With the Betfred Women’s Super League play-offs just around the corner, anticipation is at fever pitch for Wigan Warriors Women as they prepare to face Leeds Rhinos in a high-stakes semi-final this coming Sunday at The Brick Community Stadium. The Warriors are riding a wave of momentum, having clinched an impressive trio of trophies in 2025 and setting their sights firmly on reaching the Grand Final for the first time since 2018. But will their recent triumphs be enough to see them past a resilient Leeds side determined to upset the odds?
It’s been a season to remember for Wigan Warriors Women. Less than two weeks ago, they made history by securing the League Leaders’ Shield for the first time, following a hard-fought victory over St Helens. The match, staged prior to the Men’s Derby at the Totally Wicked Stadium, drew a passionate crowd whose support proved invaluable. As Megan Williams, Wigan’s dynamic loose forward, put it, “In the second half, more people starting coming into the stadium and the fans were massive – they were chanting, really getting behind us and it meant so much to the girls. It helped give us that extra motivation to be able to win it in front of the fans and show them what we’re capable of – it meant so much to all of us.”
The celebrations didn’t stop at the final whistle. Just a week later, ahead of the Men’s fixture against Castleford, the Warriors Women’s squad paraded through a packed fan village before lifting the League Leaders’ Shield in front of more than 15,000 supporters at halftime. Williams described the moment as the culmination of a season’s hard work: “I was so excited, it’s what we work for all season and it was such a tough game against St.Helens so it’s a real privilege to be able to get the recognition from the Club with the walkthrough and being able to lift the trophy at the stadium after all our hard work this year.”
It’s been a year of silverware for the Warriors. Alongside the League Leaders’ Shield, they’ve already claimed the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup and the Women’s Nines title. But one prize still eludes them: the Grand Final. To get there, they’ll need to overcome Leeds Rhinos, who finished fourth in the regular season but have a reputation for rising to the occasion in knockout rugby. Williams, ever the realist, knows the challenge ahead: “Every time we play Leeds it’s always a physical match, they’re a very fit and athletic team with a lot of talented girls, they have a strong squad. It’s always a challenge when we play them and we can never underestimate what they can bring either, although they finished fourth it doesn’t mean anything at this point as it’s knockout Rugby. They have a strong squad, they’ve got some players back on the field recently so we have to be very focused this week now in getting everything right to be in with a chance of beating them.”
Preparations have been intense, especially after their final round fixture was called off. Williams explained, “We’ve had a couple of intense sessions in the build-up, particularly because our final round game didn’t go ahead but it’s business as usual this week. It’s all about sticking to what we know, polishing up a few things that we want to get right and then we head into the game.” She summed up the team’s mindset with characteristic determination: “This is it now, it’s the last push – it’s time to bring everything together that we’ve worked for all season. It’s basically the season summed up into 80 minutes this Sunday, we’ve got put work our absolute hardest to try and get that win.”
Williams hasn’t forgotten the role of the fans, whose vocal support has become a hallmark of Wigan’s campaign. She’s urging supporters to turn out in force for the semi-final: “They [the Wigan fans] made such a big impact the other week to help us towards the League Leaders so hopefully it’ll be the same at The Brick this Sunday.” With a Grand Final berth on the line, the atmosphere promises to be electric.
While the women’s team prepares for their biggest test of the season, the wider Wigan Warriors organization is also basking in a period of outstanding form. Legendary winger Martin Offiah recently selected his Super League Team of the Week for Round 26, with Wigan’s men featuring prominently following a resounding 62-6 victory over Castleford Tigers. That win marked their fourth straight triumph, a clear sign that the Warriors—across both men’s and women’s squads—are peaking at the perfect time.
Offiah singled out Jai Field as “the best full-back in Super League,” noting his two-try haul against Castleford and his position as the league’s leading try scorer with 24 in 2025. Bevan French, another key figure, orchestrated much of Wigan’s attacking play, even if he didn’t cross the line himself. Kruise Leeming and Ethan Havard were praised for their crucial contributions, helping to lay the platform for Wigan’s dominance. Junior Nsemba, who has hit top form as the season reaches its climax, continued to impress with his creativity and work rate.
It’s not just Wigan making headlines, of course. Offiah’s Team of the Week also featured standouts from Leigh Leopards, Wakefield Trinity, Hull FC, and Catalans Dragons, reflecting a fiercely competitive Super League landscape as the play-offs approach. Lachlan Lam of Leigh, who recently became a father, delivered a man-of-the-match performance in a vital win over St Helens. Meanwhile, Catalans’ Benjamin Garcia earned plaudits for a tireless display that included 51 tackles, underscoring the grit required at this stage of the season.
But for Wigan Warriors Women, the focus is squarely on Sunday. With three trophies already in the cabinet, the chance to add a Grand Final appearance—and potentially the ultimate prize—looms tantalizingly close. Leeds Rhinos, with their physicality and never-say-die attitude, will provide a stern test. Yet, as Williams and her teammates know all too well, the margins are razor-thin in knockout rugby. One moment of brilliance, one defensive stand, could tip the balance and send Wigan to their first Grand Final in seven years.
As the countdown continues, all eyes are on The Brick Community Stadium. Will the Warriors’ remarkable season continue, or will Leeds spring a surprise? Either way, Sunday’s semi-final promises drama, passion, and the kind of spectacle that makes rugby league such a beloved sport. Tickets are still available, and if Williams’ rallying cry is anything to go by, the fans will be out in force, ready to roar their team towards history.
With the play-offs heating up across both the men’s and women’s competitions, Wigan Warriors’ pursuit of glory stands as one of the most compelling stories of the 2025 rugby league season. All that’s left now is for the players to deliver when it matters most—on the field, this Sunday evening.
