Latest news with #ChallengeCupFinal
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
The players Warrington Wolves have chosen for return to Super League action
Warrington Wolves return to Super League action with a trip to Leeds Rhinos on Saturday (Image: Allan McKenzie/ WARRINGTON Wolves' 21-man squad for their return to Super League action has been revealed. Head coach Sam Burgess' selection for Saturday's Round 14 trip to Leeds Rhinos shows just one change from the players he chose from for the Challenge Cup Final against Hull KR. Advertisement As the Wire boss reported at his pre-match press conference yesterday, full-back Matt Dufty is his only fresh injury concern - the Australian fractured his eye socket at Wembley and will miss at least the next two games as he awaits surgery. His place in the 21 is taken by forward Tom Whitehead, with Stefan Ratchford set to take Dufty's place at full-back in a starting side that looks set to be similar to the one that was agonisingly beaten in the cup final. Warrington Wolves 21-man squad vs Leeds Rhinos, Super League Round 14 Jordy Crowther, Ben Currie, Lachlan Fitzgibbon, James Harrison, Adam Holroyd, Toby King, Arron Lindop, Joe Philbin, Sam Powell, Stefan Ratchford, Dan Russell, Marc Sneyd, Rodrick Tai, Jake Thewlis, Josh Thewlis, Paul Vaughan, Tom Whitehead, George Williams, Max Wood, Connor Wrench, Luke Yates Leeds Rhinos welcome back key man for Warrington Wolves clash Hosts Leeds are boosted by the return of hooker Andy Ackers to contention for Saturday's game at Headingley. Advertisement The former Salford man has been absent for three months due to a torn hamstring but has been named in head coach Brad Arthur's squad for the game. Forward Kallum Watkins - a former Latchford Albion junior - would be making his 400th career appearance if selected.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Matt Dufty injury latest as Burgess confirms his full-back replacement
SAM Burgess has provided a further update on Matt Dufty's fitness, with Warrington Wolves set for a spell without their influential full-back. And while the exact amount of time he will spend on the sidelines remains unclear, Burgess has ruled Dufty out of at least the next two Super League matches, starting with Saturday's trip to Leeds Rhinos. Advertisement The Australian is waiting to have surgery having fractured his left eye socket during Saturday's Challenge Cup Final following a head-on-head collision with Hull KR forward James Batchelor. Dufty is treated on the field at Wembley (Image: Allan McKenzie/ Having initially attempted to play on, Dufty eventually succumbed in the final 10 minutes before the Robins went on to snatch victory in the dying seconds to break Warrington's hearts. He is the second Wire player to suffer a fractured eye socket in recent weeks after scrum-half Marc Sneyd did so during the Round Nine victory over St Helens. Sneyd returned just 16 days later in time for the Challenge Cup semi-final victory over Leigh Leopards, but Burgess hinted Dufty may be out for a longer period. Read more Sauaso Sue spitting verdict confirmed as tribunal reaches decision Advertisement Why fans may want to arrive early and stay late when Wire visit Headingley Warrington Wolves' Super League task explained as season resumes 'We don't know exactly as he hasn't had his surgery yet – there's too much swelling at the moment,' he said. 'He'll be going in at the end of the week. 'It'll be similar to what Marc Sneyd's was and that was two or three weeks. 'We obviously pushed Marc – and he pushed himself – for the semi-final and we're not in that situation anymore, but we'll see how Duff pulls up early next week. 'He's not going to be playing for at least two weeks.' Sam Burgess confirms Matt Dufty full-back replacement With young full-back Cai Taylor-Wray also absent with a torn hamstring, Burgess all but confirmed Stefan Ratchford would deputise for Dufty in what will be his first start at full-back since July 2022. Advertisement The veteran came off the bench to replace Dufty at Wembley and Burgess said simply slotting him in 'makes a bit of sense.' 'Stef's played there before and has filled a number of roles for us, so it looks that way,' he said. 'We've got a few things we want to have a look at over the next few days but it probably makes a bit of sense. 'He's such a valuable bloke and he's played pretty much everywhere – he's told me he's not played front-row so I'm not sure I'm going to put him there! 'Keeping him on this year was a big decision, but we thought he could add some value and I think he's played around 75 per cent of our games this year. Advertisement 'He's filled a number of roles and has done a good job, so he's great to have around.' More than half of Stefan Ratchford's 351 Wire appearances have come at full-back, but his last start at number one came back in July 2022 (Image: Paul Currie/ Warrington Wolves post-Wembley injury news Burgess confirmed Dufty was Warrington's only fresh injury concern ahead of the Round 14 trip to Headingley. Skipper George Williams, centre Toby King and forwards Lachlan Fitzgibbon and Jordy Crowther all returned from injury for the cup final and all are likely to feature against Brad Arthur's side. Advertisement 'They all came through the game okay so touch wood, if their week goes okay they should all be lining up this week,' Burgess said. 'In terms of new injuries, it's just Duff – there's a few bumps and bruises but everybody should make the game.' Having pushed himself to return early from ankle surgery for the game, George Williams has emerged from the Challenge Cup Final unscathed (Image: Richard Sellers/PA Wire) Along with Dufty and Taylor-Wray, Warrington will still be without long-term absentees Danny Walker, Matty Ashton, Oli Leyland (all knee) and Leon Hayes (ankle) for the trip to Headingley. Walker and Hayes are still several weeks away from being back in contention, while Ashton and Leyland will both miss the remainder of 2025.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Warrington Wolves' full-back options assessed - who could replace Dufty?
