Wigan Warriors put on a dominant display, thrashing Warrington Wolves 48-24 in a historic Super League clash at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The game, part of a landmark event combining the NRL, Super League, and international women’s rugby league, drew over 50,000 fans and kicked off with Wigan in control. Tries from Tyler Dupree, Abbas Miski, Bevan French, and Harry Smith, along with four conversions by Adam Keighran, gave the Warriors a commanding 24-0 lead at halftime.
The second half saw Wigan continue their onslaught, with further tries from Jai Field, Jake Wardle, Luke Thompson, and Liam Marshall. Keighran’s precision with the boot extended their lead, leaving Warrington struggling to respond. Despite a late flurry of tries from Arron Lindop, James Harrison, Matt Dufty, and a spectacular 100-metre effort from Matty Ashton, Warrington’s comeback was too little, too late as they succumbed to a heavy defeat on the global stage.
Wigan’s Ruthless Attack Dominates
The game began evenly, with both teams having early tries disallowed. However, Wigan quickly took charge. Dupree, the nephew of Super Bowl winner Billy Joe Dupree, opened the scoring in the 17th minute, setting the tone for the Warriors’ dominance. Miski showcased his acrobatic skills to add a second try, while Junior Nsemba’s powerful runs created opportunities for French to extend the lead. By halftime, Wigan had raced to a 24-0 advantage, with Smith capping off a brilliant first-half performance.
The second half saw Wigan’s lethal backline combination of Field and French come to the fore. Field scored after a superb run from Marshall, and French later set up Wardle for another try. Thompson barged over soon after, taking Wigan’s lead to 42-0. Warrington managed to find some consolation with tries from Harrison, Dufty, and Ashton, but Marshall’s late try and Ashton’s dazzling full-length intercept couldn’t hide the Wolves’ struggles.
Post-Match Reactions
Wigan Warriors head coach Matt Peet praised his team’s performance, saying, "This group rise to the big occasion, and I was confident all week we would perform. Both teams tried to play some open rugby, and it came down to a lot of scramble defence. I’m really proud of the effort."
Warrington Wolves head coach Sam Burgess was critical of his team’s showing, stating, "We missed an opportunity on a big stage. We weren’t willing to do the hard stuff at the back end of the first half, and it cost us the game. Forty-eight points is really disappointing. It’s the first time in my time at the club that we’ve not been in the game, and it’s something I’ll have to figure out."
This historic match marked a significant moment for Super League, with Wigan delivering a statement performance on the Las Vegas stage. Sky Sports continues to provide comprehensive coverage of the Super League season, featuring two exclusive live matches per round and the remaining fixtures on Sky Sports+.
