2020 Wigan Warriors season
English rugby league season
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The 2020 season was the Wigan Warriors's 40th consecutive season playing in England's top division of rugby league. During the season, they competed in the Super League XXV and the 2020 Challenge Cup.
| Wigan Warriors 2020 season | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super League XXV Rank | 1st | |||
| Play-off result | Runners-up | |||
| Challenge Cup | Semi-finals | |||
| 2020 record | Wins: 15; draws: 0; losses: 6 | |||
| Points scored | For: 489; against: 318[a] | |||
| Team information | ||||
| Chairman | Ian Lenagan | |||
| Head Coach | Adrian Lam | |||
| Captain | ||||
| Stadium | DW Stadium | |||
| Avg. attendance | 12,222 | |||
| Agg. attendance | 48,889 | |||
| High attendance | 15,040 | |||
| Low attendance | 10,333 | |||
| Top scorers | ||||
| Tries | Bevan French (17) | |||
| Goals | Zak Hardaker (72) | |||
| Points | Zak Hardaker (164) | |||
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Preseason friendlies
The 2020 pre-season saw three matches played including a testimonial, against Leeds Rhinos, for academy graduate Liam Farrell who has been playing for the first team since the 2010 season.[1] The first match against the London Skolars was a continuation of an annual event between the Warriors and Skolars, resulting in a 70–6 win by the away side. The second match against the Leeds Rhinos resulted in a 10–22 loss for Wigan. The final match against derby rivals Leigh Centurions, ended in a 6–12 loss for the Warriors.
| Date | Opponent | H/A | Result | Scorers | Att. | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 January 2020 | A | 70–6 | ||||
| 19 January 2020 | H | 10–22 | [2] | |||
| 23 January 2020 | A | 6–12 | [3] | |||
Super League
Source:[4]
Regular season
Matches
Win Draw Loss Postponed/Cancelled/Expunged
| Date and time | MW | Versus | H/A | Venue | Result | Score | Tries | Goals | Attendance | Position | TV | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 January, 19:45 | 1 | H | DW Stadium | W | 16–10 | French, Powell, Marshall | Hardaker (2) | 15,040 | 6th | Sky Sports | [5] | |
| 7 February, 19:45 | 2 | A | The Mend-A-Hose Jungle | L | 12–16 | Byrne, Burgess | Hardaker (2) | 8,848 | 7th | Not Aired | [6] | |
| 13 February, 19:45 | 3 | H | DW Stadium | W | 32–10 | Smith, French (2), Burgess, Farrell (2) | Hardaker (4) | 10,333 | 2nd | Sky Sports | [7][b] | |
| 23 February, 19:45 | 4 | H | DW Stadium | W | 26–12 | French, Manfredi, Hastings, Isa | Hardaker (5) | 12,005 | 2nd | Not Aired | [11] | |
| 1 March, 15:00 | 5 | A | John Smiths Stadium | W | 42–10 | Isa, Marshall (3), Powell, Manfredi, Partington, Burgess | Hardaker (5) | 6,574 | 1st | Not Aired | [12] | |
| 8 March, 15:00 | 6 | H | DW Stadium | W | 30–16 | Hastings (2), Farrell, Powell, Marshall | Hardaker (5) | 11,511 | 1st | Not Aired | [12] | |
| 13 March, 19:45 | 7 | A | AJ Bell Stadium | L | 14–18 | Hastings, Powell | Hankinson (3) | 4,796 | 1st | Sky Sports | [13] | |
| 22 March, 15:00 | 8 | H | DW Stadium | Postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic: On 16 March the Super League and RFL announced the suspension of all games until 3 April.[14] | ||||||||
| 27 March, 19:45 | 9 | A | The Mobile Rocket Stadium | |||||||||
| Indefinite suspension of the Super League announced on 24 March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[15] | ||||||||||||
| On 26 June the RFL announced the Super League would return on 2 August.[16] | ||||||||||||
| 9 August, 15:15 | 8 | N | Headingley Stadium | W | 23–22 | Hardaker, French, Marshall, Bibby | Hardaker (3) Drop-goals: Smith |
Played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[17] | 1st | Sky Sports | [18] | |
| 16 August, 18:30 | 9 | N | Totally Wicked Stadium | W | 28–10 | Farrell, Manfredi, French (2), Bibby | Hardaker (4) | 1st | Sky Sports | [19] | ||
