Wigan Warriors have been crowned Team of the Year at the prestigious BBC Sports Personality Awards for their sensational quadruple-winning season in 2024.
Matt Peet’s men became the first team in the Super League era to hold all four major trophies, as well as winning back-to-back Betfred Super League Grand Finals for the first time in the club’s history.
This achievement comes thirty years on from the Wigan side of 1994 lifting all the trophies they possibly could, in which they also won Team of the Year.
A clean sweep in modern day is certainly an ‘unheard of’ feat, but the formidable Cherry and Whites found a way to do it again.
Beyond even that, the Warriors have also won the last six trophies available to them dating back to the 2023 League Leaders’ Shield and Grand Final.
They are record breakers, history makers and a team full of talent – with both breathtaking moments combined with hard work, grit and determination – and have seriously laid down a marker to the rest of Rugby League.
Let’s take a look back at their memorable season…
Betfred World Club Challenge
Wigan Warriors were crowned World Champions following a 16-12 victory over NRL champions Penrith Panthers on their home patch.
The Warriors, who were already the most successful English side with four World Club Challenge wins, made history by joining Sydney Roosters in lifting the trophy a record five times.
Betfred Challenge Cup
The Warriors won the prestigious Challenge Cup for a record-extending 21st time back in June.
They beat fierce rivals Warrington Wolves 18-8 at famous Wembley, with Lance Todd Trophy winner Bevan French producing the first of Wigan’s three tries for Zach Eckersley, before scoring the second.
Ever reliable captain Liam Farrell - a cup winner in 2011, 2013 and 2022 - then iced the cake with Wigan's third and match-winning try.
League Leaders’ Shield
The race to the top was a hot watch in 2024, with the Warriors and Hull KR embroiled in a neck and neck battle for the Shield.
It went down the final regular round of the season, but Wigan eventually finished two points clear following a formidable 11-try performance against a youthful Salford Red Devils outfit on home soil, as they claimed their fifth League Leaders.
Wigan also came from behind to beat the Robins in Round 25 in a scintillating encounter - a result which effectively sealed top spot.
Their home form in 2024 was rather impressive too – 12 wins from a possible 13, with just one defeat to Warrington in July - highlighting their ability to turn The Brick Community Stadium into a fortress.
Betfred Super League Grand Final
Wigan Warriors were crowned 2024 Betfred Super League Champions after a perfect performance against Grand Final debutants Hull KR.
This victory was Wigan's seventh Super League Grand Final triumph since first lifting the trophy at the inaugural Grand Final in 1998.
There was little to separate the two sides as a blistering battle unfolded - in front of a bumper crowd of 68,173 – the highest attendance for a Grand Final since 2017.
But Wigan proved why they were Champions as wizard Bevan French was up to his trademark tricks once again. Fooling numerous KR defenders on halfway, he raced away to score a superb solo try and the only try of the match, and rightfully earned the inaugural Rob Burrow Award.
Additional accolades
The 2024 Betfred Super League Dream Team included four players from Wigan Warriors – Jake Wardle, Luke Thompson, Liam Marshall and Junior Nsemba.
Marshall ended the year as Super League’s top try scorer with 29 tries.
The 2024 season saw also saw star man Bevan French become the first player in British Rugby League history to win both the Lance Todd Trophy and Harry Sunderland/Rob Burrow Award in the same season. He was also awarded the Bill Ashurst medal in the 2024 World Club Challenge, making him Player of the Match in all three of Wigan's major Finals.
Matt Peet was nominated for Coach of the Year, while there was success for young break out star Junior Nsemba, who was named Young Player of the Year.
It's been a phenonemal year for Wigan Warriors, who are deep in their dominant period of the modern era. What will 2025 bring?
