2023 Wigan Warriors season

The 2023 season was the Wigan Warriors's 43rd consecutive season playing in England's top division of rugby league. During the season, they competed in the Super League XXVIII and the 2023 Challenge Cup.

Wigan Warriors 2023 season
Super League XXIII champions
Super League XXVIII Rank1st
Play-off resultChampions
Challenge CupSemi finals
2023 recordWins: 24; losses: 8
Points scoredFor: 762; against: 360
Team information
ChairmanIan Lenagan
Head CoachMatt Peet
Captain
StadiumDW Stadium
Avg. attendance13,586
Agg. attendance175,462
High attendance24,275
Low attendance11,451
Top scorers
TriesAbbas Miski (28)
GoalsHarry Smith (85)
PointsHarry Smith (184)
Home colours
Away colours
< 2022 List of seasons 2024 >

Infobox statistics are correct for all regular season league matches

Preseason friendlies
Date and TimeVersusH/AVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAttendanceReport
22 January, 15:00 Whitehaven A Recreation Ground W 22–14 Douglas, Astley (2), Sutton Eckersley (3/4) [1]
29 January, 15:00 Barrow Raiders A Craven Park L 14–26 Miski (2), Forber Eckersley (1/3)
5 February, 15:00 Salford Red Devils
(Sam Powell Testimonial)		 H DW Stadium W 32–4 French (2), Miski (2), Pearce-Paul, Field Smith (4/6)

