MATCH PREVIEW: WIGAN WARRIORS (H)

Midlands Hurricanes v Wigan Warriors

Date: Saturday 20 January 2024

Time: 2pm Kick-off

Location: The Alexander Stadium, Stadium Way, B42 2LR

Tickets: £10 (Storm Card holders go free). U16s go free when ticket is purchased with an adult ticket. BUY HERE.

With our pre-season in full swing and our first competitive game of 2024 just over a week away, fans will get an opportunity to see the squad take to field against decorated opposition this weekend.

The Hurricanes will no doubt be hoping to begin their 2024 campaign as their 2023 campaign ended, with a convincing win against tough opposition.

The opposition

Standing in our way tomorrow will be none other than Wigan Warriors, the 2023 Super League Champions and our newest Dual-Registration partners for the 2024 season. This will be the first time the two clubs have met, although it will not be the first time the Hurricanes have faced Super League opposition (having faced Widnes Vikings in 2018 and Leeds Rhinos in both 2018 and 2019).

Led by Head Coach Matt Peet since 2022, Wigan have won a Challenge Cup (2022), League Leaders' Shield and Grand Final (both 2023) under his guidance and will be looking to add a World Club Challenge as they welcome 2023 NRL Grand Final winners Penrith Panthers to the DW Stadium in February. With over 23,500 tickets sold as of this writing, this game is looking certain to sell out and will be a fantastic test for Matt and the team.

Matt and Wigan Warriors Head of Youth Shane Eccles will be sending a select XIII to The Alex, with a mixture of Academy and Reserve players at their disposal. In addition to giving a youthful Warriors squad the chance to test their skills against professional opposition, it also gives Hurricanes Head Coach Mark Dunning an opportunity to see the quality of the players that may play a part later in the season.

It goes without saying that the Canes are looking forward to the challenge!

A foot in both camps?

Hurricanes fans will recall that young forward Ellis Hobson signed from Wigan Warriors in mid-2023 until the end of the 2024 season. If selected, Ellis will no doubt want to test his development against his former squadmates.

In addition to Ellis signing for the Canes, Canes fans will recall that three Wigan academy players (Finley Beardsworth, Kavan Rothwell and Max Wood) had spells on loan with the club towards the end of last season.

From the sheds

Speaking of the clubs' partnership more generally, Head Coach Mark Dunning said:

"It's great news that the club partnership with Wigan Warriors is finalised and announced. Wigan are one of the top clubs in the world and the current Super League Champions, so to have this holistic partnership that runs from boardroom to boardroom is fantastic and one that is very exciting."

Wigan Warriors Head of Youth Shane Eccles said:

"This partnership is an opportunity for our young players to experience playing at a different level alongside helping the Midlands develop further, both on and off the field. We look forward to working with Mark Dunning and giving our players a new opportunity in their development along our pathway."

The venue

We welcome the Warriors to our wonderful home of The Alexander Stadium, the venue for the historic 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Because of operational reasons, this game will taking place on the warm-up pitch next to the stadium. Entry to the warm-up pitch is to the side of the High Performance Centre. Fans driving to the stadium can park in front of the High Performance Centre/Gymnastics and Martial Arts Centre (GMAC for short) for free.

Please note that we are a cashless venue and only accept card payments.

Match coverage

For those fans unable to attend on the day, full match updates will be available on our Twittter (@HurricanesRLFC) with half-time and full-time updates to our Instagram (@HurricanesRLFC) and Facebook accounts (Midlands Hurricanes).  

Hurricanes squad v Wigan Warriors

Barcoe, Bass, Billsborough, Bologun (Trialist), Clavering, Cullimore, Green, Hewitt, Hobson, Horner, Kirby, Kirkbright, Maull, Moran, Naks (Trialist), Oakes, Simpson (Trialist), Suga (Trialist), L Welham, M Welham, Wilkinson, Willis, Windley.

Wigan Warriors squad to be confirmed.