WIGAN WARRIORS’ coach Denis Betts was delighted by the performance of his whole squad in Saturday’s 54-6 Women’s Challenge Cup victory over St Helens at Wembley, but two of its stars came in for special praise from the veteran coach.
Reigning Woman of Steel Eva Hunter showed her credentials to retain the title with a record-equalling four tries, while halfback, and the game’s official player of the match, Jenna Foubister, had a crucial hand in all four of those scores.
Previous players to have scored four tries in a Challenge Cup Final are Tara Jane Stanley (in 2016) and Claire McGinnis (2013) while representing Thatto Heath Crusaders, but Hunter stands alone in doing it at Wembley.
For Betts, that partnership between Hunter and Foubister highlights the close bond across his whole squad.
“Eva’s brilliant, she’s just this ball of energy,” said Betts.
“Looking from the outside, she seems quiet and reserved, but among the group she’s funny and talkative. For others she does her talking with the ball in hand and she’s great to coach. I just let her be herself, but Jenna plays a big part in that too.
“Jenna is great with her, they work well together down that edge and Jenna puts Eva where she wants to be, and that’s why Jenna’s Player of the Match is a just reward for all that.
“Eva definitely knows what she wants and she won’t be giving up that Woman of Steel prize easily, and she didn’t take a backwards step in the final.
“I knew we were on to a good thing early on when Paige Travis tried to intimidate Eva when she dropped a ball, but she just got up with a big smile on her face, and as soon as you see that with Eva, you know she will not lie down and the opposition are in trouble.”