2024 Wigan Warriors season explained

The 2024 season was the Wigan Warriors's 44th consecutive season playing in England's top division of rugby league. During the season, they competed in the Super League XXIX, the 2024 Challenge Cup, and the 2024 World Club Challenge.

The 2024 season saw Wigan complete the quadruple, the club's second in its history after the 1993–94 season, and only the fourth modern quadruple in British rugby league. In Sky Sports end of season review, Wigan were praised for their academy, coaching setup, squad hunger, and utilisation of Bevan French.^[2] The Guardian described the 2024 squad as one of the all time greats.^[3]

Preseason friendlies

Date and Time	Versus	H/A	Venue	Result	Score	Tries	Goals	Attendance	Report
20 January; 14:00	Midlands Hurricanes	A	Alexander Stadium	W	24–20	Brown (2), Kerr (2)	Farrimond (4/4)	Unknown	[4]
26 January, 20:00	Wakefield Trinity	A	Belle Vue	A	12–22	Douglas, Farrimond	Hampshire (2/2)	Unknown	[5]
4 February, 14:00	Hull F.C.	A	MKM Stadium	W	40–0	Wardle, Mago, French, Dupree, Douglas, Farrimond, Hampshire	Smith (4/5), Keighran (2/2)	Unknown	[6]

World Club Challenge

See main article: 2024 World Club Challenge.

Super League

See main article: Super League XXIX.

Regular Season

Wigan Warriors claimed the League Leaders' Shield on the final day of the 2024 regular season,^[8] and saw four players make the Super League Dream Team.^[9]

