2021 Wigan Warriors season

The 2021 season will be Wigan Warriors's 41st consecutive season playing in England's top division of rugby league. During the season, they will compete in the Super League XXVI and the 2021 Challenge Cup.

Wigan Warriors 2021 season
Super League XXVI Rank4th
Play-off resultLost in Elimination Playoffs
Challenge CupQuarter-finals
2021 recordWins: 16; draws: 0; losses: 11
Team information
ChairmanIan Lenagan
Head CoachAdrian Lam
Captain
StadiumDW Stadium
High attendance16,390[upper-alpha 1]
Low attendance5,555[upper-alpha 2]
Home colours
Away colours
< 2020 List of seasons 2022 >

Preseason friendlies

On 4 March, Wigan announced a pre-season friendly against Salford Red Devils ahead of the delay start to the Super League.[1]

Date and TimeVersusH/AVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAttendanceReport
14 March, 16:00 Salford Red Devils A AJ Bell Stadium L 6–20 Sam Powell Zak Hardaker Played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [2]

Super League
Main article: Super League XXVI

Regular season

The start of the 2021 Super League season, which ordinarily would have started in late January, was delayed to March due to the continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] On 11 February it was confirmed that match week one would commence on Friday 26 March, with Wigan Warriors facing newly promoted local rivals Leigh Centurions in the second fixture of the round.[4] The full fixture list was announced on 26 February.[5]

Matches

  Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed

  • All fixtures are subject to change
Date and TimeMWVersusH/AVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAttendanceTVReport
26 March, 20:15 1 Leigh Centurions N Emerald Headingley W 20–18 Bibby (2), Hardaker, Bullock Hardaker (2) Played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Sky Sports [6]
1 April, 18:00 2 Wakefield Trinity N Totally Wicked Stadium W 34–6 Partington, Bibby (3), Hardaker, Bateman Hardaker (5) Sky Sports [7]
15 April, 19:45 3 Leeds Rhinos A Emerald Headingley W 19–6 Farrell (2), Hardaker, Hastings Hardaker
Drop-goals: Hardaker		 Sky Sports [8]
22 April, 18:00 4 Castleford Tigers H DW Stadium W 22–12 Hardaker, French (2), Powell Hardaker (3) Our League [9]
29 April, 19:45 5 Hull F.C. H DW Stadium W 16–14 Hastings, Farrell, Bibby Hardaker (2) Sky Sports [10]
17 May, 19:45 6 Leigh Centurions A Leigh Sports Village W 30–16 Smith, Manfredi, French, Farrell, Bibby (2) Smith (3) ~4,000[upper-alpha 3] Our League [11]
22 May, 13:00 7 Salford Red Devils A AJ Bell Stadium W 17–16 Singleton (2), Farrell Smith (2)
Drop-goals: Hastings		 ~4,000[upper-alpha 3] [12]
29 May, 17:00 8 Catalans Dragons A Stade Gilbert Brutus L 0–48 1,000[upper-alpha 4] Sky Sports [13]
11 June, 19:45 9 Huddersfield Giants A Kirklees Stadium Postponed due to positive COVID-19 cases within the Huddersfield squad.[14]
18 June, 19:45 10 Hull KR H DW Stadium L 8–18 Gildart (2) ~4,000[upper-alpha 3] [15]
24 June, 19:45 11 Wakefield Trinity A Mobile Rocket Stadium L 6–14 Hanley Smith ~4,000[upper-alpha 3] [16]
30 June, 19:45 12 Warrington Wolves H DW Stadium L 14–40 Powell, Isa, Gildart Smith ~4,000[upper-alpha 3] Sky Sports [17]
4 July, 19:30 13 St Helens A Totally Wicked Stadium L 6–24 Farrell Smith ~4,000[upper-alpha 3] Sky Sports [18]
11 July, 15:00 14 Huddersfield Giants H DW Stadium W 16–12 Marshall, Clark, Smith Smith (2) ~4,000[upper-alpha 3] [19]
16 July, 19:45 9 Huddersfield Giants A Kirklees Stadium W 14–12 Clark, Farrell Smith (3) ~4,000[upper-alpha 3] [20]
23 July, 19:45 15 Wakefield Trinity H DW Stadium W 25–12 Bibby (3), Shorrocks, Marshall Smith (2)
Drop-goals: Hastings		 5,555 [21]
28 July, 19:45 16 Warrington Wolves A Halliwell Jones Stadium L 8–21 Marshall (2) 8,014 Sky Sports [22]
1 August, 15:00 17 Leigh Centurions H DW Stadium W 50–6 Leuluai, Hanley (3), Farrell (2), Halsall, Shorrocks, Hastings Smith (7) 9,206 [23]
6 August, 19:45 18 Salford Red Devils H DW Stadium W 16–6 Halsall, Powell Smith (4) 9,431 [24]
13 August, 19:45 19 Hull KR A Hull College Craven Park L 14–26 Marshall, Bibby (2) Smith 6,230 Sky Sports [25]
20 August, 19:45 20 St Helens H DW Stadium L 2–26 Smith 16,390 Sky Sports [26]
25 August, 19:45 21 Leeds Rhinos H DW Stadium L 0–14 11,390 Sky Sports [27]
30 August, 17:00 22 Castleford Tigers A Mend-A-Hose Jungle W 22–0 Hastings, Marshall, Gildart, Singleton Smith (3) Sky Sports [28]
5 September, 15:15 23 Warrington Wolves N St James' Park L 6–10 Havard Smith 25,762 Sky Sports [29]
10 September, 15:00 24 Hull F.C. A KCOM Stadium W 10–0 Bibby, Hardaker Hardaker [30]
17 September, 19:45 25 Catalans Dragons H DW Stadium W 12–8 Isa, McDonnell Hardaker (2) 12,852 [31]

