Hull KR 40-10 in the Challenge Cup final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday. The victory gave Wigan their 22nd Challenge Cup title, extending their record in the competition. It was the Warriors' first silverware since 2024 and their eighth trophy under coach Matt Peet.

Jack Farrimond, Wigan's 20-year-old half-back, was named Lance Todd Trophy winner after an outstanding display. He scored twice in the first half and helped control the match throughout. Farrimond's performance highlighted a challenge for coach Peet: finding room in the team for both him and fellow playmaker Bevan French.

Wigan led 10-4 at half-time. Farrimond touched down twice, with Adam Keighran converting both tries. Hull KR's Peta Hiku scored late in the first half after chasing a loose kick, but Rhyse Martin's conversion attempt hit the post.

The turning point came early when Hull KR lost forward Dean Hadley to a concussion after just two minutes and 53 seconds. His absence weakened the Robins' defensive strength in the middle of the field. About a minute later, Wigan opened the scoring through Farrimond, who dummied through the defence following a scrum play.

Wigan dominated the second half completely. Junior Nsemba scored four minutes after the restart, climbing highest for a kick. Keighran then crossed twice in three minutes, with first a chip pass from Harry Smith and then a looping pass from Brad O'Neill setting him up. Keighran converted all three second-half tries, giving Wigan a 28-4 lead with 25 minutes remaining.

Bevan French, returning from a 12-week hamstring injury, came on as a replacement for Farrimond. He needed only five minutes to score, backing up a Noah Hodkinson break and stepping through the defence. Hull KR's Hiku scored his second try with ten minutes left, but Luke Thompson's try sealed the win for Wigan moments later.

The final was marred when Wigan's Sam Walters received a red card for a dangerous tackle on Hull KR hooker Bill Leyland with two minutes remaining. Walters was the first player to be sent off in a Challenge Cup final since 1993. The Warriors finished the match a player short.

Earlier in the day, Wigan Warriors Women defeated St Helens 54-6. This made Wigan the first club to win both the men's and women's Challenge Cup finals on the same day at Wembley.

After the match, Matt Peet told BBC Sport: "Very pleased, games like this you'd take a one-point win, so to win in that manner, I'm very, very proud. The lads have worked hard for it, a couple of soft tries we've conceded, but I'll get over it. Very, very proud of the club." He added that he was not planning to use French until French expressed frustration at staying on the bench.

Hull KR coach Willie Peters acknowledged Wigan's superiority. He told BBC Sport: "Wigan were outstanding, we weren't today. They wanted it more and they deserved the win. I thought we were a bit flat all the way through the first half. I thought they had more energy than us. Wigan were very good today. We need to look internally—I need to look at myself as well. If we look internally, we can fix things."