Stefan Ratchford is among the options to replace the injured Matt Dufty at full-back (Image: Paul Currie/ AS they pick up their Super League campaign again, Warrington Wolves will do so with a fresh injury to a key player. Full-back Matt Dufty fractured his eye socket during Saturday's Challenge Cup Final defeat following a head-on-head collision with Hull KR's James Batchelor, who received a Grade C head contact charge and five penalty points as a result. Advertisement After the game, Sam Burgess said they would be without the Australian for 'a while,' with a further update on his condition expected this afternoon when Burgess addresses the media to preview the trip to Leeds Rhinos this weekend. Matt Dufty is treated for the injury he suffered at Wembley (Image: Allan McKenzie/ At the very least, The Wire can plan to be without Dufty for the game at Headingley, which brings about the question of how he will be replaced. The waters are muddied given youngster Cai Taylor-Wray, who has established himself as Dufty's understudy, is also injured – he tore his hamstring playing for the reserves back in April and is not expected to play again this season. Oli Leyland also has history of playing at full-back but his season is also over having suffered an ACL injury, meaning Burgess' options have narrowed. Advertisement Below, we look at some of the potential solutions he could opt for… STEFAN RATCHFORD The veteran utility man replaced Dufty for the latter stages at Wembley having been named on the bench primarily as half-back and centre cover given George Williams and Toby King's fragility as they returned from injury. Simply drafting him in from the start would cause the least disruption to other areas of the team in terms of selection – he would simply move from the bench to the starting side, with Max Wood then seemingly favourite to take his interchange spot. Full-back has been his most common position during his long Warrington career – of his 351 appearances for the club, more than half (182) have seen him start in the number one shirt. Advertisement However, the last of those starts at the back came nearly three years ago during a 35-22 defeat at Castleford Tigers in July 2022. Stefan Ratchford could slot into full-back having played extensively in the halves during 2025 in George Williams' absence (Image: Paul Currie/ JOSH THEWLIS Another option could be moving Josh Thewlis into the position many had earmarked him for long-term as he became an established first-teamer. As recently as the start of last year, the expectation was that Thewlis was next in line for the club's number one jersey, but Dufty's resurgence in form and the emergence of Taylor-Wray through the academy means his future is set to lie on the wing. Advertisement However, he remains a natural full-back and would no doubt relish the prospect of more time in a position he is still keen to play in. Moving Thewlis to full-back would create an opening on the right wing, which would likely be filled by either his younger brother Jake or Connor Wrench, who made two bright appearances against Wakefield and Hull KR having recovered from his second ACL injury in as many years. His last start at full-back came in June 2023 during a 22-6 defeat to Leeds Rhinos at The Halliwell Jones Stadium. Wembley try-scorer Josh Thewlis spent his academy and early first-team career at full-back before moving to the wing (Image: Simon Wilkinson/ FLYNN HOLDEN No doubt the most left-field and unlikely option, but could Burgess put his faith in a youngster who has been in fine form for the academy and reserves? Advertisement Livewire full-back Flynn Holden has been a key part of flying starts to the season for both sides, scoring 10 tries in 11 appearances to date. He would be making his senior debut should he be given the nod and given the more experienced options available, the likelihood is he may have to wait but Burgess has shown his willingness to put faith in the club's young talent – even this year, Holden's teammates Ewan Irwin and Zack Gardner have made their first-team debuts.
