Betts previews Huddersfield

[josie andrews]

* Denis Betts gave his thoughts ahead of the Warriors’ Round 3 Betfred Women’s Super League game against Huddersfield Giants.

* Betts: “We’ve got to turn up with the right attitude and make sure we do the tough stuff before we earn the right to play.”

* Read the full match preview HERE. https://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2024/05/ ... field-a-2/

DENIS BETTS SPOKE TO WIGANWARRIORS.COM TO GIVE HIS THOUGHTS AHEAD OF WIGAN WARRIORS ROUND 3 BETFRED WOMEN’S SUPER LEAGUE STADIUM AGAINST HUDDERSFIELD GIANTS AT THE JOHN SMITH’S STADIUM THIS SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

Reflecting on the season so far, which sees Wigan unbeaten in the Challenge Cup, Super League and Nines competition, he said: “It’s been a good a good start to the season. We’ve been finding our feet but putting points on the board at the start of the season, especially with the first game being at the Stadium was fantastic for the girls.

“We’ve found a little bit of rhythm and it’s now about keeping the team consistent and coming up to this weekend it’s about facing our first big challenge away from home.”

The Warriors took a short break from Betfred Women’s Super League action last weekend to participate in the annual Nines Tournament at Warrington’s Victoria Park where Wigan registered three wins out of three against Huddersfield Giants, London Broncos and Salford Red Devils to progress to the Finals Day for a second year running.

On the Nines, Betts said: “The last game we played in the Nines was against Salford and it was effectively our U19s out on the field. Everybody who was on the pitch is eligible for our Academy and I think looking at our squad – which is a good reflection of what happens below our first team – in my starting team there’s seven or eight girls who can actually play both first team or academy.

“Identifying that talent, nurturing that talent and giving them the opportunity for me to see them in action at different stages of the year is great. The Nines was about getting through but also offering opportunity to a few girls to really step forward and show they can play up.”

Next up for the Warriors it’s Round 3 of Betfred Women’s Super League as they come up against Lori Halloran’s side on Saturday afternoon. Speaking on facing the Giants, the Warriors Women’s Head Coach said: “We play in a big stadium again this week, it’s great that the girls are getting these opportunities. We like a big pitch, we’re a quick side and a side that likes to show our skill and throw the ball about when the chances come.

“I think playing our first game of the season at our home stadium will really help this weekend in managing nerves – the girls will be able to cope with that little bit of anxiety that a big pitch can bring sometimes.”

On the opposition, he added: “They’re physical and they’ve got some good expectations of themselves. They have a number of experienced and talented players so we know they’ll bring some experience, they’ve signed well in the off-season and it’s going to be a challenge because we’re a young side but one that wants to play.

“We’ve got to turn up with the right attitude and make sure we do the tough stuff before we earn the right to play.”

https://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2024/05/ ... dersfield/

[josie andrews]

Women’s Match preview: Huddersfield (A)

HERE’S EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW AHEAD OF WIGAN WARRIORS ROUND THREE BETFRED WOMEN’S SUPER LEAGUE GAME AGAINST HUDDERSFIELD GIANTS AT JOHN SMITH’S STADIUM (12PM K.O.)

Wigan Warriors Women travel to the John Smith’s Stadium to face Huddersfield Giants in a double-header fixture this Saturday 11 May (12pm K.O.) for Round three of the Betfred Women’s Super League season. The Warriors will be looking to continue their winning ways after a round two win over Featherstone Rovers two weeks ago.

The Warriors Women will be first of two games at the John Smith’s Stadium on Saturday afternoon as the Warriors Men play at 3pm against the Giants. Read the Men’s Match Preview HERE.

Squad News

1 Grace Banks
3 Anna Davies
5 Ellise Derbyshire
7 Emma Knowles
8 Alice Fisher
9 Abbie Singleton
10 Holly Speakman
12 Mary Coleman
13 Victoria Molyneux
14 Rachel Thompson
21 Jade Gregory-Haselden
23 Kaitlin Hilton
25 Sarah Bardsley
26 Cerys Jones
27 Beth Hayes
32 Isabel Rowe
34 Emma Welsford
35 Rease Casey
36 Nirada Phonsaya
37 Jenna Foubister
38 Gracie Bradshaw

Head Coach Denis Betts has made six changes to the squad that faced Featherstone Rovers in Round 2. Victoria Molyneux and Sarah Bardsley return to the squad after returning to action in the Nines as new recruits Nirada Phonsaya and Gracie Bradshaw are also named in the 21.

Academy graduates Emma Welsford and Jenna Foubister also feature in Betts’ 21-player squad.

Opposition

Head-to-Head

After facing off in Nines competition on Sunday afternoon – the Warriors and Giants will come head-to-head again this weekend. It will be the seventh meeting between the two sides, with Wigan having been victorious in all six previous meetings.

Wigan 26, Huddersfield 6 (SLG1-R9, 3/9/23)
Wigan 46, Huddersfield 10 (CCQF, 18/6/23)
Huddersfield 20, Wigan 30 (SL-G1, 28/5/23)
Wigan 42, Huddersfield 4 (SL-G1, 7/8/22)
Huddersfield 18, Wigan 30 (SL-G1, 5/6/22)
Huddersfield 10, Wigan 68 (SL, 30/5/21)

The Warriors come into the fixture second in the Betfred Women’s Super League table after wins in the opening two games over Barrow Raiders and Featherstone Rovers. Huddersfield Giants currently sit bottom of the table as they await their first League victory in 2024.

Coach Quotes

Denis Betts spoke to wiganwarriors.com ahead of the R3 fixture at the John Smith’s Stadium: “It’s been a good a good start to the season. We’ve been finding our feet but putting points on the board at the start of the season, especially with the first game being at the Stadium was fantastic for the girls.

“We’ve found a little bit of rhythm and it’s now about keeping the team consistent and coming up to this weekend it’s about facing our first big challenge away from home.”

Read the full preview with the Women’s Head Coach HERE.

Kit Check

Our Warriors Women will wear the blue away kit for Saturday’s fixture. Not got yours yet? Shop 2024 Kappa Kit HERE.