IF 2024 was the year Wigan Warriors became serious challengers in Super League, then 2025 could be the year they become serious competitors.
The team made giant strides under club legend Denis Betts last season – picking up a trophy in the Nines competition and celebrating a first win over a top three side by beating York Valkyrie.
Betts put his trust in a number of academy products, with players such as Izzy Rowe and Jenna Foubister becoming established first team players – with both also enjoying time in the England set-up on the back of their performances.
Those younger players will now be even better for getting a year of senior experience under their belts, and will be aided further by Betts’ international signings with Papua New Guinea star Emily Veivers and former NRLW and State of Origin forward Shaniah Power among the new arrivals.
Remi Wilton, who was part of the York Valkyrie squad that won last year’s Grand Final has also joined as Betts’ smart recruitment could bring a major trophy to the Brick Community Stadium.
Watch out for… Anna Davies finished last season with 27 tries in 20 competitive games for Wigan and another seven for England in two internationals, cementing her role as one of the fiercest strike players in the competition. Starting last season as a centre but later moving to the wing Davies’ pace beat many an opposition outside back and Betts will be looking for more of the same from her this campaign. If this can then be complimented by a stronger, more powerful and more experienced pack this season, then the club really could be celebrating in 2025.
Isabel Rowe says… Before last season I hadn’t played any open age or Super League rugby before so I didn’t really know what to expect, but this year I know what it’s like, I know how physical it is and in the off season I have improved and put a bit of strength on. There were a few other girls in a similar situation to me, so we used last year as a foundation builder and we’re more confident for that season. We’re looking really sharp in training, we’ve advanced our skills and got more technical so we’re really looking good as a group. I wasn’t involved for the whole of pre-season last year, but you can tell that Denis is also a lot more prepared for this year, he’s more familiar with the competition and us as players, so this pre-season has been very consistent it what we’ve been doing and hopefully that will show on the field.
2025 squad:1 Grace Banks, 2 Anna Davies, 3 Georgia Wilson, 4 Molly Jones, 5 Ellise Derbyshire, 6 Jenna Foubster, 7 Isabel Rowe, 8 Mary Coleman, 9 Carys Marsh, 10 Shaniah Power, 11 Eva Hunter, 12 Vicky Molyneux, 13 Megan Williams, 14 Rachel Thompson, 15 Cerys Jones, 16 Rease Casey, 17 Emily Veivers, 19 Remi Wilton, 20 Holly Speakman, 21 Jade Gregory-Haselden, 22 Mia-Jayne Atherton, 23 Kaitlin Hilton, 24 Ruby Hunter, 25 Gracie Bradshaw, 26 Tiana Power
Rugby League World predicts: 3rd
First published in Rugby League World magazine, Issue 508 (May 2025)