Izzy Rowe reflects on Wigan Warriors’ Grand Final defeat - ‘We’re going to learn from it’

Wigan Warriors halfback Izzy Rowe says the lessons from their Women’s Super League Grand Final defeat to York Valkyrie will help the team come back stronger next season.

Denis Betts’ side narrowly missed out on completing the treble for a second consecutive year after suffering an 8-6 defeat to York at the Brick Community Stadium last month.

The Warriors retained the Challenge Cup and League Leaders’ Shield during another successful campaign, but Rowe believes the squad must use the disappointment of the Grand Final to continue developing and improving.

“I think it’s just one of those - you have to learn from it,” said Rowe.

“To lose three games in two years isn’t too bad, but we’re going to learn from it. We’re young, so it’s about how we develop and how we get better.

“You are always going to want to get better, you’ll always have something to improve on, and we’ve got the right mentor in Denis to do that for us, so we’re excited to go again next year.

“I think after the World Cup we’ll take a little bit of rest, but we’ll get going again and go for it next year.”

Rowe also reflected on the achievements of a relatively young Wigan squad, who secured two trophies before falling just short in the Grand Final.

She said Betts reminded the players of their accomplishments after the Grand Final defeat, while making it clear there was still room for improvement.

“Denis said to us after the game that we’ll be disappointed that we’ve not won the Grand Final, but you’ve got to look back, and you’ve got to think we’ve won the League Leaders’ Shield, which for Denis personally, it is his favourite because it is the (one for being) most consistent,” Rowe continued.

“He said you’ve won a Challenge Cup for the second year in a row, a lot of us are going on a plane to the World Cup, so it’s been a very successful year for the squad as a whole and we’ve got to look back and be proud of that, but we’ve also got to realise that there is more to do and more to improve, and we’ve got to be ready for that.”

Rowe was also nominated for the Women’s Super League Young Player of the Year award, having won the accolade in 2025. Leeds Rhinos’ Connie Boyd claimed the award this time around.

“It is a dream come true, but to be nominated alongside Ruby (Bruce) and Connie, who are amazing players, and I played against them at community level when I was younger, so to be in the journey together is surreal,” Rowe added.

“It’s been a bit of a whirlwind, I wasn’t expecting to get nominated this year. They announced I was in the five (for the Woman of Steel award), and I was really shocked at that.

“I feel like I don’t aim for individual (awards), I’d much rather win a Grand Final or a Challenge Cup, but it is nice to be recognised for those things, and I just keep playing and enjoying my rugby.”