Super League
Main article: Super League XXVIII

Fixtures
  • All fixtures subject to change
Date and timeVersusH/AVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAttendanceTVPositionReport
18 February, 13:00 Hull KR A Craven Park L 18–27 Marshall, Field, Pearce-Paul, Wardle Smith (1/4) 10,029 Channel 4 9th [2]
24 February, 20:00 Wakefield Trinity H DW Stadium W 60–0 French (2), Marshall (4), Farrell, Field, Powell, Smith, Cust Smith (8/11) 12,306 Not televised 5th [3]
3 March, 20:00 Castleford Tigers A Wheldon Road W 36–0 Marshall (3), Havard, King, Field Smith (4/6) + 2 pen.) 7,565 Not televised 3rd [4]
9 March, 20:00 Catalans Dragons H DW Stadium L 10–18 Smith Smith (1/1 + 2 pen.) 11,451 Sky Sports 3rd [5]
17 March, 19:45 Huddersfield Giants A Kirklees Stadium W 14–12 French (2), Wardle Smith (1/3) 5,777 Not televised 3rd [6]
24 March, 20:00 Salford Red Devils H DW Stadium W 20–16 French (2), King Smith (3/3 + 1 pen.) 11,492 Sky Sports 3rd [7]
30 March, 20:00 Leigh Leopards A Leigh Sports Village W 34–6 French, Field (2), Wardle, Miski (2), King Smith (3/7) 9,189 Sky Sports 3rd [8]
7 April, 15:00 St Helens H DW Stadium W 14–6 Smith, King Smith (2/2 + 1 pen.) 24,275[lower-alpha 1] Sky Sports 2nd [12]
14 April, 20:00 Warrington Wolves A Halliwell Jones Stadium W 13–6 Wardle, O'Neill Smith (1/2 + 1 pen.)
Drop-goals: Smith		 15,026 Sky Sports 2nd [13]
23 April, 15:00 Wakefield Trinity H DW Stadium W 22–6 Marshall, Miski, Havard, French Smith (3/4) 12,240 Not televised 1st [14]
4 May, 20:00 Hull F.C. A MKM Stadium L 10–14 Thornley (2) Smith (1/2) 10,251 Sky Sports 2nd [15]
12 May, 20:00 Leeds Rhinos H DW Stadium L 18–40 Miski, French, Thornley Smith (2/3 + 1 pen.) 12,167 Sky Sports 2nd [16]
25 May, 20:00 Hull KR A Craven Park W 26–22
(g.p.)		 Farrell (3), Marshall (2), Miski Smith (1/6) Not recorded Sky Sports 2nd [17]
3 June, 15:45 Catalans Dragons N St James' Park L 22–46 Wardle, French, Miski, Marshall, Smithies Smith (0/5 + 1 pen.) 36,943 Sky Sports 3rd [18]
9 June, 20:00 St Helens A Totally Wicked Stadium L 16–34 Field, French, Miski Smith (2/3) 16,272 Sky Sports 6th [19]
25 June, 15:00 Salford Red Devils A AJ Bell Stadium W 26–6 Shorrocks, Farrell (2), Miski, Marshall Smith (3/5) 7,854 Not televised 3rd [20]
30 June, 20:00 Huddersfield Giants H DW Stadium W 22–6 Miski (2), Field, Marshall Smith (3/4) 13,464 Not televised 3rd [21]
7 July, 19:45 Wakefield Trinity A Belle Vue L 26–27
(g.p.)		 Field (2), French, Marshall, King Smith (3/5) 4,185 Not televised 4th [22]
14 July, 20:00 Warrington Wolves H DW Stadium W 26–12 Marshall, French, Wardle, Farrell Smith (4/4 + 1 pen.) 13,105 Sky Sports 3rd [23]
29 July, 13:00 Leigh Leopards H DW Stadium W 44–18 French (2), King, Dupree, Miski (3), Marshall Smith (6/8) 15,377 Channel 4 2nd [24][25]
4 August, 20:00 Hull KR H DW Stadium W 64–6 Miski (4), Wardle, King, Smith, Mago, Field (3), Marshall Smith (8/12) 11,464 Not televised 2nd [26][27]
18 August, 20:00 Hull FC H DW Stadium W 13–12
(g.p.)		 Marshall, King, Wardle Smith (0/3)
Drop-goals: Smith		 12,107 Not televised 2nd [28][29]
26 August, 18:00 Catalans Dragons A Stade Gilbert Brutus W 34–0 Miski (3), King, French, Wardle Smith (4/5) 10,614 Sky Sports 2nd [30][31]
1 September, 20:00 Salford Red Devils H DW Stadium W 26–8 Farrell, Miski, Wardle, Field, King Smith (3/5) 12,905 Sky Sports 1st [32]
9 September, 14:45 Leeds Rhinos A Headingley W 50–0 Wardle (3), Field, Marshall, Pearce-Paul, Miski, Farrell, Mago Smith (7/9) 12,861 Sky Sports 1st [33]
15 September, 20:00 Castleford Tigers H DW Stadium W 48–6 Miski (5), Wardle, Powell, Pearce-Paul, Field, French Smith (1/5), Hampshire (3/5) 13,109 Not televised 1st [34]
22 September, 20:00 Leigh Leopards A Leigh Sports Village W 10–6 Field, Wardle Smith (1/2) 10,308 Sky Sports 1st [35]

Table
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 Wigan Warriors (L, C) 27 20 0 7 722 360 +362 40 Qualification to Semi-finals
2 Catalans Dragons 27 20 0 7 722 420 +302 40
3 St. Helens 27 20 0 7 613 366 +247 40 Qualification to Eliminators
4 Hull KR 27 16 0 11 589 498 +91 32
5 Leigh Leopards 27 16 0 11 585 508 +77 32
6 Warrington Wolves 27 14 0 13 597 512 +85 28
7 Salford Red Devils 27 13 0 14 494 512 −18 26
8 Leeds Rhinos 27 12 0 15 535 534 +1 24
9 Huddersfield Giants 27 11 0 16 473 552 −79 22
10 Hull FC 27 10 0 17 476 654 −178 20
11 Castleford Tigers 27 6 0 21 323 774 −451 12
12 Wakefield Trinity (R) 27 4 0 23 303 742 −439 8 Relegation to Championship
Source: Super League
(C) Champions; (L) League Leaders' Shield Winners; (R) Relegated