Fixtures

Date and Time	Versus	H/A	Venue	Result	Score	Tries	Goals	Attendance	TV	Pos.	Report
17 February, 17:30	Castleford Tigers	A	The Jungle	W	32–4	Mago, French, Marshall (2), Leeming	Smith (4/5 + 1 pen.), Keighran (pen.)	10,170	BBC Two	2nd	[10]
24 February, 15:00	Leigh Leopards	H	DW Stadium	Postponed due to Wigan's participation in the World Club Challenge
1 March, 20:00	Huddersfield Giants	H	DW Stadium	W	30–16	Marshall (3), French, Dupree	Smith (4/5)	15, 357	Super League+	2nd	[11]
9 March, 15:00	London Broncos	A	Plough Lane	W	60–22	Wardle, Miski, Dupree, Hill (2), O’Neill, Mago, Eckersley, Hampshire, Keighran	Keighran (10/11)	4,116	Super League+	1st	[12]
14 March, 20:00	Salford Red Devils	A	AJ Bell Stadium	W	22–12	Marshall, Miski, Wardle, French	Smith (1/2), Keighran (2/2)	6,087	Sky Sports Arena	2nd	[13]
29 March, 15:00 (Good Friday)	St Helens	A	Totally Wicked Stadium	L	4–12	French	Smith (0/1)	17,980	Sky Sports Main Event	4th	[14]
4 April, 20:00	Leigh Centurions	A	Leigh Sports Village	W	40–12	Miski, Isa, French, Smith, Field, Keighran, Nsemba, Marshall	Smith (4/8)	10,308	Sky Sports Action	3rd	[15]
19 April, 20:00	Castleford Tigers	H	DW Stadium	W	36–14	French, Marshall (2), Hampshire (2), Miski	Keighran (2/2), Smith (4/4)	13,029	Super League+	3rd	[16]
26 April, 20:00	Hull KR	A	Craven Park	L	10–26	Miski, Farrell	Keighran (1/2)	Unknown	Sky Sports Action	4th	[17]
2 May, 20:00	Catalans Dragons	H	DW Stadium	W	30–8	Thompson, Smith, Keighran, Farrell, Miski	Smith (5/5)	14,481	Sky Sports Arena	1st	[18]
11 May, 15:00	Huddersfield Giants	A	Kirklees Stadium	W	48–6	Marshall (3), French (2), Leeming, Miski (2)	Smith (8/9)	Unknown	Super League+	1st	[19]
26 May, 15:00	Salford Red Devils	A	AJ Bell Stadium	W	26–6	Keighran, Nsemba, O’Neill, French	Keighran (5/5)	4,087	Sky Sports Mix	2nd	[20]
1 June, 15:00	Warrington Wolves	A	Halliwell Jones Stadium	W	19–18	Nsemba, Marshall, Leeming	Keighran (3/3) Drop-goals: Smith	12,181	Sky Sports Action	2nd	[21]
14 June, 20:00	Castleford Tigers	A	The Jungle	W	10–8	Marshall (2)	Smith (pen.)	Unknown	Super League+	2nd	[22]
21 June, 20:00	London Broncos	H	DW Stadium	W	36–0	Farrimond (2), Marshall, Miski, Wardle (2)	Farrimond (6/6)	14,280	Super League+	1st	[23]
5 July, 20:00	Leigh Leopards	H	DW Stadium	W	24–8	French (2), Marshall, Farrell	Keighran (4/4 + 0 pen.)	16,053	Super League+	1st	[24]
12 July, 20:00	St Helens	H	DW Stadium	W	16–12	Wardle, Keighran, Eckersley	Smith (2/3)	20,152	Sky Sports Main Event	1st	[25]
20 July, 14:00	Hull F.C.	A	MKM Stadium	L	22–24	Marshall (2), O’Neill, Eckersley	Keighran (3/4)	5,771	Super League+	1st	[26]
26 July, 20:00	Warrington Wolves	H	DW Stadium	L	4–40	Marshall	Harry Smith (0/1)	15,764	Sky Sports Action	3rd	[27]
1 August, 20:00	Huddersfield Giants	H	DW Stadium	W	28–14	Wardle, Hampshire, Field, Eckersley	Keighran (4/4 + 2 pen.)	11,660	Sky Sports Action	2nd	[28]
6 August, 20:00	Leigh Leopards	H	DW Stadium	W	28–6	Nsemba, Wardle, Keighran, Mago, Hill	Keighran (4/5)	13,249	Sky Sports Action	1st	[29]
10 August, 15:00	Leeds Rhinos	A	Headingley	L	4–30	Marshall	Keighran (0/1)	12,459	Sky Sports Action	2nd	[30]
17 August, 17:00 (Magic Weekend)	St Helens	N	Elland Road	W	20–0	Marshall, Farrimond, Walters	Keighran (3/3 + 1 pen.)	30,810	Sky Sports Action	2nd	[31]
25 August, 15:00	Hull F.C.	H	DW Stadium	W	22–4	Douglas, Eckersley, Nsemba, Farrimond	Keighran (3/4)	12,347	BBC Red Button	2nd	[32]
31 August, 20:00 (BST)	Catalans Dragons	A	Stade Gilbert Brutus	W	26–12	Field, Forber, Nsemba, Keighran	Keighran (4/4 + 1 pen.)	Unknown	Sky Sports Action	2nd	[33]
6 September, 20:00	Hull KR	H	DW Stadium	W	24–20	Miski, Nsemba, French, Marshall (2)	Keighran (2/5)	16,719	Sky Sports Main Event	1st	[34]
13 September, 20:00	Leeds Rhinos	H	DW Stadium	W	38–0	Wardle, French (2), Ellis, Marshall, Miski, Keighran	Keighran (5/7)	15,146	Sky Sports +	1st	[35]
19 September, 20:00	Salford Red Devils	H	DW Stadium	W	64–0	Marshall (2), Field (3), French (2), Eckersley, Wardle, Leeming (2)	Keighran (10/11)	15,589	Sky Sports +	1st	[36]

Table

Play-offs

Date and time	Round	Versus	H/A	Venue	Result	Score	Tries	Goals	Attendance	TV	Report
5 October; 17:30	Semi-finals	Leigh Leopards	H	DW Stadium	W	38–0	Marshall (2), Walters (2), French, Field (76′)	Keighran (5/6 + 2 pen.)	20,511	BBC Two	[37]
12 October; 18:00	Grand Final	Hull KR	N	Old Trafford	W	9–2	French	Keighran (1/1 + 1 pen.) Drop-goals: Smith	68,173	Sky Sports Main Event	[38]

Challenge Cup

See main article: 2024 Challenge Cup.

