2009 Wigan Warriors season

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2009 Wigan Warriors season
JJB Stadium
Avg. attendance13,695
High attendance22,232
(St Helens RLFC, 9 April)
Top scorers
TriesPat Richards (23)
GoalsPat Richards (102)
PointsPat Richards (296)
← 2008 List of seasons 2010 →

Super League XIV and Challenge Cup
in the 2009 season.

Background

See also:
History of Wigan Warriors

Following Brian Noble's move from the

JJB Stadium, after the club moved there upon the stadium's completion in 1999.[7]

In contrast to the club's historical success,

previous season the Wigan Warriors finished fourth in the league table meaning they qualified for the play-offs,[10] and after defeating Bradford Bulls and Catalans Dragons,[11][12] the club fell short of the 2008 Super League Grand Final after losing to Leeds Rhinos at Headingley for the second year running.[13]

Pre-season

Following their knock-out at the hands of Leeds, the task of acquiring new players began. 2008 was influential

NRL, although the club did not pursue any deal with Smith and he therefore stayed at Wigan for the 2009 season.[24] Greg Bird, who had been suspended by Cronulla Sharks for an alleged assault on his girlfriend was also cited by The Independent as a target for the Warriors, but any plans of a transfer were initially denied by the club's chairman, Ian Lenagan.[25] On 30 January 2009, Lenagan confirmed it was unlikely there would be any more signings for the new season, having acquired two new players (Amos Roberts and Mark Riddell), after attempts to sign Richard Moore from Wakefield Trinity Wildcats failed.[26]

The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was held in Australia during the off-season, and several Wigan players from the 2008 season were involved in matches concerning their own international teams. Pat Richards, Eamon O'Carroll and Michael McIlorum were called by the Irish team, with Paul Prescott missing out due to a back injury.[27] Carmont and Harrison Hansen were selected for the Samoan national team.[28] Stuart Fielden was omitted from the England squad but Calderwood, Higham and Gareth Hock all received places.[29] Thomas Leuluai became the only Super League player from the 2008 season to win the World Cup when the New Zealand team he played hooker for defeated the Australian team 20–34 in the final.[30][31]

Wigan played three

Leigh Centurions by 0–32 with a squad in which both new signings, Roberts and Riddell, were left out of.[34]

LEGEND
  Win
  Draw
  Loss
Opponent Score H/A Date
Warrington Wolves 4–44 Away 28 December 2008
Huddersfield Giants 24–28 Away 25 January 2009
Leigh Centurions
 0–32 Away 30 January 2009

Season overview

See also: 2009 Super League season results

February

Wigan's season began on 8 February with a home defeat to a depleted

sin-bin by the referee, Richard Silverwood, for the deliberate obstruction of Halley, and match ended in the first defeat for Wigan in their 2009 campaign.[35]

Prior to their next match, the Warriors announced a partnership with the

KC Stadium.[39] Hull FC started strongly, but Wigan scored first off a Tim Smith kick to Goulding and Phelps which eventually resulted in a try for Bailey.[39] Richard Horne scored for Hull to level the scores at 6–6 before a last resort intervention from Kirk Yeaman denied Goulding a try.[39] The scores were therefore level at half-time, and a kick from Smith resulted in another try for Richards who bettered his opposite winger, Mark Calderwood in the air.[39] With four key players missing—Riddell, Phelps, Bailey and Richards—due to injury, Wigan tired in the final quarter allowing Chris Thorman and Peter Cusack to score late in the game to put the tie beyond the visiting team.[39]

