2025 could hardly have gone better for Wigan Warriors — claiming all three major trophies and adding to that with the retention of the Nines won in 2024.

At times Denis Betts’ charges looked faultless, only slipping up in the defeat against York in August and dropping another point in a 22-all draw with St Helens.

The task now will be how to grow from that and get better.

Betts has lost some experience through the retirement of Vicky Molyneux, while Aussie duo Shaniah Power and Emily Veivers have both returned home. But that has been replaced by the signings of Bethan Dainton from Leeds Rhinos and former York Valkyrie and England star Kelsey Gentles, who finished last year with Huddersfield Giants. They have also been boosted by the return of Beri Salihi, who will face a tough battle with Grace Banks for the full-back slot.

Last year’s youthful squad played with a level of fearlessness, but this Warriors team have a target on their heads now as everyone will be looking to get one over the reigning champions. That will see a different sort of pressure on the players and how they react, and respond, to that pressure could have a big say in how the season pans out for them.

ONE TO WATCH…

ALL eyes will be on Eva Hunter — last year’s joint top try-scorer and Woman of Steel — to see if she can do it all again and maybe even more. All season Hunter was a prominent figure in Wigan’s forward pack, and as tough as her defensive play was, her try-scoring was just as important. She created a new club record by scoring in 13 consecutive games — beating the previous record of 11 held jointly by Steve Ella, Martin Offiah and Sam Tomkins. If she can remain in that form once again, Wigan could prove unstoppable.

COACH’S CORNER with England head coach Stuart Barrow

THE Wigan youngsters are all another year older and they’ll be a lot more experienced for their exploits last season, so they are going to be the team to beat again this year.

But they won’t get complacent and I am sure that Denis Betts will keep them hungry for more because once you’ve tasted success, you want more of it.

The challenge they’ll have this year is they’ll have a target on their back from game one — everyone will be trying to chase Wigan down, but that’s the challenge for all the other teams in the competition to rise to.

Each individual will be driving their own standards to keep improving to make sure they taste success again.

Squad: 1 Grace Banks, 2 Anna Davies, 3 Georgia Wilson, 4 Molly Jones, 5 Ellise Derbyshire, 6 Jenna Foubister, 7 Isabel Rowe, 8 Mary Coleman, 9 Carys Marsh, 10 Mia Atherton, 11 Eva Hunter, 12 Cerys Jones, 13 Megan Williams, 14 Rachel Thompson, 15 Bethan Dainton, 16 Beri Salihi, 17 Kelsey Gentles, 19 Remi Wilton, 20 Lucie Sams, 21 Jade Gregory-Haselden, 22 Ruby Hunter, 23 Charlotte Meredith

RLW predicts: 1st

First published in Rugby League World magazine, Issue 520 (May 2026)