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PP Pts PCT Qualification[lower-alpha 1]
1 Catalans Dragons (L) 23 19 0 4 688 398 172.9 38 82.61 Semi-final
2 St. Helens (C) 21 16 0 5 548 229 239.3 32 76.19
3 Warrington Wolves 21 15 1 5 588 354 166.1 31 73.81 Elimination Semi-finals
4 Wigan Warriors 25 15 0 10 387 385 100.5 30 60.00
5 Leeds Rhinos 24 13 0 11 556 440 126.4 26 54.17
6 Hull Kingston Rovers 20 10 0 10 497 458 108.5 20 50.00
7 Castleford Tigers 23 11 0 12 437 552 79.2 22 47.83
8 Hull FC 21 8 1 12 409 476 85.9 17 40.48
9 Huddersfield Giants 24 9 0 15 460 516 89.1 18 37.50
10 Wakefield Trinity 24 9 0 15 482 548 88.0 18 37.50
11 Salford Red Devils 22 7 0 15 402 584 68.8 14 31.82
12 Leigh Centurions (R) 22 2 0 20 356 870 40.9 4 9.09 Relegated to the Championship
Source:
Rules for classification: 1) win percentage; 2) points scored percentage (points scored divided by points conceded).
(C) Champions; (L) League Leaders' Shield Winners; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. Teams must have played at least 70% of scheduled fixtures to qualify for the play-offs.

Play-offs
Main article: Super League XXVI § Play-offs
Date and TimeRoundVersusH/AVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAttendanceTVReport
23 September, 19:45 Elimination Play-off Leeds Rhinos H DW Stadium L 0–8 7,396 Sky Sports [32]

Challenge Cup
Main article: 2021 Challenge Cup
Date and TimeRoundVersusH/A/NVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAttendanceTVReport
9 April, 19:45 Round 3[upper-alpha 5] York City Knights A York Community Stadium W 26–0 Hardaker, Smith, Halsall, Hanley, Clubb Hardaker (3) Played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Sportsman [33]
8 May, 14:30 Quarter Finals Hull F.C. N Emerald Headingley L 10–20 Bibby, Manfredi Smith BBC Two [34]

Transfers

Gains
PlayerClubContractDate
England John Bateman Canberra Raiders4 YearsJuly 2020[35]
Australia Jai Field Parramatta Eels2 YearsNovember 2020[36]

Losses
PlayerClubContractDate
England Sean O'Loughlin Retired November 2020[37]
England Craig Mullen Leigh Centurions 1 Year November 2020[38]
Wales Ben Flower December 2020[39]
England Joe Burgess Salford Red Devils 3 years December 2020[40]
England Jack Wells December 2020[41]
England Jake Shorrocks Newcastle Thunder December 2020[42]
England Nathan Wilde December 2020[43]
England Max Roberts Oldham Roughyeds December 2020[44]
England James Barran
England Joe Greenwood Huddersfield Giants 2 years December 2020[45]
England Chris Hankinson London Broncos 1 Year Loan December 2020[46]
England George Burgess Released February 2021[47]

Squad
2021 Wigan Warriors Squad
First team squad Coaching staff

Head coach

Assistant coaches

Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice captain(s)
  • Injured
  • GK = Goal Kicker

Updated: 7 December 2020
Source(s): 2021 Squad Numbers

Notes
  1. Home attendances only
  2. Home attendances only; does not include limited capacity or behind closed doors games due to the COVID-19 pandemic
  3. Limited to one quarter capacity or 4,000 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
  4. Capacity capped at 1,000 due to differences in COVID-19 regulation in France
  5. Equivalent of the tournament's usual Round 6. The structure of the competition was temporarily altered for 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

