Noah Hodkinson savours Challenge Cup win in seventh Wigan Warriors appearance - ‘I can’t put it into words’

Noah Hodkinson admitted it was ‘crazy’ to be celebrating Challenge Cup success at Wembley after helping Wigan Warriors beat Hull KR 40-10 in just his seventh first-team appearance for the club.

The 20-year-old only made his senior debut in March but has quickly established himself as a valuable member of Matt Peet’s squad, filling in on the wing in the absence of injured stalwart Liam Marshall.

On Saturday, Hodkinson played his part in a dominant Wigan performance under the famous Wembley arch as the Warriors claimed a record-extending 22nd Challenge Cup triumph.

Reflecting on the achievement, the youngster admitted he could hardly believe how quickly his rise through the first-team ranks has come.

“It’s crazy,” Hodkinson told Wigan Today.

“I can’t put my feelings into words, really. It’s a bit mad!

“This time last year or even at the start of this year, I never thought I would be playing in a Challenge Cup final, or to have even played seven games by now, but I’ve just got to take it in my stride - it’s a good feeling.”

Hodkinson was making his first appearance at Wembley and admitted the scale of the occasion was unlike anything he had experienced before.

“It’s a big difference,” he said. “There were a lot more people in a massive stadium.

“I feel like the Saints game in the semi-final was a similar feeling - but it’s just magnified with a lot more people and a lot of fans behind us to give us that extra push to keep going. It was a good feeling.”

Wigan’s emphatic victory was one of the most impressive Challenge Cup final displays in recent memory, with Hull KR struggling to contain the Warriors once they hit their stride in the second half.

Hodkinson believes Wigan’s fitness and desire were key to pulling away from one of Super League’s strongest sides.

“I feel like we stuck to our game plan well and, in the heat, I thought we stayed in the grind, stuck in the arm wrestle, backed our fitness and I think our fitness helped us to keep rolling.”

One of the standout moments of the second half came when Hodkinson burst clear, with the break eventually leading to Bevan French crossing for a try shortly after coming off the bench.

The youngster laughed when asked whether the break would be making its way onto his highlights reel.

“I was absolutely shattered!” he smiled.

“I was just thinking ‘I have to score’ so I was unfortunate not to score, but it was definitely a good feeling doing that towards our fans at Wembley.”

Another player who caught the eye was fellow 20-year-old Jack Farrimond, who scored two tries and claimed the Lance Todd Trophy after a man-of-the-match display.

The pair have progressed through Wigan’s youth system together and Hodkinson was unsurprised to see his fellow Leyther shine on the biggest stage.

“He killed it, didn’t he?” Hodkinson said. “He’s nippy, you can’t catch him, but he had a really good game.

“I’m not shocked by it though - he’s been doing it since he was about seven, so it was just a same day kind of thing for him.”

Hodkinson had a large support network in the stands for the occasion, with family and friends making the journey to London to watch him grace the hallowed Wembley turf.

“I could see them but they were quite high up so we’ll go back to the hotel now and I’ll catch up with them,” he said. “I think I had about 26 people supporting me at the game, so I’ve got a lot of people to catch up with!”

With a Challenge Cup winners’ medal already around his neck, Hodkinson is determined to keep working hard and cement his place in Peet’s plans for the remainder of the season.

“I feel like as long as I keep training well, hopefully I will give Matty the trust to put me in, but if he needs me or to just play as many games as I can really, that’s my main goal,” a proud Hodkinson concluded.