With Mathers suspended and Cameron Phelps injured with a hamstring injury and two other injury concerns, Karl Pryce and Shaun Ainscough were given places in the initial 19-man squad to take on Castleford Tigers.[40] A third defeat out of three matches came as Castleford won a ten try game 22–28, a result which meant Wigan's worst start to a season in twenty-four years.[41] With Richards still missing due to injury, conversions proved to be the difference as both teams scored five tries apiece, but kickers Roberts and Riddell could only manage one successful kick whilst the Tigers' kicker Kirk Dixon managed four. Two disallowed Castleford tries in the first ten minutes were followed by two penalty goals by Dixon to give Castleford a 0–4 lead.[41] Thomas Leuluai's effort gave Wigan a try before Joe Westerman put the Tigers ahead again after 34 minutes.[41] Castleford scored again through Brett Ferres, with Dixon converting to give Castleford a 6–16 lead at half-time.[41] Wigan scored first after the break thanks to a try from Karl Pryce, but this was unconverted and Castleford replied with two more of their own with Dixon and Ferres scoring his second try.[41] Wigan started a fight back, initially through a Goulding try, and then again through Joel Tomkins.[41] Ainscough marked his debut with a fifty-yard try to reduce the deficit to two points, but Michael Shenton's try sealed the victory for Castleford.[41] Michael McIlorum was also cited and suspended by the Rugby Football League after the game for a dangerous throw on Mitchell Sargent.[42] After failing to gain a point from the first three matches in the season, Noble's position as head coach was strengthened when Ian Lenagan publicly supported him, stating, "Brian is a very experienced coach and I'm sure we'll get this right. He has had bad starts to the season before, and he has good starts."[43]

Wigan recorded their first win of the season with an 18–24 victory over

Louis McCarthy-Scarsbrook a chance to score a try in the 64th minute.[44] Chris Melling restored a four-point lead for the home side with ten minutes left in the game after Harrison Hansen knocked-on.[44] In the 75th minute, Randall's pass was intercepted by Roberts for an easy intercept try which Richards converted to give a two-point lead, which was increased to six as Ainscough scored the final try of the game.[44]

March

The start of March was also the start of the reserve team's season, which begin with a comfortable win against

Iafeta Palea'aesina run, before Palea'aesina himself scored Wigan's final try.[46] Steve Menzies scored his first Bradford try before the match ended.[46]

Wigan's run of victories was short-lived as they lost the away tie to Leeds Rhinos immediately after. An unchanged Wigan side from the tie against Bradford could only score two tries, conceding six the other way.[47] The victory was the Rhinos' fifth out of five matches, and they were ahead after three minutes thanks to a 40–20 which was converted into a try by Kylie Leuluai.[47] An error from Ainscough proved costly as Scott Donald scored from the resulting turnover.[47] Upon the half-hour mark, Leeds were 22–0 ahead after Rob Burrow touched down under the sticks and another 40–20 provided a try, this time for Ryan Hall.[47] Ainscough scored Wigan's first try following a pass from Thomas Leuluai, before Wigan were disallowed another try after the video referee Phil Bentham ruled Sean O'Loughlin had obstructed Burrow.[47] Hall scored his second, besting Roberts in the air, after fifty minutes.[47] Peacock scored Leeds' sixth try, bursting through the defensive line, whilst Hock scored the last try of the game.[47]

An away tie to

metatarsal bone during the reserve game against Salford.[49]

In a game that was 8–10 going into the final ten minutes, and had three players sent to the sin-bin, Wigan lost their third home game.[50] Amos Roberts returned after being dropped to the reserves the week before, whilst the visiting Huddersfield team contained five former Wigan players.[50] Brett Hodgson gave Huddersfield the initiative by kicking a penalty for a 0–2 lead, and Hock almost responded but knocked-on in the act of scoring a try.[50] Bailey eventually scored a try for Wigan, but Richards failed to convert, and the score was made level after another kicked penalty from Brett Hodgson.[50] Scott Moore gave Huddersfield the lead again after a run from dummy half to give a 4–10 lead, despite a take-out on Leuluai just before half-time which went unpenalised.[50] Luke Robinson was sin-binned for delaying play and Roberts almost made the advantage count, but grounded the ball in touch and the try was disallowed.[50] Darrell Griffin and Hansen were then sin-binned for a fight, before passing along the backs lead to a Roberts try, but Richards again failed to convert.[50] Ainscough then fumbled a kick from Robinson, and Michael Lawrence punished the mistake by scoring a try for Huddersfield.[50] Brown scored minutes later to put the game beyond Wigan.[50]