References
  1. "Wigan Warriors confirm pre-season friendly". www.wigantoday.net. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
  2. "A great run out for the lads today, but it's the home side who take the win". www.instagram.com. Archived from the original on 2021-12-24. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  3. "Super League season faces delayed start". 11 January 2021.
  4. "Super League 2021: Round 1 fixtures confirmed, all six matches live on Sky Sports".
  5. "2021 fixtures announced - Wigan Warriors". 26 February 2021.
  6. "Leigh 18-20 Wigan: Warriors rally to deny Centurions a dream Super League return". Sky Sports.
  7. "Wigan 34-6 Wakefield: Warriors power pass Trinity in Super League". Sky Sports.
  8. "Leeds 6-19 Wigan: Liam Farrell double helps Warriors spoil Kyle Eastmond's rugby league return".
  9. "Wigan 22-12 Castleford: Bevan French double helps Warriors to victory".
  10. "Super League: Wigan Warriors maintain unbeaten record with 16-14 win over Hull FC".
  11. "Super League: Bevan French inspires Wigan Warriors' 30-16 comeback win over Leigh Centurions".
  12. "Super League: Jackson Hastings' drop goal seals 17-16 win for Wigan Warriors over Salford Red Devils".
  13. "Catalans Dragons 48-0 Wigan Warriors: Dragons destroy previously unbeaten Super League visitors".
  14. "Huddersfield vs Wigan Warriors postponed after seven Giants players test positive for Covid-19". Sky Sports.
  15. "Wigan Warriors 8-18 Hull KR: Rovers shock Warriors to claim Super League victory".
  16. "Wakefield 14-6 Wigan: Weakened Warriors fall to third successive loss". Sky Sports.
  17. "Wigan 14-40 Warrington: Jake Mamo stars as Wolves see off Warriors".
  18. "Super League: Lachlan Coote helps St Helens seal 24-6 derby win over Wigan Warriors". Sky Sports.
  19. "Wigan Warriors 16-12 Huddersfield Giants: Hosts rally from 12-0 behind to claim Super League win". Sky Sports.
  20. "Huddersfield 12-14 Wigan: Warriors claim second win in six days over Giants in fiery clash". Sky Sports.
  21. "Super League: Jackson Hastings masterclass sets up Wigan Warriors for 25-12 win over Wakefield Trinity". Sky Sports.
  22. "Super League: Warrington Wolves return to action with 21-8 derby win over Wigan Warriors".
  23. "Wigan Warriors 50-6 Leigh Centurions: Hosts claim Super League win after double red card".
  24. "Wigan 16-6 Salford: Warriors make it four wins out of five in Super League".
  25. "Super League: Hull Kingston Rovers' rise continues with win over Wigan Warriors".
  26. "Wigan 2-26 St Helens: Saints claim a fiery derby win against Warriors". Sky Sports.
  27. "Super League: Leeds Rhinos boost play-off hopes with 14-0 win away to Wigan Warriors".
  28. "Super League: Wigan Warriors back to winning ways with 22-0 victory over Castleford Tigers".
  29. "Wigan 6-10 Warrington: Wolves edge Warriors at Magic Weekend".
  30. "Hull 0-10 Wigan: Warriors seal fourth spot in Super League with win over Hull FC".
  31. "Wigan Warriors 12-8 Catalans Dragons: Wigan gain confidence boost ahead of Super League play-offs". Sky Sports.
  32. "Super League play-offs 2021: Leeds Rhinos edge out Wigan Warriors 8-0 to book semis spot".
  33. "Wigan shut out York in Challenge Cup win". BBC Sport.
  34. "Hull beat Wigan to reach semi-finals". BBC Sport.
  35. "Bateman rejoins Wigan". BBC Sport.
  36. "Jai Field joins Wigan". 9 November 2020.
  37. "Sean O'Loughlin: Wigan Warriors legend to retire after 10 trophies in 19 years". BBC Sport. 13 November 2020.
  38. Darbyshire, Drew (18 November 2020). "Leigh land promising utility Craig Mullen on permanent deal from Wigan". Love Rugby League.
  39. "Ben Flower joins Leigh Centurions". www.rugby-league.com.
  40. Darbyshire, Drew (4 December 2020). "Salford confirm capture of Joe Burgess". Love Rugby League.
  41. Darbyshire, Drew (16 December 2020). "Salford announce signing of Jack Wells". Love Rugby League.
  42. "Newcastle bring in Jake Shorrocks from Wigan". Love Rugby League. 22 December 2020.
  43. Darbyshire, Drew (26 November 2020). "Newcastle sign Wigan youngster as Thunder retain homegrown duo". Love Rugby League.
  44. "A Second Young Warrior Joins Roughyeds". roughyeds.co.uk. 20 October 2020.
  45. Darbyshire, Drew (10 December 2020). "Huddersfield sign forward Joe Greenwood from Wigan". Love Rugby League.
  46. "Chris Hankinson heads to London on loan". www.rugby-league.com.
  47. "Burgess leaves Warriors". www.superleague.co.uk.
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