Ellery Hanley, Andy Gregory, Jason Robinson, Martin Offiah. The roll call of Wembley heroes for Wigan is almost endless and they now have another name to add to the list as they lifted the Challenge Cup once again.
All eyes were firmly fixed on the Wigan bench when it was confirmed their maverick playmaker, Bevan French, was included six weeks ahead of schedule after a hamstring tear. It was all a distraction; by the time French arrived on the scene the final had been decided, in no small part due to the heroics of the man who replaced him.
The 20-year-old Jack Farrimond is a victim of Super League’s bizarre salary cap rules that mean he earns less than £30,000 per year. He has shone for the biggest club in the game on the biggest stage of them all. The final score was one-sided – the biggest since 2015 – but it was Farrimond’s performance that laid the platform.
Farrimond scored both of Wigan’s tries in the first half to put them ahead by six points at the break before his assist for Junior Nsemba’s try shortly after the restart. From thereon it was a rout in favour of the Warriors, who steamrollered their way to a record-extending 22nd Challenge Cup.
“In games like this you’d take a one point win, so to win in that manner – I’m very, very proud,” Matt Peet said after winning the seventh trophy of his tenure. “The lads have worked hard for it. We’ve conceded a couple of soft tries, but I’ll get over it. I’m very proud of the club.”
Two tries in four minutes for centre Adam Keighran made it 28-4 and Rovers’ body language at the moment he scored his second spoke volumes. They have won the past four major trophies, including victory against Wigan in last year’s Grand Final, but this must have been like looking in a mirror on occasions.
Quick Guide
Wigan v Hull KR: teams and scorers
Show
Wigan Field; Eckersley, Keighran, Wardle, Hodkinson; Farrimond, Smith; Walters, O’Neill, Thompson, Nsemba, Farrell, Partington. Interchange French, Havard, Ellis, Mago.
Tries Farrimond 2, Nsemba, Keighran 2, French, Thompson. Goals Keighran 6.
Hull KR Broadbent; Davies, Hiku, Gildart, Burgess; Lewis, May; Sue, Litten, Amone, Hadley, Batchelor, Minchella. Interchange Luckley, Martin, Brown, Leyland.
Tries Hiku 2. Goal Martin.
Referee Liam Moore
Hull KR’s rise to the top has been built on defensive resilience and methodical, controlled rugby. Wigan 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.
“There were a lot of moments in that game that weren’t us,” said the beaten coach, Willie Peters. “We’ve got to own that performance.”
The signs were there from the early exchanges this would be a difficult afternoon for the holders. They lost forward Dean Hadley to a head knock within the opening three minutes and things only got worse.
Farrimond’s two marvellous solo tries gave Wigan an early lead, but there appeared to be hope for Rovers when Peta Hiku scored as the half-time hooter sounded. However,they were picked apart in ruthless fashion in the second half, with Wigan scoring five more tries.
Farrimond’s perfect kick allowed Nsemba the room to touch down before Keighran scored his double, the first of which came from another clever kick, this time from Jai Field. That made it 28-4 and you would have perhaps forgiven Wigan for holding French back.
But he came on for Farrimond shortly after the hour mark and within three minutes he had cut through on the angle in sensational fashion to score.
It meant the final 15 minutes was largely inconsequential. Hiku scored his second after battling his way over in the corner, but Wigan responded again through Luke Thompson though they were reduced to 12 men late on when Sam Walters was sent off for landing Bill Leyland on his head – the first player to be sent off in a Challenge Cup final since 1993.
