Wigan thrash Saints in opening Super Four game
Wigan Warriors Dominate St Helens in Super Four Debut
Constantvpn.com – The Wigan Warriors have demonstrated their continued supremacy in women’s rugby league with a commanding victory over St Helens in the inaugural Super Four fixture of the 2026 season. The defending champions cruised to a 44-6 triumph at the BrewDog Stadium, extending their winning streak against their Merseyside rivals to five consecutive matches over the past twelve months.
Wigan’s performance was nothing short of comprehensive. They crossed for nine tries in total, with Ellise Derbyshire and Eva Hunter each contributing two scores. The remaining tries came from Anna Davies, Molly Jones, Remi Wilton, Jenna Foubister, and Mary Coleman. St Helens managed only a single response through Luci McColm, who touched down just before the half-time whistle on what proved to be a challenging evening for the home side.
A Statement of Intent
The result reinforces Wigan’s position as the team to beat in the Women’s Super League. Their dominance has been consistent, including a remarkable 54-6 demolition of St Helens in the Challenge Cup final at Wembley earlier this year. With this latest victory, the Warriors have maintained a perfect 100% record in the 2026 campaign.
The match began with Wigan establishing early control. They scored from their opening set when a high kick into the sun was spilled by young Saints full-back Liv Leach and bounced perfectly for Derbyshire to reach over. Hunter then added to the pressure with a spectacular individual effort, receiving the ball inside her own half and combining power, pace, and sidestepping to glide past defenders for a brilliant score.
Early Setback for St Helens
Compounding St Helens’ difficulties, Leach was forced off the field after the early exchange. By the fifteenth minute, Wigan had effectively secured the contest. Davies crossed in the corner following a precise kick over the top from Izzy Rowe, who also contributed four conversions to her team’s total. Derbyshire and Hunter both added their second tries of the match, though Rowe’s conversion accuracy prevented Wigan from building an even more substantial lead.
St Helens finally found some rhythm and possession, with McColm going over just before the interval. However, any hopes of a comeback were quickly extinguished when Molly Jones scored on her first appearance of the season following a knee injury. The final quarter saw Wigan continue their onslaught, with Wilton, Foubister, and Coleman all crossing for tries as Denis Betts’s side built on the momentum from their previous match nearly four weeks earlier.
The New Super Four Format
This fixture marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the Women’s Super League. The Super Four format, introduced for the 2026 season, divides the league into a top four and a bottom four after seven rounds of games, with all teams having played each other once. Crucially, all points earned during the initial phase are carried forward into the new structure.
The format features six rounds of home-and-away fixtures over the next six weekends, with each team facing the other three sides in their section twice. This arrangement aims to increase competition and intensity by ensuring the strongest teams play each other more frequently. The team finishing at the top of the Super Four table earns a direct place in the Grand Final, while the second and third-placed teams contest a play-off to determine the final qualifier. The fourth-placed side misses out entirely.
Meanwhile, the Shield competition involves teams finishing fifth through eighth after the initial seven matches. The bottom team in this group will face the National Championship winners for the final remaining Super League spot in 2027.
Upcoming Fixtures
The Super Four action continues with several matches scheduled for the weekend. On Saturday, 8 August, Leigh Leopards will take on Featherstone Rovers at 13:00 BST, followed by Leeds Rhinos against York Valkyrie at 14:00. Sunday, 9 August features Huddersfield Giants versus Barrow Raiders at 14:00.
Team Lineups
St Helens fielded: Leach; Rotheram, Hardcastle, Woosey, Hook; Drescher, Gaskin; Hoyle-Holdsworth, Casey, Rudge, Travis, McColm, Cunningham. Interchanges included Harris, Whitfield, Mottershead, and McDonald.
Wigan’s lineup featured: Banks; Davies, Salihi, M Jones, Derbyshire; Foubister, Rowe; Coleman, Wilton, Sams, Hunter, C Jones, Williams. Marsh, Atherton, Dainton, and Gentles came off the bench.
The match was officiated by referee Denton Arnold, whose performance helped ensure a smooth contest as Wigan showcased why they remain the standard-bearers for women’s rugby league in 2026.
Related Reading
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Wigan thrash Saints in opening Super?
Wigan thrash Saints in opening Super is the main topic of this guide. The article explains the context, practical details, and next steps readers should understand.
Why does Wigan thrash Saints in opening Super matter?
Wigan thrash Saints in opening Super matters because readers are looking for a useful answer, not just a short summary. Good content should match search intent and help them decide what to do next.
