Ruthless Wigan romp to dominant win over Hull KR in Challenge Cup final

Wigan produced another Challenge Cup masterclass to extend their record as the kings of rugby league’s most prestigious competition, ruthlessly picking apart the holders in imperious fashion.

The meeting was, on paper, set to be one of the most intriguing in recent history. The most recent two Super League and Challenge Cup champions squaring off for the first major trophy of 2026 felt too close to call, but Wigan produced an inch-perfect performance.

As has been the case so many times in Wigan’s illustrious history there was a local hero at the heart of it. The pre-match story centred around their maverick half-back, Bevan French – who was named on the bench six weeks ahead of schedule after a hamstring tear. In the end, it was all a distraction.

French did not enter the action until the final quarter and by then the final had been decided, in part by the player who has replaced him. The 20-year-old Jack Farrimond was sensational, scoring both of Wigan’s first-half tries, which put them 10-4 ahead at half-time and his kick for Junior Nsemba’s score put them further ahead.

Two tries in four minutes for centre Adam Keighran made it 28-4 and Rovers’ body language when Keighran scored his second spoke volumes. They have won the last four major trophies, including victory against Wigan in last year’s Grand Final, but this must have felt like looking in a mirror on occasions.

Hull KR’s rise to the top has been built on defensive resilience and methodical, controlled rugby. The Warriors were outstanding without the ball in the first half, which laid the platform for their creative players, Farrimond chief among them, to run riot when the opportunity presented itself.

The signs were there from the early exchanges this would be a difficult afternoon for the holders. They lost their influential forward Dean Hadley to a head knock within the opening three minutes and never really showed any of the credentials that has made them the team to beat over the past 18 months.

Farrimond quickly took centre stage. He finished a marvellous set play to open the scoring and while the Robins had plenty of spells in possession, they were unable to unpick a stern and resolute defensive line. That laid the stage for Farrimond again, with a world-class break from deep that he finished to score a classic Wembley try and make it 10-0.

There appeared to be hope for the Robins when Peta Hiku scored as the half-time hooter sounded, but it provided nothing more than false hope. They were ruthlessly picked apart in the second half, Wigan making the prospect of a record-extending 22nd Challenge Cup win a foregone conclusion.

Wigan’s Junior Nsemba takes the ball above Hull KR defenders to go on and score a try. Photograph: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com/Shutterstock

First, Farrimond’s perfect kick allowed Nsemba the room to touch down before Keighran’s double. That made it 28-4 and you would have perhaps forgiven Wigan for holding French back with the game won. Buthe came on for Farrimond shortly after the hour mark and within three minutes he had cut through on the angle in sensational fashion.

It meant what happened in the final 15 minutes largely inconsequential. Hiku scored his second after battling his way over in the corner, but the Warriors responded again through Luke Thompson – though they were reduced to 12 men late on when Sam Walters was sent off.