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Released Wigan Warriors man reveals key detail Hull KR ignored that impacted Grand Final

- 20/05/2023 - Rugby League - Betfred Challenge Cup Round 6 - Leeds Rhinos v Wigan Warriors - Headingley Stadium, Leeds, England - Wigan's coach Matt Peet hugs Ryan Hampshire after victory over Leeds.

Former Wigan Warriors man Ryan Hampshire has spoken on the extreme lengths that the club go to in order to separate them from every other Super League club whilst also noting one of the key details that Grand Final opponents Hull KR ignored. 

Wigan Warriors won every single piece of silverware on offer in 2024 with Matt Peet’s side securing the World Club Challenge, Challenge Cup, League Leaders Shield and of course the Grand Final.

They beat Hull KR 9-2 at Old Trafford to defend their crown and they’re now heavy favourites to make it three in a row come October, something that is of no surprise to former player Hampshire.

The 30-year-old started his career with Wigan in 2013 before re-signing with the club in 2023 meaning he has witnessed their former glory days as well as the current dynasty.

In between those stints, he represented the likes of Wakefield Trinity and Castleford Tigers and the utility has spoken on the huge gap in standards between Wigan and everybody else.

“It’s ridiculous. It’s ridiculous,” he explained when appearing on Show Me The Money’s Full 80 Minutes podcast, hosted by his agent Craig Harrison.

Released Wigan Warriors man reveals key detail Hull KR ignored that impacted Grand Final

Hampshire, who saw his contract expire at the end of the 2024 season, elaborated on that ‘gap’ and explained how it is that Wigan Warriors ‘nail it’.

He explained: “The gap is ridiculous. The fan base, Wigan have obviously got a massive stadium, they’ve got their own training ground at Robin Park and have just got a new gym.

“Obviously the finances are a lot different. Every little detail, Wigan nail it.”

Providing an example of that, he picked out how Wigan prepared for their Old Trafford appearance in October compared to opponents Hull KR, claiming that Willie Peters’ side missed out on a crucial trick that gave the Warriors a “massive advantage”.

Hampshire revealed: “Before the Grand Final, you always go before to get familiar with the stadium and visualise where you are on the pitch, where you’ll be in the changing room and Hull KR didn’t do that last year. They didn’t go look at the stadium and I think that’s a massive advantage.

“Wigan look at those little details and the more of those that you do, the bigger the gap it creates.”

Matt Peet’s side have eeked out that gap across the past two years to the point where they have become the best rugby league team in Super League and arguably the world given their World Club Challenge win.

They’re now heavy favourites to repeat the feats of 2024 with the bookmakers pricing them at just 10/1 to win each of the Challenge Cup, League Leaders Shield and Grand Final – shorter than 2023 Grand Finalists’ chances of winning at Old Trafford.

1 Comment

1 Comment

  1. John

    February 3, 2025 at 5:23 pm

    Why did Wigan need to go and look at Old Trafford? Had it changed that much since the last time they were there?

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