April

The fourth round of the

Craven Park for twenty-five years.[51][52] The game itself was still in the balance fifteen minutes from time, with Barrow trailing Wigan by four points at 20–24, following a match which had seen a Shaun Ainscough hat-trick and Wigan's defensive frailties exploited again.[53] The result pivoted on a forward pass decision which ruled out another Barrow try, minutes before Pryce scored a controversial try for Wigan in which he appeared to have knocked-on, with twelve minutes left to play.[53] A try from Tomkins eventually sealed the win for Wigan to advance them into the fifth round of the competition.[53]

On the day after, it was confirmed

Richie Mathers in return for Gleeson.[56] On the day after Gleeson's signing was announced, the draw for the Challenge Cup's fifth round took place. Wigan received an away tie to Wakefield Trinity Wildcats.[57]

Gleeson featured in the first derby match of the year against St Helens RLFC. Ainscough put the home Wigan side ahead after nine minutes with a try on the wing, following a kick from Leuluai.

Matt Gidley and Leon Pryce gave the visitors a 12–18 lead, and a Kyle Eastmond drop goal sealed the match for them.[58]

Prior to their next match, Barrow Raiders confirmed that they had signed Lee Mossop on a month-long loan.[59]

Despite providing a close fight against St Helens, the club's visit to Perpignan for their away tie against Catalans Dragons ended in its third consecutive loss. The Dragons scored first through Dimitri Pelo's try in the second minute.[60] Wigan scored fourteen points in return, with three tries from Roberts, Ainscough and Gleeson and one conversion for a 4–14 lead.[60] A ten-point lead proved precarious as Catalans ran in thirty-six unanswered points, the first of them coming through a Greg Bird try.[60] Grégory Mounis scored next, and Thomas Bosc kicked the conversion to give the home side the lead, and Jason Ryles gained another try before half-time.[60] The Catalans fullback Clint Greenshields scored first after the break and also scored the next try.[60] Ryles also scored a second try of his own to open a twenty-six-point deficit.[60] Tomkins and Richards gave Wigan two late tries, but the match by then was all but finished.[60]

Similarly to Mossop, Darrell Goulding completed a transfer to Salford City Reds on a month-long loan deal.[61] After an extension to this deal in May, Goulding was to be eventually recalled on 7 July to cope with an injury crisis.[61][62]

The club's next match was against newly promoted Crusaders, who had not won a match yet in the Super League season coming into this fixture.[63] Celtic led after two minutes, when Luke Dyer pounced for a try after Phelps mistakenly let the ball bounce into the in-goal area.[63] Richards replied with a try on the wing, before O'Loughlin gathered his own kick for a solo try to present a lead to the home Wigan side.[63] Two more tries came for Wigan before half-time with Riddell and Roberts both scoring one each.[63] Sam Tomkins scored not long after the break thanks to a run from Palea'asesina.[63] Carmont stretched the lead further with a try of his own, and O'Loughlin scored his second try of the match.[63] Damien Quinn was sin-binned in his 100th competitive appearance for the Crusaders—Marshall Chalk was also sin-binned later on.[63][64] Richards claimed his second try almost instantly after Quinn's dismissal.[63] Mark Dalle Cort scored a late Celtic try and captain Jace Van Dijk successfully converted, but Wigan had another try before the game ended, with Sam Tomkins grounding his second try of the match—his team's ninth—to complete a convincing victory for the home side.[63]

Transfer news occupied the break between this win and the Warriors' second league match against Wakefield Trinity Wildcats. The

Wigan Evening Post reported that the club, as well as Leeds Rhinos, were interested in signing Richie Myler from Salford City Reds,[65] although neither club were successful in their approaches to the player. Warrington Wolves would eventually sign Myler later in the year.[66] Meanwhile, Thomas Leuluai extended his contract with the club for a further three years.[67]