Daily Mirror
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
'I watched rugby league hero be knighted - it was my proudest moment as MP'
Today, Billy Boston, a hero of rugby league, was knighted. Travelling to the Palace with Billy and his family, watching the joy on their faces as he became Sir Billy Boston, was my proudest moment as an MP. This moment is about Billy - a kind and humble man, rugby league's greatest ever player, and an icon in our town. But it's also about the sport and the North. Finally, rugby league has the recognition it deserves, after being discriminated against and belittled by the establishment for far too long. After 130 years of the sport, Sir Billy Boston is the first rugby league knight ever, following a great campaign nationally and locally. Rugby League has always been a sport for working class people in Northern England, sidelined and often actively repressed by Rugby Union, led by middle and upper class people in the South. Commentators have belittled it as a niche, 'northern sport', instead of recognising it as a global, multi-million pound game. It was banned in the British Army, and for decades, playing rugby league for a moment would get you a lifetime ban in rugby union. But today, its greatest player received the highest honour in the land. Billy was born in Cardiff, and dreamed of playing for Cardiff and for Wales. But he was never selected because the Welsh rugby union discriminated against black people. When he travelled North, Wigan and rugby league welcomed him with open arms, a town and a sport that has always put talent before race, class or creed. Today, the game is thriving. Wigan Warriors are entering a new era of professionalisation and deepening links with grassroots clubs and community organisations across the town. The Warriors are always well-attended and watched by fans across the world. This weekend, the women's team beat St Helens to win the Challenge Cup Final. The Warriors, Wigan as a town, and Rugby League as a sport owe so much to Sir Billy Boston. Billy symbolises everything that I love about rugby league: power, humility, courage, loyalty. Today was a massive moment for the sport and for the North of England. I can't wait to see more players recognised in the future.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Warrington Wolves' Super League task explained as season resumes
Warrington Wolves resume their Super League campaign on Saturday after their heartbreaking Challenge Cup Final loss (Image: Neil Ashurst/P&B Pictures) IT'S time to move on… The pain of Saturday's Challenge Cup Final defeat will no doubt take a while to fully disappear for Warrington Wolves, but it must now be suppressed. Having been given two days off following their agonising Wembley loss to Hull KR, the players are back in training today to prepare for the resumption of their Super League campaign. Advertisement And with the season at its halfway point, they are not in a position for a malaise to set in given they sit eighth in the table, two points shy of the play-off places. In losing seven times so far this season, they have already been beaten as many times as they were in the entirety of the 2024 regular season. Here is how the table looks ahead of Round 14... While Hull KR and Wigan Warriors have started to pull away at the top, the sides in the play-off pack are relatively bunched up – despite being down in eighth, Warrington can close to within four points of Leeds in third with a win at Headingley on Saturday. Advertisement What could count against them, however, is their points difference which is significantly worse than all of the sides currently above them in the table. What is coming up for Warrington Wolves? Sam Burgess' side have 14 games of their Super League regular season remaining, starting with a trip to high-flying Leeds Rhinos on Saturday. That is one of eight away games The Wire still have to play, including four in a row through July and into August due to pitch repair work at The Halliwell Jones Stadium. Indeed, after back-to-back home fixtures against Huddersfield Giants and Hull FC to finish June, they will not play at home again until Wigan Warriors' visit on Friday, August 8. Advertisement Warrington's next Super League game sees them visit Leeds Rhinos, whom they beat at The Halliwell Jones Stadium in Round Six (Image: Olly Hassell/ Warrington Wolves remaining fixtures, 2025 season June Sat 14…Leeds Rhinos (A) 5.30pm Sat 21…Huddersfield Giants (H) 3pm Sat 28…Hull FC (H) 5.30pm (Sky) July Fri 4…Salford Red Devils (A) 8pm Sat 12…Catalans Dragons (A) 5pm UK time Sun 20…Castleford Tigers (A) 3pm August Fri 1…Leigh Leopards (A) 8pm Fri 8…Wigan Warriors (H) 8pm Thu 14…Catalans Dragons (H) 8pm Sat 23…Huddersfield Giants (A) 3pm Fri 29…Salford Red Devils (H) 8pm September Sat 6…Leigh Leopards (H) 3pm Advertisement Sat 13…Hull FC (A) 5.30pm 18-21…Hull KR (A) (date and time TBC) How did Wire fare after Wembley defeat last year? After losing last year's Challenge Cup Final to Wigan Warriors, Warrington had a much better platform from which to attack what remained of the Super League campaign. After 13 rounds of 2024, they sat fourth in the table, two points shy of then leaders St Helens with a four-point cushion inside the play-off spots. They lost the game immediately after the final as they were beaten 25-14 by Salford Red Devils, but they then won 11 of the 13 matches that followed. The 22 points they gained kept them in contention for a top-two spot until the final round of the season, but they were forced to settle for third before beating St Helens in a thrilling play-off eliminator and then losing in the semi-finals at Hull KR. Advertisement Gaining the same number of points this time around would get them to 34 – six shy of what they achieved last year but perhaps more importantly given their current situation, a total that has always been comfortably enough for play-off qualification in recent years. Within the current top-six system that has been in place for the past three seasons, 30 points has been enough to secure a play-off berth every year except last year, when Catalans Dragons reached that figure but lost out on points difference. To reach 30 points, Warrington will need to win nine of their remaining 14 matches.
