WIGAN WARRIORS 38 LEEDS RHINOS 0
SAM BROCKSOM, The Brick Community Stadium, Sunday
WIGAN will meet St Helens in the Women’s Super League Grand Final after a near-perfect performance against Leeds.
After taking the win on all three previous meetings between the sides in 2025, it was the Warriors who once again started the strongest in this semi-final.
However, the home side were rocked on the opening play, with captain Vicky Molyneux picking up an injury in the first carry of the game.
Warriors prop Mary Coleman opened the scoring after just four minutes, as she forced herself over from close range, and Isabel Rowe added the first of five successful conversions.
Wigan’s early dominance paid off again as both Ruby and Eva Hunter managed to extend the Warriors’ lead to 16 points.
First, winger Ruby finished off a well-worked move down the blindside. The ball travelled quickly through the hands of Remi Wilton, Grace Banks and Molly Jones before finding its way to Hunter to dive over in the corner.
As the 20-minute mark approached, Wigan’s top try-scorer Eva crossed for her 25th of the season in all competitions, using immense strength and speed to break through multiple tackles and score. Rowe managed to convert the latter of the two Hunter tries, in what would be the final points of the half.
Depsite no further points being added, the half still had plenty of action to offer. Leeds’ two biggest chances came next, but they couldn’t find the line with Wigan’s defence proving excellent.
Mel Howard tried a kick in behind to Ruby Walker, after finding success with the same play the previous week, but fullback Banks was there to collect. Later, both Bella Sykes and the returning Bethan Dainton went close, but were called short on both occasions.
The Rhinos’ evening went from bad to worse as minutes before the first half came to a close, captain Caitlin Beevers went down with a knee injury. The 23-year-old has recently returned from 13 months out of the game due to a knee problem.
It took just three minutes for the Warriors to extend their 16-0 half-time lead. Much like their opening try, it was another crash play that Leeds couldn’t defend. This time, Mia Atherton was the scorer, as she crossed for her tenth try in all competitions.
Increasing the lead to 26, Coleman added her second of the evening with another strong carry. Halves Jenna Foubister and Rowe linked up once again as they sent the prop over for a double.
The Rhinos’ attacking opportunities came far too late, but regardless, Wigan produced one of their best defensive displays of the season, as they refused to let the Rhinos cross. Walker tried another kick in behind, whilst Dainton and Liv Whitehead came so close but their was no let-up from the resilient Warriors.
Eva Hunter’s second and a try from Shaniah Power, both short-range plays, saw out the game, with the Warriors forward pack being utterly dominant.
Rowe added both conversions for the final two tries, as Wigan remain on track to win all four trophies available to them in 2025 after lifting the Challenge Cup, Nines and League Leaders’ Shield titles.
GAMESTAR: Mary Coleman was one of many Warriors players that were deserving of best player, as they utterly dismantled the Rhinos.
GAMEBREAKER: Mia Atherton’s try four minutes into the second half gave Leeds no chance of a comeback, as Wigan continued their dominance from the first period.
MATCHFACTS
WARRIORS
1 Grace Banks
2 Anna Davies
3 Georgia Wilson
4 Molly Jones
24 Ruby Hunter
6 Jenna Foubister
7 Isabel Rowe
8 Mary Coleman
19 Remi Wilton
12 Vicky Molyneux
11 Eva Hunter
15 Cerys Jones
13 Megan Williams
Subs (all used)
9 Carys Marsh
10 Shaniah Power
17 Emily Vievers
22 Mia Atherton
Tries: Coleman (4, 52), R Hunter (13) E Hunter (19, 65), Atherton (43), S Power (70)
Goals: Rowe 5/7
RHINOS
2 Ebony Stead
18 Liv Whitehead
3 Caitlin Beevers
22 Connie Boyd
5 Sophie Nuttall
6 Mel Howard
7 Ruby Walker
8 Bella Sykes
14 Ruby Bruce
15 Ella Donnelly
11 Lucy Murray
12 Shannon Brown
13 Bethan Dainton
Subs (all used)
9 Keara Bennett
23 Frankie Blakey
16 Kaiya Glynn
25 Lacey Owen
SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 10-0, 16-0; 22-0, 26-0, 32-0, 38-0
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Women of the Match
Warriors: Mary Coleman; Rhinos: Ruby Bruce
Penalty count: 5-7
Half-time: 16-0
Referee: Tara Jones
Attendance: 2,108