Play-offs
Date and timeRoundVersusH/AVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAttendanceTVReport
7 October, 12:45 Semi-final Hull KR H DW Stadium W 42–12 Marshall (3), Field (2), King, Miski Smith (7/7) 15,162 Sky Sports and Channel 4 [36]
14 October, 18:00 Grand Final Catalans Dragons N Old Trafford W 10–2 Marshall Smith (1/1 + 2 pen.) 58,137 Sky Sports [37]

Challenge Cup
Main article: 2023 Challenge Cup
Date and timeRoundVersusH/AVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAttendanceTVReport
20 May, 14:30 Round 6 Leeds Rhinos A Headingley W 18–14 French (2), Nsemba, Wardle Smith (1/4) 7,103 BBC One[38] [39]
18 June, 14:30 Quarter Finals Warrington Wolves H DW Stadium W 14–12 King, Miski Smith (2/2 + 1 pen.) 9,302 BBC One[40] [41]
23 July, 17:00 Semi Finals Hull KR N Headingley L 10–11
(GP)		 Field Smith (1/1 + 1 pen.) 10,926 BBC Two[42] [43]

Transfers

Gains
PlayerClubContractDate
Ireland Toby King Warrington Wolves 1 Year Loan August 2022[44]
England Jake Wardle Huddersfield Giants 3 Years October 2022[45]
England Ryan Hampshire Castleford Tigers 1 Year + 2 Years January 2023[46]

Losses
PlayerClubContractDate
New Zealand Thomas LeuluaiRetired[lower-alpha 2]N/A August 2022[47]
England Oliver Partington Salford Red Devils2 years September 2022[48]
England Jake Bibby Huddersfield Giants3 years September 2022[49]
England Jack Bibby October 2022[50]
England Sam Halsall
England John Bateman Wests Tigers December 2022[51]
England Umyla Hanley Leigh Leopards1 Year trial January 2023 [52]
Ireland Brad Singleton Salford Red DevilsJuly 2023

Squad
2023 Wigan Warriors Squad
First team squad Coaching staff

Head coach

Assistant coaches

Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice captain(s)
  • (gk) = Goal kicker

Updated: 27 December 2022
Source(s):

Notes
  1. Largest home attendance since the 2005 Good Friday Derby[9][10] Also largest attendance of the 2023 Super League regular season.[11]
  2. Leuluai went on to play the warm up games for New Zealand ahead of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup following his final game for Wigan. He then became an assistant coach for Wigan Warriors and his national side.