George Carmont had to be replaced at short notice prior to kick-off against the club's next opponents, Wakefield Trinity Wildcats. Shaun Ainscough was recalled to take his place in the team, and scored four tries to give his side a second consecutive win.[68] Wakefield, like Celtic, put the first points on the scoreboard after Damien Blanch received a kick from Danny Brough for a try on the wing, with Brough converting for a 6–0 lead.[68] Tim Smith linked with Cameron Phelps, who was switched from fullback to center in Carmont's absence, for Wigan's first try.[68] Phelps turned provider as his work gave Ainscough two tries in nine minutes for a 6–16 lead, before Wigan's indiscipline gave Brough a penalty and a try following a handling error from the stand-in fullback, Pat Richards.[68] Ainscough scored again on the wing to complete his hat-trick, but Wakefield replied after Brough intercepted a pass from Martin Gleeson and returned 45 metres for his second try to make the scores 20–22 at half time.[68] Wakefield took the lead shortly after the break as Blanch took advantage of Ainscough's weak defence for his second try.[68] This was Wakefield's last try of the match, as Phelps gathered a kick from Smith to score a try next to the posts which Richards converted successfully.[69] Riddell was injured with a hamstring, and despite Wakefield pressure, Wigan scored again as a run from Sam Tomkins led to another try for Ainscough—his sixteenth in ten matches.[68][69] Gleeson scored in the final ten minutes to put the game beyond the home side's reach.[69]

May

Ahead of their 2009

ANZAC Test, news which was welcomed by Brian Noble, who stated that New Zealand had, "enough southern hemisphere-based Kiwis to cope."[70] Leuluai instead took membership of a Wigan side which recorded its third successive league win at Murrayfield Stadium over a St Helens RLFC side including James Graham, who had complained earlier in the week about the event's location being too far away.[71] Wigan had lost to St Helens at the Magic Weekend event in 2007 and 2008, 34–18 and 57–16 respectively, but it was Wigan's captain Sean O'Loughlin who scored the game's first try after seven minutes.[72] Pat Richards scored the match's second try following a kick from O'Loughlin, and added both conversions to give Wigan a 12–0 lead.[72] This was further extended after Gareth Hock scored after 29 minutes.[72] Sean Long gained a try back for St Helens as his grubber kick rebounded off Leuluai, before a break from Sam Tomkins fed his older brother Joel for a try just before half time.[72] Two minutes after the break, Wigan kicked a penalty to stretch the lead to 26–6, and Wigan ended any hope of a St Helens comeback as Leuluai scored following a break down the wing from Richards.[72] St Helens scored the next two tries through Leon Pryce and Paul Wellens, with Long kicking both conversions, but Richards scored his second try and kicked the conversion to take his personal haul to twenty-two, and end the match 38–18.[72] With Noble's contract due to expire at the end of the season, Ian Lenagan praised him for Wigan's biggest derby win in six years over St Helens, but refused to offer any assurances about Noble's future at the club, after Bradford Bulls refuted a claim that they wanted to replace Steve McNamara with Noble.[73]

For the next match, the players again returned to Belle Vue, two weeks after their league win. The Wakefield Trinity Wildcats were coached by John Kear, twice a winner of the Cup as a head coach, most recently in 2005 with Hull FC,[74] and in 1998 when his Sheffield Eagles side defeated Wigan 17–8 in the final,[74] three years after Wigan's last of a record eight consecutive Challenge Cup final victories.[75] The match did not start in Wigan's favour, as Danny Brough provided passes to Jason Demetriou and Tevita Leo-Latu, and kicked a conversion to give the Wildcats a 10–0 lead.[76] Wigan went in ahead at half time though. Wigan got their first points with a try on the wing from Richards, and then another try from Michael McIlorum following a Gareth Hock pass.[76] Brough kicked a drop-goal to give Wakefield a point lead, but Cameron Phelps scored a third Wigan try after Sean O'Loughlin broke the line from his own half.[76] Wakefield went ahead for the third time twelve minutes after the break, with a grubber kick from Brough being gathered by Tony Martin.[76] Stuart Fielden then scored his first try in two years before Sam Tomkins finished the game with a try of his own making.[76] The fourth goal of the match meant the final scores were 17–28; a win for Wigan which advanced them to the quarter-finals.[76] The day after, the draw for the next round to be played three weeks later was made, with Wigan receiving a home tie against Salford City Reds.[77]