Date and time	Round	Versus	H/A	Venue	Result	Score	Tries	Goals	Attendance	TV	Report
22 March; 20:00	Round 6	Sheffield Eagles	H	DW Stadium	W	44–18	French (3) Marshall (2) Wardle, Leeming, Mago	Smith (6/9)	5,733	Not Televised	[39] [40]
14 April; 15:00	Quarter-finals	Castleford Tigers	A	The Jungle	W	60–6	Marshall (4), O’Neill, French, Keighran, Miski (2), Leeming, Wardle, Dupree	Smith (6/12)	4,097	Not Televised	[41] [42]
18 May; 13:45	Semi-finals	Hull KR	N	Eco-Power Stadium	W	38–6	Wardle (2), Miski (2), Nsemba, Smith, Dupree	Smith (2/5), Keighran (3/3)	11,163	BBC One	[43] [44]
8 June; 15:00	Final	Warrington Wolves	N	Wembley Stadium	W	18–8	Eckersley, French, Farrell	Smith (3/3)	64,845	BBC One	[45] [46]

Transfers

Gains

Player	Club	Contract	Date
	Leeds Rhinos	3 Years	June 2023[47]
	Gold Coast Titans	4 Years	June 2023[48]
	Catalans Dragons	3 Years	June 2023[49]
	Catalans Dragons	2 Years	July 2023[50]
	Canterbury Bulldogs	4 Years	October 2023[51]
Sam Eseh	Wakefield Trinity	2 Years + 1 Year	October 2023[52]

Losses

Player	Club	Contract	Date
			December 2022[53]
	Warrington Wolves	End of Loan	September 2023
	Oldham R.L.F.C.	2 Years	October 2023[54]
	Salford Red Devils		October 2023[55]
Iain Thornley	Wakefield Trinity	2 Years	October 2023[56]
Kieran Tyrer	Oldham R.L.F.C.		October 2023[57]
Morgan Smithies	Canberra Raiders	3 Years	October 2023[58]
Sam Powell	Warrington Wolves	2 Years	November 2023[59]
Joe Shorrocks	Salford Red Devils		November 2023[60]
Ramon Silva	Barrow Raiders		January 2022[61]