References
  1. Fletcher, Charlotte (January 22, 2023). "Youthful Warriors win at Whitehaven - Wigan Warriors".
  2. "Super League: Shaun Kenny-Dowall treble leads Hull Kingston Rovers to 27-18 win over Warriors". Sky Sports.
  3. "Wigan crush Wakefield 60-0 for first win of season" – via www.bbc.com.
  4. "Wigan Warriors sweep aside scoreless Castleford" – via www.bbc.com.
  5. "Super League: Catalans Dragons go top as Manu Ma'u double seals 18-10 victory over Wigan Warriors". Sky Sports.
  6. "Super League: Huddersfield Giants 12-14 Wigan Warriors; Warrington Wolves 38-20 Leigh Leopards". Sky Sports.
  7. "Super League: Bevan French and Toby King help Wigan Warriors see off Salford Red Devils 20-16 in thriller". Sky Sports.
  8. "Super League: Wigan Warriors emerge 34-6 winners over Leigh Leopards in 'Battle of the Borough'". Sky Sports.
  9. Fletcher, Charlotte (April 7, 2023). "Biggest home attendance in 18-years - Wigan Warriors".
  10. "Wigan Warriors announce their highest attendance at the DW Stadium since 2005".
  11. https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/ranked-every-super-league-clubs-average-attendance-in-2023-as-crowds-rise-with-records-aplenty-broken
  12. "Wigan Warriors 14-6 St Helens: Hosts seal Good Friday derby glory over Saints to go second in Super League". Sky Sports.
  13. "Warrington Wolves 6-13 Wigan Warriors: Harry Smith stars as visitors hand hosts first loss in Super League in 2023". Sky Sports.
  14. "Wigan beat Wakefield to go top of Super League" – via www.bbc.com.
  15. "Hull FC 14-10 Wigan Warriors: Hosts battle past Super League leaders to make it back-to-back wins". Sky Sports.
  16. "Wigan Warriors 18-40 Leeds Rhinos: Harry Newman inspires 12-player visitors to stunning win". Sky Sports.
  17. "Hull KR 22-26 Wigan Warriors: Liam Farrell snatches golden-point glory for visitors in Super League thriller". Sky Sports.
  18. "Wigan Warriors 22-46 Catalans Dragons: Tom Johnstone's hat-trick helps French side cruise to Magic Weekend win". Sky Sports.
  19. "St Helens 34-16 Wigan Warriors: Jack Welsby stars to help Super League champions seal derby delight". Sky Sports.
  20. "Salford Red Devils 6-26 Wigan Warriors: Liam Farrell scores double as Wigan climb to third with victory". Sky Sports.
  21. "Miski double sets up third consecutive Wigan win" – via www.bbc.com.
  22. "Wakefield seal massive golden point win v Wigan" – via www.bbc.com.
  23. "Wigan Warriors 26-12 Warrington Wolves: Jake Wardle stars to help down his old club and move Warriors up to third". Sky Sports.
  24. https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/wigan-vs-leigh/58370
  25. "Wigan thrash cup finalists Leigh in derby victory" – via www.bbc.com.
  26. https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/wigan-vs-hull-k-r/58373
  27. "Miski sparks Wigan's 12-try demolition of Hull KR" – via www.bbc.com.
  28. https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/wigan-vs-hull/58381
  29. "Wigan shatter Hull with dramatic golden-point win" – via www.bbc.com.
  30. https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/catalans-vs-wigan/58389
  31. "Warriors demolish the dragons". Wigan Warriors.
  32. https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/wigan-vs-salford/58392
  33. https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/leeds-vs-wigan/58399
  34. https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/wigan-vs-castleford/58404
  35. https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/leigh-vs-wigan/58410
  36. https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/wigan-vs-hull-k-r/report/58418
  37. https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/wigan-vs-catalans/58419
  38. "Two Betfred Challenge Cup Ties to be shown live on the BBC". www.rugby-league.com.
  39. "Leeds Rhinos v Wigan Warriors - Rugby League". BBC Sport.
  40. "BBC confirm Challenge Cup quarter-finals coverage with details announced". LoveRugbyLeague. May 23, 2023.
  41. "Wigan hold on with 12 men to knock out Warrington - BBC Sport". BBC News. 2023-06-18. Archived from the original on 2023-07-26.
  42. "Challenge Cup semi-finals: Double-headers, venues & TV details confirmed". LoveRugbyLeague. June 19, 2023.
  43. "Relive Hull KR's golden-point Challenge Cup win over Wigan". July 22, 2023 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  44. "Wigan sign Toby King on loan for 2023 season". BBC Sport. 23 August 2022.
  45. "Jake Wardle joins Wigan on 3 year deal". wiganwarriors.com. 9 October 2022.
  46. "Wigan re-sign half-back Hampshire - BBC Sport". BBC News. 2023-01-27. Archived from the original on 2023-03-13.
  47. "Wigan Warriors legend to retire at end of season & join coaching staff". 31 August 2022.
  48. "Salford sign Oliver Partington on two-year deal". 23 September 2022.
  49. "Huddersfield sign Wigan's Bibby on three-year deal". 28 September 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  50. "Jack Bibby and Sam Halsall join Huddersfield on three-year deals". 9 October 2022.
  51. "Bateman leaves Wigan to join Wests Tigers - BBC Sport". BBC News. 2022-12-26. Archived from the original on 2022-12-27.
  52. Walker, Callum (January 13, 2023). "Leigh Leopards new signing after handing Wigan Warriors man squad number for Super League 2023".
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