Following a run of four games, the club's next match was against Hull Kingston Rovers. Their preparations were boosted by news that Sam Tomkins would not receive a match ban for his conduct against Wakefield in the Challenge Cup tie.[78] Goulding extended his loan spell at Salford City Reds, but with a condition that Wigan could recall him with 24 hours notice.[79] The match seemed to be heading towards a 6–0 lead for Wigan at half-time, after Sean O'Loughlin scored a try and Richards kicked a goal, but a controversial try scored by Michael Dobson after the hooter had sounded was awarded by the referee, Richard Silverwood.[80] Incensed, Wigan started the second half with another converted try from the captain, O'Loughlin, but this was to be their final score of the match.[80] Paul Cooke collected his own kick for a solo try, and Jake Webster put Hull KR into the lead, with Dobson kicking both goals for a six-point advantage.[80] A late penalty was kicked by Dobson for another two ponts, concluding the match in favour of Hull KR. The match ended Wigan's run of four victories, and placed Hull KR temporarily at the top of the Super League XIV table.[80]

Following his loan spell at Barrow, Lee Mossop transferred to Huddersfield Giants on a month-long loan.

Sydney Morning Herald linked him to a coaching role at Sydney Roosters.[82] Wigan had not won a game in Warrington since 2003, and despite leading for over half the match, failed to break this record.[83] Warrington successfully charged down two kicks, before a kick from Thomas Leuluai on the third set of six tackles lead to Cameron Phelps scoring the match's opening try.[83] Poor discipline from Ben Westwood gave a penalty, and Wigan almost took advantage when Joel Tomkins was held up over the try-line in the act of scoring by former Wigan full-back, Richie Mathers.[83] Wigan again launched the next attack after forcing a goal line drop out, but a try from Amos Roberts was disallowed because of a knock-on by Pat Richards.[83] Warrington then applied a sustained twenty minute period of pressure, but errors from Westwood and Briers kept them off the scoresheet.[83] Briers weighted his next kick better, with Matt King out-jumping Shaun Ainscough to score Warrington's first try.[83] Bridge's missed conversion meant that Wigan lead 6–4 at half-time, and a penalty kicked by Richards early in the second half meant that this lead was increased by two points.[83] Warrington gained the lead after 55 minutes after Chris Riley punished Stuart Fielden and Andy Coley for giving away successive penalties with a try in the corner.[83] Michael Monaghan shimmied past three Wigan defenders to finish the game off with another Warrington try.[83]

Tim Smith had been left out of the tie against Warrington owing to a family illness, and did not return from his home country, Australia, in time for Wigan's Challenge Cup tie against Salford City Reds, but George Carmont returned from injury.[84] Fielden was also forced to miss the game, after receiving a one-match ban for raising a knee in a tackle during the defeat to Warrington.[85] Without Smith and Fielden, Wigan comprehensively beat Salford City Reds 28–6 to advance to the semi-finals stage of the tournament.[86] Gareth Hock gave the home side the lead, before Salford equalised with a try from Luke Adamson.[86] Wigan replied by taking the lead with a George Carmont try, and could have scored again after Hock broke the line, but Sam Tomkins knocked-on.[86] Another knock-on, this time from Richards, denied Wigan another try.[86] Salford launched repeated attacks on the Wigan line early in the second half, through Mark Henry and Stefan Ratchford, before Willie Talau was pushed into touch by Sam Tomkins.[86] A penalty from Richards added two more points to Wigan's total, and he soon scored his second try, followed by his third on 70 minutes for his second hat-trick in a Wigan jersey.[86] Hock scored the final try, his second, after Tomkins had come close, to finish the game in favour of the Warriors.[86] Wigan therefore entered their first Challenge Cup semi-final since 2007, when they were defeated by Catalans Dragons at the Halliwell Jones Stadium in Warrington,[87] and it was Warrington Wolves who were drawn as their 2009 semi-final opponents.[88]

June

July

August

September

October

Transfers

Amos Roberts, one of two pre-season signings made by Wigan.

