Kris Radlinski makes classy Challenge Cup vow as Wigan Warriors lauded by Rochdale Hornets chairman
Wigan Warriors chief executive Kris Radlinski says his side will travel to Rochdale Hornets with ‘humility and respect’ as they begin their Challenge Cup campaign this weekend.
The 21-time Challenge Cup winners visit the Crown Oil Arena on Sunday to face a Hornets side unbeaten in 2026, in what will be Wigan’s first appearance in Rochdale for decades.
“Representing Wigan Warriors and the Betfred Challenge Cup in this week’s game at Rochdale Hornets is something that we look forward to, and also fully understand the responsibility which comes with that,” said Radlinski.
“Both clubs – and this famous competition – have played an important role in so many people’s lives, and that genuinely matters. We will travel to Rochdale with humility, and as a professional club we will ensure Rochdale Hornets are shown the respect they deserve, recognising their history, valuing their people, and celebrating everything they have achieved, and continue to achieve.
“I’m really looking forward to spending time in hospitality with Andy Mazey (Rochdale chairman) and his guests, and above all, I’m looking forward to what I hope will be a good game of rugby league, played in the spirit that our sport continues to represent at its very best.”
Hornets chairman Andy Mazey has spoken in glowing terms about Wigan, describing the Warriors as the benchmark club in rugby league.
“Wigan are a case study in being sustainable, present in your community and doing things the right way,” Mazey said. “Obviously, the Hornets have never hit the same heights, however, parallels can be drawn between us as two metropolitan boroughs similar in size, sharing similar industrial histories, both located on the periphery of Manchester, and both are traditional strongholds of rugby league.”
With Rochdale AFC pushing for a return to the Football League under the Ogden family and the Hornets recently promoted to rugby league’s second tier – the Championship – Mazey believes Wigan provide a model to aspire to.
“They are fortunate to have a Wigan-born billionaire in Mike Danson at the helm who now owns both of Wigan’s professional sports clubs,” he added. “Mike is doing a fantastic job and has clearly recognised the benefits of a collaborative approach from a multi-sports angle and a wider community and social impact perspective.
“It’s a blueprint that I can only see going from strength to strength, while delivering ever-increasing social value to the community.”
Mazey also paid tribute to Radlinski, who scored a hat-trick against Rochdale in a 34-12 Wigan victory back in December 1994.
“The player, the business leader, the human being – Kris is top drawer,” Mazey said. “He’s someone I have the greatest of respect and admiration for, having transitioned seamlessly from being a household name and world-class athlete into business leadership. He is one of the finest operators in our sport today.
“Kris has reached out personally on many occasions, offering support when times have been tough here. That’s a caring and compassionate side of Kris that people don’t see – he’s a humble man, and I really look forward to welcoming him and his team to Rochdale.”
There are historic links between the clubs, with players such as Henderson Gill, Martin Hall, Neil Cowie and Danny Sculthorpe having represented both sides over the years.
For Mazey, the occasion is about more than the final score.
“Hosting the undisputed stellar name and brand in our sport is more than just 80 minutes of rugby league to us,” he said. “We are treating this as a sporting event for the whole of Rochdale to embrace, and an unmissable opportunity to put on a matchday experience the likes of which have not been seen or done before.”