Wigan Warriors have confirmed the date for their previously announced pre-season match as head coach Matt Peet previews the type of test his side faces.
The Super League champions had confirmed their first pre-season friendly before they even lifted the 2024 Grand Final. Back on October 9th, they announced that they would take on League One winners Oldham in the new year.
That news came after Matt Peet’s side snapped up forward George Hirst on a two-year deal with an option to extend, a deal that came with a pre-season game at Boundary Park thrown into the bundle.
The date for that fixture has now been confirmed by both sides with Sunday, January 19th locked in.
It will be the first of two pre-season friendlies that Wigan Warriors play with the second being an away trip to Headingley for Ash Handley’s testimonial game. Interestingly, that means that the Super League champs will not play a home game during their pre-season.
Wigan Warriors confirm date for pre-season clash
🗓️ A select Wigan Warriors team will travel to face @Roughyeds in a pre-season friendly on Sunday 19 January ahead of the new 2025 Betfred Super League Season. Tickets are on sale now directly from Oldham ⬇️ #WWRLhttps://t.co/exCwSWQ6Vq
— Wigan Warriors 🍒⚪️ (@WiganWarriorsRL) December 20, 2024
The tie against Oldham will see them face off against a lot of familiar faces though, not least the Roughyeds’ head coach Sean Long who started his career with the Cherry and Whites.
Oldham have signed former Wigan players Iain Thornley and Gil Dudson ahead of the 2025 season with the ex-Warriors pair among a host of Super League signings that also includes Adam Milner, Josh Drinkwater and Matty Ashurst.
It will be a first chance for Oldham fans to see their new recruits with the Roughyeds recently tipped up by new Sheffield boss Craig Lingard as dark horses for a Championship charge in 2025.
Matt Peet has now spoken on the what type of test it will be, making comment as part of Wigan’s statement to confirm the date of the fixture.
Peet explained: “We’re looking forward to playing our first pre-season game at a club where there is great optimism at the moment.
“It’ll be a great opportunity for us to take a team there for a good test and continue our preparations for the upcoming season.”
Oldham would also confirm the fixture with their head coach, Sean Long, adding: “It is a fantastic opportunity for our lads to go up against the best team around right now and see where we are at too, ahead of a huge season for the club.”
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