Transfers in

Pos Name From Date Notes
HK Mark Riddell Parramatta Eels 14 May 2008 [89]
WG Amos Roberts Sydney Roosters 22 January 2009 [90]
CE Martin Gleeson Warrington Wolves 6 April 2009 [91]

Transfers out

Pos Name To Date Notes
SO Trent Barrett
Cronulla Sharks
 5 June 2008 [92]
WG Mark Calderwood Hull 11 September 2008 [93]
HK Mickey Higham Warrington Wolves 15 September 2008 [94]
WG Liam Colbon Hull Kingston Rovers 18 September 2008 [95]
FB Richie Mathers Warrington Wolves 6 April 2009 [91]

Loans out

Pos Name To Date from Until Notes
SR Lee Mossop Barrow Raiders 9 April 2009 9 May 2009 [59]
Huddersfield Giants 19 May 2009 19 June 2009 [81]
19 June 2009 7 July 2009 [62][96]
CE Darrell Goulding Salford City Reds 14 April 2009 14 May 2009 [61]
14 May 2009 7 July 2009 [62]

Player statistics

Pat Richards, Wigan's leading try and goal scorer for 2009.
Gareth Hock, who was suspended for testing positive for cocaine in 2009.
  • Numbers in parentheses represent number of appearances as an interchange.
  • For players who have performed in more than one unique positions, the most frequent is used.
2009 Wigan Warriors season player statistics (Correct as of 3 October)
No. Pos. Name Apps Tries Goals Drops Totals Disciplinary Notes
SL
CC
 SL CC SL CC SL CC Apps Pts yellow card Red card
1 FB Richard Mathers 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1[97] 0 [98]
2 WG Amos Roberts 29 4 12 0 5 1 0 0 33 60 0 0 [98][99][100][101][102]
3 CE Darrell Goulding 6 (3) 1 (1) 2 0 0 0 0 0 7 (4) 8 0 0 [98][99]
4 CE George Carmont 26 4 15 3 0 0 0 0 30 72 0 0 [98][99][100][101][102]
5 WG Pat Richards 28 3 20 3 89 13 0 0 31 296 0 0 [98][100][101][102]
6 SO Tim Smith 12 (1) 2 (1) 1 0 0 0 0 0 14 (2) 4 0 0 [98][99][100]
7 SH Thomas Leuluai 30 4 9 1 0 0 0 0 34 40 1[103] 0 [98][99][100][101][102]
8 PR Stuart Fielden 30 (17) 2 (1) 0 1 0 0 0 0 32 (18) 4 0 0 [98][100][102]
9 HK Mark Riddell 28 (3) 3 3 0 0 1 0 0 31 (3) 14 0 0 [98][99][101][102]
10 PR
Iafeta Palea'aesina
 30 (27) 4 (3) 2 0 0 0 0 0 34 (30) 8 0 0 [98][99][100][101][102]
11 SR Gareth Hock 15 2 4 2 0 0 0 0 17 24 0 0 [98][100][101]
12 SR Phil Bailey 18 4 5 1 0 0 0 0 22 24 0 0 [98][99][100][101][102]
13 LF Sean O'Loughlin (c) 25 4 5 0 0 0 0 0 29 20 0 0 [98][99][100][101][102]
14 SR Joel Tomkins 29 (10) 4 (3) 7 0 0 0 0 0 33 (13) 28 0 0 [98][99][100][101][102]
15 PR Andy Coley 29 (4) 4 (1) 0 1 0 0 0 0 33 (5) 4 1[104] 0 [98][99][100][101][102]
16 SR Harrison Hansen 26 (9) 3 (1) 7 0 0 0 0 0 29 (10) 28 1[50] 0 [98][99][101][102]
17 HK Michael McIlorum 17 (12) 2 (1) 0 1 0 0 0 0 19 (13) 4 0 0 [98][100][101]
19 SR Paul Prescott 24 (7) 4 (1) 0 0 0 0 0 0 28 (8) 0 0 0 [98][99][100][101][102]
20 WG Karl Pryce 6 (2) 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 7 (2) 12 0 0 [98][99]
21 FB Cameron Phelps 23 3 5 1 0 0 0 0 26 24 0 0 [98][100][101][102]
22 CE Martin Gleeson 19 3 6 0 0 0 0 0 22 24 0 0 [98][100][101][102]
23 PR Eamon O'Carroll 6 (4) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 (4) 0 0 0 [98]
24 SR Lee Mossop 9 (9) 1 (1) 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 (10) 0 0 0 [98][99]
25 SO Sam Tomkins 23 (5) 4 (1) 12 3 0 0 1 0 27 (6) 61 1[105] 0 [98][99][100][101][102]
26 HK Mark Flanagan 10 (7) 1 (1) 1 0 0 0 0 0 11 (8) 4 0 0 [98][102]
28 WG Shaun Ainscough 11 1 13 3 0 0 0 0 12 64 0 0 [98][99]