Notes and References

1. News: Olawumi. Ben. Ranking every Super League club's average attendance in 2024, with SEVEN clubs under 10,000 mark. 25 September 2024. Love Rugby League. 25 September 2024.
2. News: Wellens. Megan. The Wigan Warriors dynasty: What makes the Super League champions tick?. Sky Sports. 13 October 2024. 13 October 2024.
3. News: Bower . Aaron . Now one of rugby league's greatest sides, what next for Wigan Warriors? . The Guardian . London . 13 October 2024 . 13 October 2024.
4. Web site: Warriors beat Hurricanes in friendly . Wigan Warriors . 20 January 2024 . 23 January 2024.
5. Web site: Fletcher . Charlotte . 26 January 2024 . Warriors pre-season game abandoned . 12 July 2024 . Wigan Warriors . en-GB.
6. Web site: Fletcher . Charlotte . 4 February 2024 . Wigan win at Hull . 12 July 2024 . Wigan Warriors . en-GB.
7. News: 23 February 2024 . World Club Challenge: Wigan edge Penrith in thrilling contest - as it happened . 12 July 2024 . BBC Sport . en-GB.
8. News: Wigan thrash Salford to retain League Leaders' Shield . 19 September 2024. BBC Sport. 22 September 2024.
9. News: Wigan head up Super League Dream Team selections . 22 September 2024. BBC Sport. 22 September 2024.
10. Web site: Fletcher . Charlotte . 2024-02-17 . Warriors win in Round one . 12 July 2024 . Wigan Warriors . en-GB.
11. Web site: Fletcher . Charlotte . 2024-03-01 . Warriors defeat Giants . 12 July 2024 . Wigan Warriors . en-GB.
12. Web site: Fletcher . Charlotte . 2024-03-09 . Warriors win in the Capital . 12 July 2024 . Wigan Warriors . en-GB.
13. Web site: Fletcher . Charlotte . 2024-03-14 . Wigan down the Red Devils . 12 July 2024 . Wigan Warriors . en-GB.
14. Web site: Fletcher . Charlotte . 2024-03-29 . Wigan lose out in the Derby . 12 July 2024 . Wigan Warriors . en-GB.
15. Web site: Fletcher . Charlotte . 2024-04-04 . Wigan win at Leigh . 12 July 2024 . Wigan Warriors . en-GB.
16. Web site: Anderson . Tom . 2024-04-19 . Warriors defeat the Tigers . 12 July 2024 . Wigan Warriors . en-GB.
17. Web site: Fletcher . Charlotte . 2024-04-26 . Warriors lose to Hull KR . 12 July 2024 . Wigan Warriors . en-GB.
18. Web site: Orgill . Harvey . 2024-05-02 . Warriors defeat Dragons . 12 July 2024 . Wigan Warriors . en-GB.
19. Web site: Fletcher . Charlotte . 2024-05-11 . Warriors win against Giants . 12 July 2024 . Wigan Warriors . en-GB.
20. Web site: Fletcher . Charlotte . 2024-05-26 . Warriors defeat Red Devils . 12 July 2024 . Wigan Warriors . en-GB.
21. Web site: Fletcher . Charlotte . 2024-06-01 . Warriors win away at Warrington . 12 July 2024 . Wigan Warriors . en-GB.
22. Web site: Fletcher . Charlotte . 2024-06-14 . Warriors win away at Castleford . 12 July 2024 . Wigan Warriors . en-GB.
23. Web site: Fletcher . Charlotte . 2024-06-21 . Warriors defeat Broncos . 12 July 2024 . Wigan Warriors . en-GB.
24. Web site: Anderson . Tom . 2024-07-05 . Warriors beat Leopards . 12 July 2024 . Wigan Warriors . en-GB.
25. Web site: Warriors win the Derby. Charlotte. Fletcher. 12 July 2024. Wigan Warriors. 13 July 2024.
26. Web site: Warriors beaten by Hull FC. Charlotte. Fletcher. 20 July 2024. Wigan Warriors. 20 July 2024.
27. Web site: Warriors defeated by Wolves. Charlotte. Fletcher. 26 July 2024. Wigan Warriors. 27 July 2024.
28. Web site: Warriors defeat the Giants. Tom. Anderson. 1 August 2024. Wigan Warriors. 1 August 2024.
29. Web site: Warriors defeat the Leopards. Harvey. Orgill. 6 August 2024. Wigan Warriors. 6 August 2024.
