LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
In a highly anticipated matchup at Wembley, Wigan triumphed over St Helens with a dominant 42-6 victory in the Challenge Cup final, effectively ending St Helens' four-year reign as champions.
Wigan showcased a stellar performance, with tries scored by Megan Williams, Mary Coleman, Isabel Rowe, Eva Hunter, Grace Banks, Anna Davies, and Emily Veivers, marking their first Challenge Cup win.
The victory highlights Wigan's ascendancy in the Women's Super League this season, posing a challenging question for the previous champions about how to counter their rivals.
Saints co-head coach Derek Hardman acknowledged Wigan's impressive display but expressed frustration over the "disrespectful" narrative surrounding pre-match expectations.
Hardman emphasized, "What we've achieved is massive and we're not chasing anybody," underscoring his team's achievements despite the loss.
He lamented a missed opportunity to build on their early second-half try and commented on the need to refocus and prepare for future challenges.