Challenge Cup 2013: Predictions for Wigan Warriors vs. Widnes Vikings

A Super League setup of massive proportions, this weekend’s helping of Challenge Cup action rounds off with Widnes Vikings travelling to rugby league titans Wigan Warriors on Monday evening.

The Warriors currently top the Super League pile and will be hoping to conclude the 2013 schedule with several trophies in their cabinet.

However, a staunch challenge from the Vikings stands in their way, in a revival of the 65-point fixture which unfolded between the two in June.

With a Challenge Cup semifinal up for grabs, Monday evening’s visitors will need to put all past form out of sight and out of mind as they seek to pull off an upset—something which may prove to be just out of their reach.

Foes Set For Close Contest

Having already met twice in their Super League escapades this campaign, Wigan and Widnes are by no means strangers to one another.

In those two meetings, it’s the Warriors who have unsurprisingly come out on top, although their third may not be as dominant as some would suggest.

In March, the Vikings were the subject of a 62-4 drubbing at the DW Stadium, but recovered magnificently to see out a far tighter 32-33 loss in June—this time in their own territory.

The hope for coach Denis Betts will be that momentum continues to swing in his side’s favour and that Widnes can finally edge one out against their northern rivals.

Warriors Revive DW Fortress

Up until late June, Shaun Wane’s Wigan were enjoying an eight-match unbeaten run at the DW Stadium, which was brought to a rather miserable end with a home loss to Castleford Tigers last month.

Albeit with a heavily depleted squad, shaky form on their own patch continued after that game in last week’s win over the Bradford Bulls. The team looked uncertain at times and were chasing at halftime.

Against Widnes, the Warriors must put in a steadfast display, ready for the eventuality of meeting potentially stronger opposition should they make it to the semifinal.

Home advantage is even more of a boon when a club is playing in particularly good form, and the DW Stadium has had a reputation at times for being an incredibly hard place to leave with points intact.

Starting with their Challenge Cup exploits, the Warriors need to make that the case once more.

Vikings’ Talent Lost at Sea

In the end, it’s likely that the wealth of talent on display for the DW hosts will just be too much for an upstart Widnes side, regardless of how much drive the visitors might have in their tank.

It was supposed earlier in the week that Sam Tomkins, the 2012 Man of Steel, would be unavailable for the match through injury. However, after being given the green light on the official Wigan Warriors website, it seems the Super League’s leading tryscorer will take to the field for this Challenge Cup extravaganza.

Filter into that equation the impacts of Josh Charnley, Anthony Gelling, Pat Richards and the bevy of other rugby league marvels currently residing at the DW, and the gap in pedigree just appears too wide for Widnes’ liking.