| 29 August, 16:15 | 10 | N | Halliwell Jones Stadium | Postponed due to two Catalans Dragons players testing positive for COVID-19. Wigan's schedule was changed to play their round 18 tie against Castleford Tigers instead, who had been freed up in round 10 due to Toronto Wolfpack's earlier exit from the competition.[20][21] NB: This match was set to be aired on Sky Sports. | ||||||||
| 29 August, 16:15 | 18 | N | Halliwell Jones Stadium | W | 30–22 | Powell, Burgess, Farrell, Bullock, Flower | Hardaker (5) | Played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[17] | 1st | Sky Sports | [22] | |
| 3 September, 18:00 | 11 | N | Headingley Stadium | L | 18–34 | Powell, Hastings, Smith | Hardaker (3) | 3rd >> 4th[c] | Sky Sports | [24] | ||
| 12 September, 17:00 | 12 | A | Stade Gilbert Brutus | W | 28–18 | Gildart, French, Burgess (2), Powell | Hardaker (4) | 5,000[d] | 3rd | Sky Sports | [25] | |
| 25 September, 20:15 | 13 | N | Halliwell Jones Stadium | W | 28–16 | Hastings, French (2), Powell, Gildart | Hardaker (4) | Played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[17] | 3rd | Sky Sports | [26] | |
| 29 September, 19:45 | 14 | N | AJ Bell Stadium | L | 0–42 | 4th | Sky Sports | [27] | ||||
| 9 October, 19:45 | 15 | N | Headingley Stadium | W | 18–14 | Greenwood, Hardaker, Farrell | Hardaker (3) | 2nd | Sky Sports | [28] | ||
| 14 October | 16 | A | Lamport Stadium | Fixture cancelled following Toronto Wolfpack withdrawal from the Super League 2020.[9] | ||||||||
| 15 October, 17:30 | 10 | N | Halliwell Jones Stadium | Postponed due to several Wigan Warriors players testing positive for COVID-19. The match was later cancelled as a revised date was unable to be arranged.[29] NB: This match was set to be aired on Sky Sports. | ||||||||
| 23 October, 17:30 | 17 | N | Totally Wicked Stadium | W | 58–12 | Powell (2), Farrell (2), French (3), Hastings, Gildart (2) | Hardaker (9) | Played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[17] | 2nd | Sky Sports | [30] | |
| 30 October, 19:45 | 19 | N | Totally Wicked Stadium | W | 18–6 | Bibby, Leuluai, French, Hastings | Hardaker | 1st | Sky Sports | [31] | ||
| 6 November, 19:45 | 20 | N | Headingley Stadium | W | 19–6 | Powell, Hastings, Hardaker | Hardaker (3) Drop-goals: Hastings |
1st | Sky Sports | [32] | ||
| 8/9 November | 21 | Cancelled: Due to a significantly higher proportion of positive COVID-19 tests in the Hull KR squad, a decision was made to curtail the remainder of the season on 3 November. Select matches would still go ahead to enable all teams to have played a similar number of games.[29] | ||||||||||
| 12/13 November | 22 | |||||||||||
League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PP | Pts | PCT | Qualification[e] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17 | 13 | 0 | 4 | 408 | 278 | 146.8 | 26 | 76.47 | Semi-finals | |
| 2 | 17 | 12 | 0 | 5 | 469 | 195 | 240.5 | 24 | 70.59 | ||
| 3 | 17 | 12 | 0 | 5 | 365 | 204 | 178.9 | 24 | 70.59 | Elimination semi-finals | |
| 4 | 13 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 376 | 259 | 145.2 | 16 | 61.54 | ||
| 5 | 17 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 369 | 390 | 94.6 | 20 | 58.82 | ||
| 6 | 17 | 9 | 0 | 8 | 405 | 436 | 92.9 | 18 | 52.94 | ||
| 7 | 18 | 7 | 0 | 11 | 318 | 367 | 86.6 | 14 | 38.89 | ||
| 8 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 328 | 379 | 86.5 | 12 | 37.50 | ||
| 9 | 18 | 8 | 0 | 10 | 354 | 469 | 75.5 | 10[f] | 27.78[f] | ||
| 10 | 19 | 5 | 0 | 14 | 324 | 503 | 64.4 | 10 | 26.32 | ||
| 11 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 290 | 526 | 55.1 | 6 | 17.65 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points difference; 3) Number of points scored;
(C) Champions; (L) League Leaders' Shield Winners
Notes:
- Does not include expunged win against Toronto Wolfpack
- Following Toronto Wolfpack's decision to withdraw from the 2020 Super League due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[8] all previous results involving Toronto Wolfpack would be expunged from the 2020 season record.[9][10]
- Due to the difference in regulations regarding the COVID-19 pandemic in France, a capped attendance of 5,000 was permitted for the game.
