It’s often said that there are no easy games in Super League, something that Wigan Warriors have come to realise after losing their last two games against the team placed in 14th, and now Matt Peet’s side face an incredibly difficult gauntlet of fixtures.
For the first time since August 2021, Wigan Warriors have lost three Super League games in a row with defeats so far including a loss to winless Huddersfield, their collapse in the derby against St Helens, and most recently Sunday’s slip-up against Castleford Tigers.
They now face an away trip to take on Warrington Wolves, who themselves are coming off a loss, but the clash against Wire is the first in a run of very tough fixtures with four of their next six coming against fellow top six sides, and another coming against Hull KR.
Wigan will also take on St Helens in a Challenge Cup semi-final during this gauntlet of games, highlighting just how pivotal the next seven weeks are for Matt Peet’s side.
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Wigan Warriors set for huge two months in race for silverware
Of course, they can’t lose the Grand final in April, May and June, but any hope of winning the League Leaders Shield could certainly drop away if their current run of form continues.
It’s worth adding that within the run of three Super League defeats, they did defeat Wakefield Trinity in a very hard-fought Challenge Cup tie but that game at the disciplinary cost of losing Harry Smith and Sam Walters.
That pair will miss Friday’s meeting with Warrington and the game after against Bradford and their absence already has been evident with Wigan lacking control in the kicking game and some power down the middle, whilst also being impacted in the centres as Adam Keighran had to move to half-back.
When facing Bradford they’ll also take on a team hammered by injuries and at home, you’d surely expect Peet’s side to get the win but their games away against Wire, at home to Leeds, away to KR, away to Catalans and away to Wakefield Trinity all look incredibly tough.
Factor in the semi-final against St Helens, whereby a win would add in a final against either Hull KR or Warrington whilst a loss would add to the club’s woes, and you appreciate how difficult a period this is for Wigan to navigate.
Moreover they’re still expected to be doing it without Bevan French who isn’t likely to be back until the end of June or the start of July, at which point they may well need him given they face St Helens and Warrington to start the seventh month of the year.
Wigan have had wobbles before, often when one of the dynamic duo of French or Jai Field are out, however, and they have always come through them. Friday night’s game and the coming weeks will tell us a lot about if this is a wobble or if there is genuine cause for concern about the club’s silverware chances this season.
Wigan Warriors upcoming fixtures and opposition’s current Super League ranking
24th April – Warrington Wolves (4th) – Away
2nd May – Bradford Bulls (8th) – Home
9th May – St Helens (3rd) – Neutral venue for Challenge Cup semi-final
15th May – Leeds Rhinos (1st) – Home
21st May – Hull KR (7th) – Away
30th May – Hull KR or Warrington Wolves in Challenge Cup Final (if Wigan beat St Helens)
6th June – Catalans Dragons (6th) – Away*
12th June – Wakefield Trinity (2nd) – Away
*Played in Paris at a neutral venue