Fixtures

LEGEND
  Win
  Draw
  Loss

Super League

Super League XIV
Main article:
Super League XIV
Round Opponent Score H/A Attendance Date
17 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 6–12 Home 14,377 8 February 2009
1 Hull 18–10
Away
 14,523 13 February 2009
2 Castleford Tigers 22–28 Home 12,079 20 February 2009
3 Harlequins RL 18–24 Away 3,883 28 February 2009
4 Bradford Bulls 44–10 Home 12,588 6 March 2009
5 Leeds Rhinos 34–10 Away 17,677 13 March 2009
6 Salford City Reds 12–38 Away 7,016 20 March 2009
7 Huddersfield Giants 8–22 Home 11,670 27 March 2009
8 St Helens R.F.C. 12–19 Home 22,232 9 April 2009
9 Catalans Dragons 40–24 Away 9,490 13 April 2009
10 Crusaders 44–10 Home 12,371 19 April 2009
11 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 26–40 Away 5,521 26 April 2009
12 St Helens RLFC 38–18 Neutral 29,627 3 May 2009
13 Hull Kingston Rovers 12–20 Home 13,415 15 May 2009
14 Warrington Wolves 16–8 Away 10,718 24 May 2009
15 Salford City Reds 34–18 Home 11,550 5 June 2009
16 Celtic Crusaders 22–16 Away 5,253 13 June 2009
18 Hull Kingston Rovers 28–36 Away 9,007 28 June 2009
19 Harlequins RL 40–12 Home 14,977 3 July 2009
20 Catalans Dragons 24–22 Home 11,543 10 July 2009
21 Bradford Bulls 14–20 Away 9,487 19 July 2009
22 Leeds Rhinos 28–10 Home 20,295 24 July 2009
23 St Helens RLFC 10–6 Away 15,563 31 July 2009
24 Warrington Wolves 36–16 Home 13,452 14 August 2009
25 Castleford Tigers 22–29 Away 6,574 23 August 2009
26 Hull FC 34–22 Home 12,491 4 September 2009
27 Huddersfield Giants 48–16
Away
 8,988 13 September 2009
EPO Castleford Tigers 18–12 Home 8,689 20 September 2009
PSF Hull Kingston Rovers 16–30 Away 8,162 26 September 2009
QSF St Helens RLFC 14–10 Away 13,087 3 October 2009

Challenge Cup

Shaun Ainscough, scoring against Barrow Raiders
Main article: 2009 Challenge Cup
Round Opponent Score H/A Attendance Date
4
[C]
 20–32
Away
 6,275 5 April 2009
5 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats [SL] 17–28 Away 4,883 9 May 2009
QF Salford City Reds [SL] 28–6 Home 9,466 29 May 2009
SF Warrington Wolves [SL] 26–39
Neutral
 12,975 8 August 2009