Play-offs
Win Draw Loss
- All fixtures are subject to change
| Date and time | Round | Versus | H/A | Venue | Result | Score | Tries | Goals | Attendance | TV | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 November, 19:45 | Semi-final | H | DW Stadium | W | 29–2 | Burgess, Smith, Hardaker, Bibby, French | Hardaker (4) Drop-goals: Smith |
Played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[17] | Sky Sports | [38] | |
| 27 November, 20:00 | Grand Final | N | KCOM Stadium | L | 4–8 | Bibby | Sky Sports | [39] |
Challenge Cup
Win Draw Loss Postponed/Cancelled
- All fixtures are subject to change
| Date and time | Round | Versus | H/A | Venue | Result | Score | Tries | Goals | Attendance | TV | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4/5 April | Sixth round | H | DW Stadium | Postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic: On 16 March the Super League and RFL announced the suspension of all games until 3 April.[14] | |||||||
| 22 August, 14:30 | N | Kirklees Stadium | Cancelled: Due to the withdrawal of tier 2 and tier 3 clubs, and Toronto Wolfpack from the competition, all sixth round will be redrawn.[40] Wigan was one of the six teams to receive a bye to the quarter-finals.[41] NB: This match was set to be aired on BBC One.[42] | ||||||||
| 19 September, 17:00 | Quarter-final | N | AJ Bell Stadium | W | 36–4 | Powell, Farrell (2), French (2), Burgess, Gildart | Hardaker (4) | Played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[17] | BBC Two | [43] | |
| 3 October, 14:30 | Semi-final | N | Totally Wicked Stadium | L | 12–26 | Smith, Hardaker | Hardaker (2) | BBC One | [44] | ||
Transfers
In
| Player | From | Contract | Date | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Years | June 2019 | [45] | ||
| 2 Years | June 2019 | [46] | ||
| 2 Years | June 2019 | [47] | ||
| 3 Years | July 2019 | [48] | ||
| 4 Years | November 2019 | [49] | ||
| 3 Years | September 2020 | [citation needed] | ||
Out
| Player | To | Contract | Date | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year | September 2019 | [50] | ||
| Undisclosed | September 2019 | [50] | ||
| Undisclosed | October 2019 | [51] | ||
| 2 Years | October 2019 | [52] | ||
| 1 Year | October 2019 | |||
| Undisclosed | November 2019 | |||
| 2 Years | November 2019 | [53] | ||
| 1 Year | November 2019 | |||
| 3 Years | November 2019 | |||
| Released[a] | N/a | June 2020 | [54] |
Loans Out
| Player | To | Contract | Date | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year | December 2019 | |||
| 1 Year | December 2019 | |||
Squad
Notes
- Later joined Salford Red Devils
- James McDonnell is currently undeclared for a national side and is eligible for either England or Ireland