30. Web site: Warriors lose at Leeds. Charlotte. Fletcher. 10 August 2024. Wigan Warriors. 11 August 2024.
31. Web site: Warriors win Magic derby. Charlotte. Fletcher. 17 August 2024. Wigan Warriors. 17 August 2024.
32. Web site: Warriors beat Hull FC. Harvey. Orgill. 25 August 2024. Wigan Warriors. 25 August 2024.
33. Web site: Warriors defeat the Dragons. Charlotte. Fletcher. 31 August 2024. Wigan Warriors. 1 September 2024.
34. Web site: Warriors take victory against Hull KR. Harvey. Orgill. 6 September 2024. Wigan Warriors. 7 September 2024.
35. Web site: Warriors defeat the Rhinos. Charlotte. Fletcher. 13 September 2024. Wigan Warriors. 13 September 2024.
36. Web site: Warriors clinch League Leaders' Shield. Charlotte. Fletcher. 19 September 2024. Wigan Warriors. 19 September 2024.
37. Web site: Warriors reach Grand Final. Harvey. Orgill. 5 October 2024. Wigan Warriors. 5 October 2024.
38. Web site: Warriors win the Grand Final. Charlotte. Fletcher. 12 October 2024. Wigan Warriors. 12 October 2024.
39. Web site: Fletcher . Charlotte . 2024-03-22 . Warriors progress in Challenge Cup . 12 July 2024 . Wigan Warriors . en-GB.
40. Web site: 2024-03-22 . Wigan beat Sheffield to avenge famous Wembley loss . 12 July 2024 . BBC Sport . en-GB.
41. Web site: Fletcher . Charlotte . 2024-04-14 . Warriors seal Semi-Final spot . 12 July 2024 . Wigan Warriors . en-GB.
42. Web site: 2024-04-14 . Wigan cruise past Cas into Challenge Cup semis . 12 July 2024 . BBC Sport . en-GB.
43. Web site: Anderson . Tom . 2024-05-18 . Warriors reach Wembley . 12 July 2024 . Wigan Warriors . en-GB.
44. Web site: 2024-05-18 . Challenge Cup - Hull KR 6-38 Wigan: Warriors reach Wembley after semi-final win . 12 July 2024 . BBC Sport . en-gb.
45. Web site: Fletcher . Charlotte . 2024-06-08 . Warriors win Challenge Cup at Wembley . 12 July 2024 . Wigan Warriors . en-GB.
46. Web site: Scott . Ged . 2024-06-08 . Wigan beat Warrington to win Challenge Cup . 12 July 2024 . BBC Sport . en-gb.
47. Web site: Wigan sign Sam Walters from 2024 . Wigan Warriors . 26 June 2023 .
48. Web site: Kruise Leeming joins Wigan from 2024 . Wigan Warriors . 25 June 2023 .
49. Web site: Tiaki Chan joins Wigan from 2024 . Wigan Warriors . 26 June 2023 .
50. Web site: Keighran signs for Wigan . Wigan Warriors . 16 July 2023 .
51. News: Luke Thompson to join Wigan on 4 year deal. BBC Sport. 4 October 2023 .
52. News: Wigan sign Wakefield forward Eseh on two-year deal . en-GB . BBC Sport . 2023-11-13.
53. Web site: Super League duo Kai Pearce-Paul and Will Pryce to join NRL's Newcastle Knights at end of 2023. Sky Sports.
54. Web site: Darbyshire . Drew . 2023-10-19 . Wigan Warriors starlet makes permanent League One move after impressive loan spell . 2023-10-20 . LoveRugbyLeague . en.
55. Web site: 2023-10-25 . Half-back Cust leaves Wigan Warriors . 2023-11-13 . BBC Sport . en-GB.
56. Web site: Iain Thornley joins Wakefield . Wigan Warriors . 25 October 2023 .
57. Web site: Olawumi . Ben . Sean Long's Oldham sign Wigan Warriors starlet as youngster becomes 24th confirmed squad member for 2024 . 27 October 2023 .
58. Web site: Anderson . Tom . 2023-10-31 . Morgan Smithies Leaves Wigan . 2023-11-13 . Wigan Warriors Blog.
59. Web site: Fletcher . Charlotte . 2023-11-10 . Sam Powell leaves Wigan . 2023-11-13 . Wigan Warriors Blog.
60. Web site: Joe Shorrocks leaves Wigan . Wigan Warriors . 20 November 2023 .
61. Web site: McAllister . John . BBC to show World Club Challenge and Super League matches in 2024 - reports . Wigan Today . 12 July 2024.