League table

Pos Team
 Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 Leeds Rhinos (L, C) 27 21 0 6 805 453 +352 42 Play-offs
2
St Helens
 27 19 0 8 733 466 +267 38
3 Huddersfield Giants 27 18 0 9 690 416 +274 36
4 Hull Kingston Rovers 27 17 1 9 650 516 +134 35
5 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 27 16 0 11 685 609 +76 32
6 Wigan Warriors 27 15 0 12 659 551 +108 30
7 Castleford Tigers 27 14 0 13 645 702 −57 28
8 Catalans Dragons 27 13 0 14 613 660 −47 26
9 Bradford Bulls 27 12 1 14 653 668 −15 25
10 Warrington Wolves 27 12 0 15 649 705 −56 24
11 Harlequins 27 11 0 16 591 691 −100 22
12 Hull F.C. 27 10 0 17 502 623 −121 20
13 Salford City Reds 27 7 0 20 456 754 −298 14
14
Celtic Crusaders
 27 3 0 24 357 874 −517 6
Source: Rugby League Project
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points difference; 3) Number of points scored;
(C) Champions; (L) League Leaders' Shield Winners

Notable moments

  • Friday 13 February – Wigan lose their second successive game of the season losing 18–10 to Hull FC making it Wigan's worst start to a Super League season since the 2006 season.
  • Friday 20 February – Nineteen-year-old Shaun Ainscough and former Gloucester rugby union player Karl Pryce make their Super League débuts for Wigan.
  • Friday 20 February – Wigan lose their third successive game of the season after being beaten 28–22 by Castleford Tigers. It is Wigan's worst start to a season in 24 years.
  • Saturday 28 February – Sam Tomkins makes his début for Wigan against Harlequins RLFC.
  • Saturday 28 February – Wigan get their first win of the
    Super League XIV
    season by beating Harlequins RL twenty-four points to eighteen at the Twickenham Stoop
  • Sunday 5 April – Wigan defeat Barrow Raiders 32–20 to progress in the Challenge Cup.
  • Monday 6 April – Wigan sign Martin Gleeson from Warrington Wolves for a fee of £100,000+.
  • Monday 6 April – Wigan release Richie Mathers who later signs for Warrington Wolves.
  • Thursday 9 April – First time during the Super League era that a Wigan verses St Helens match is played on a Thursday night.
  • Thursday 9 April – Wigan lose 19–12 to St Helens at the JJB Stadium in the first Wigan verses St Helens derby of Super League XIV.
  • Wednesday 15 April – Darrell Goulding is released on loan to the Salford City Reds and Lee Mossop joins the Barrow Raiders on loan.
  • Sunday 19 April – The first ever match between Wigan Warriors and Celtic Crusaders ends with Wigan winning 44–10.
  • Saturday 2 May – First 'Magic Weekend' at Murrayfield Stadium in Scotland where Wigan beat local rivals St Helens by 38 points to 18.
  • Saturday 9 May – Wigan defeat Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 28–17 to progress to the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup.
  • Monday 18 May – Lee Mossop joins Super League team Huddersfield Giants on loan.
  • Friday 22 May – A 16–8 defeat against Warrington Wolves at the Halliwell Jones Stadium means Wigan have still never won at the Halliwell Jones Stadium in a competitive match. A record stretching back 6 years and including a 36–24 defeat to Catalans Dragons in a Challenge Cup Semi-final.
  • Friday 29 May – Wigan beat Salford City Reds 28–6 to progress to the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup.
  • Saturday 13 June – Mark Flanagan makes his Super League début for Wigan.
  • Saturday 13 June – Wigan's first game at Brewery Field ends in a 22–16 defeat. It is also the first time Wigan have lost to the Celtic Crusaders.
  • Tuesday 23 June – Gareth Hock tests positive for Benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine and is provisionally suspended by the Rugby Football League.
  • Friday 24 July – In a match marketed as 'The BIG One' 20,295 people watch Wigan beat Leeds at the JJB Stadium which is the highest attendance between the two teams in Super League.
  • Friday 24 July – Wigan play their last match at the JJB Stadium before its official re-branding to the DW stadium on 1 August 2009.
  • Friday 31 July – Wigan's five game unbeaten run comes to an end with a 10–6 defeat to local rivals St Helens.
  • Saturday 8 August – Wigan are knocked out of the Challenge Cup by a 39–26 defeat to Warrington Wolves.

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External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2009_Wigan_Warriors_season&oldid=1209989463"