Warrington Wolves–Wigan Warriors rivalry

The Warrington Wolves–Wigan Warriors rivalry is a local rugby league rivalry based in Lancashire, England. The two clubs are some of the most successful in England, and annually compete in the Locker Cup to celebrate their rivalry.

Warrington Wolves–Wigan Warriors rivalry
Warrington and Wigan enter Anfield for Magic Weekend 2019
LocationLancashire, England
Teams Warrington Wolves
Wigan Warriors
First meeting2 November 1895 (Wigan Warriors 8–0 Warrington Wolves)
Latest meeting14 July 2023 (Wigan Warriors 26–12 Warrington Wolves)
Next meeting01 June 2024
StadiumsHalliwell Jones Stadium
DW Stadium
Statistics
Meetings total165
Most winsWigan Warriors (101)

History

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Locations of Warrington Wolves and Wigan Warriors.

The competitive history of the two clubs began on 18 January 1873 when the then two-month-old Wigan Warriors played their first match against Warrington Wolves (who would not form an official team for another three years).[1] Both clubs were founding members of the NRFU, and have enjoyed a fierce rivalry throughout their history. Both sides also have other major rivalries, Warrington vs Widnes Vikings and Wigan vs St Helens, which at times has dampened the rivalry between them. However it was Wigan's dominance in during the late 1980s and 90s which caused the largest taming of the rivalry. It was only in 2009 and 2010 following Warrington's back-to-back victory in the Challenge Cup and the club's subsequently establishing themselves as a Super League Top Four Club which saw the rivalry heat up again as both teams started simultaneously competing for top honours.[2] In the decade that followed, the clubs contested three Super League Grand Finals in 2013, 2016, and 2018. The rivalry has said to have been at its peak between 2011 and 2013.[3]

 
The Halliwell Jones Stadium, home of Warrington
 
The DW Stadium, home of Wigan

Head to head

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Statistics correct as of 19/8/22[4]

In all competitions, competitive and uncompetitive:

Played Warrington Drawn Wigan
165 58 6 101

Meetings in major finals

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Collective honours

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As of the 2024 World Club Challenge
Warrington Wolves Honour Wigan Warriors
Rank No. No. Rank
12th 3 League Championships 23 1st
12th 3 League Leaders 23 1st
4th 9 Challenge Cup 20 1st
4th 2 Premiership 6 1st
2nd 4 League Cup 8 1st
0 Charity Shield 4 1st
0 World Club Challenge 5 1st
2nd 8 Lancashire League 18 1st
3rd 9 Lancashire Cup 21 1st
0 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy 1 5th

Locker Cup

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Locker Cup
SportRugby league
Number of teams2
Country  (RFL)
Holders  Wigan Warriors (35th title)
Most titles  Wigan Warriors (35 titles)

The Locker Cup (previously the Wardonia Cup until 1972) is a friendly tournament contested by rugby league clubs Warrington Wolves and Wigan Warriors introduced in 1938. The single game tournament was played as a preseason friendly alternating between the club's home grounds annually until the switch to summer rugby in 1996. It was brought back for Magic Weekend 2019, but was cancelled a year later due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then it has been played for during the Super League season.[1][5][6]

Results
Year Winner Score
1938   Warrington Wolves
1939–1944 Cancelled due to the Second World War
1945   Wigan Warriors
1946   Wigan Warriors
1947   Wigan Warriors
1948   Warrington Wolves
1949   Wigan Warriors
1950   Warrington Wolves
1951   Wigan Warriors
1952   Wigan Warriors
1953   Wigan Warriors
1954   Warrington Wolves
1955   Warrington Wolves
1956   Warrington Wolves
1957   Wigan Warriors
1958   Wigan Warriors
1959   Wigan Warriors
1960   Wigan Warriors
1961   Wigan Warriors
1962   Warrington Wolves
1963   Warrington Wolves
1964   Wigan Warriors
1965   Wigan Warriors
1966   Warrington Wolves
1967   Warrington Wolves
1968   Wigan Warriors
1969   Wigan Warriors
1970   Wigan Warriors
1971   Wigan Warriors
1972   Wigan Warriors
1973   Warrington Wolves
1974   Warrington Wolves
1975   Wigan Warriors
1976   Warrington Wolves
1977   Wigan Warriors
1978   Warrington Wolves
1979 Unknown:
10   Wigan Warriors titles and
6   Warrington Wolves titles in this time
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995   Wigan Warriors 38–30
Due to the switch to Summer Rugby, the fixture did not occur between 1996–2018. From 2019 the Locker Cup was revived and was competed for during the season.
2019   Warrington Wolves 26–14
2020–2021 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2022   Wigan Warriors 32–6
2023   Wigan Warriors 13–6
2024   Wigan Warriors 19–18
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Wigan fans packing out the away end at the Halliwell Jones Stadium ahead of a Super League match on 4 September 2011
 
Fights between players of both teams during the match
 
Warrington plays celebrating at try during the game
 
Warrington fans at Anfield during their 2019 Magic Weekend fixture vs Wigan

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Wigan v Warrington for Locker Cup - Wigan Warriors". wiganwarriors.com. July 29, 2022.
  2. ^ "Wigan and Warrington are forming the latest Super League rivalry – with both determined to do it their way". 8 July 2011.
  3. ^ "The top five underappreciated rivalries in Super League history". 22 August 2021.
  4. ^ "Wigan Warriors - Head To Head - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org.
  5. ^ "The Locker Cup Returns to Rugby League after 24 Years". lockergroup.com. May 28, 2019.
  6. ^ "Wigan Warriors to play Warrington Wolves for the Locker Cup, but what is it?". Wigan Today. July 29, 2022.