Wigan thrash Hull KR to reach Challenge Cup final

Betfred Challenge Cup semi-final

Hull KR (0) 6

Try: Burgess Goal: Lewis

Wigan (24) 38

Tries: Wardle 2, Miski 2, Nsemba, Smith, Dupree Goals: Smith 2, Keighran 3

Wigan Warriors demolished Hull KR 38-6 to take them to the Challenge Cup final where they will have the chance to record a 21st win in the competition.

Wigan had lost to the Robins by a single point at the same semi-final stage in 2023, but five unanswered first-half tries ensured there would be no repeat.

Jake Wardle, Abbas Miski twice, Junior Nsemba and Harry Smith all crossed in a dominant 40 minutes.

Tyler Dupree and Wardle added two more in the second half, after Joe Burgess scored Hull KR's sole try.

Matt Peet’s team will head to Wembley on 8 June where they will play either Huddersfield Giants or Warrington Wolves, who play on Sunday (15:15 BST).

Since defeat by Hull KR at Headingley in the semi-final last July, Wigan have won 21 of their last 23 matches.

That spell has seen them collect the League Leaders’ Shield, the Super League Grand Final and the World Club Challenge.

Now this outstanding side will have the chance to complete the set with the Challenge Cup.

One of those two defeats in that run came three weeks ago in a surprise loss at Sewell Group Craven Park to the same opponents.

However, Wigan showed why they are a cut above the rest with an almost exemplary 80 minutes in both attack and defence.

Wigan tick all the boxes

The dominance began in the fourth minute, as from their first attacking position centre Wardle spotted a gap in the defensive line and exploited it to score.

Hull KR tried to respond and were unhappy with a call when they felt Tyrone May was impeded by Smith as he chased a kick.

But having soaked up the pressure, Wigan showed their pedigree as they worked their way up the field.

On the fifth tackle, Bevan French conjured up another bit of magic from his box of tricks with a beautiful kick that dropped just over Ryan Hall and was superbly caught and touched down by Miski in the same movement.

And there was a third try before the half-hour mark as the Warriors again demonstrated their ruthlessness.

They pressured Robins full-back Niall Evalds into shelling a high kick and with field position in their favour, the move ended with teenage second-rower Junior Nsemba powering his way over.

But the Super League champions did not stop there and two more tries before the break effectively booked their place at Wembley.

Miski went over for his second try after a quick pass from Liam Marshall and then Marshall set up the next with Smith queuing up to touch down his grubber kick.

Robins' trophy wait goes on

Fans had travelled over in large numbers from east Hull in the hope of seeing their side get back to Wembley and win the Challenge Cup for the first time since 1980.

After reaching the final last year and finishing in the top four there is belief that the Robins are on the rise.

That was backed up by head coach Willie Peters being handed a new four-year contract in the build-up to this match.

But it was not until the 50th minute that they had anything to celebrate as Burgess scored in the corner.

That was not the start of a comeback as a mistake from Wigan’s restart gifted the Warriors possession near the Hull KR line and with a try inevitable, Dupree applied the finishing touch.

Wardle rounded off the scoring with his second and Wigan's seventh try of the match as Wigan look to repeat their 2022 success in this competition.

But that win was at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and it is 11 years since they lifted the Challenge Cup in the competition’s spiritual home.

Hull KR: Evalds; Burgess, Hiku, Opacic, Hall; May, Lewis; Sue, Litten, Whitbread, Hadley, Batchelor, Minchella.

Interchanges: King, Parcell, Luckley, Tanginoa.

Sin-bin: Opacic (65)

Wigan: Field; Miski, Keighran, Wardle, Marshall; French, Smith; Havard, O'Neill, Thompson, Nsemba, Farrell, Ellis.

Interchanges: Mago, Leeming, Dupree, Walters.

Sin-bin: Keighran (65)

Referee: Chris Kendall.