Wigan Warriors prop Ethan Havard proud to get Challenge Cup ‘back in the cabinet’ after Wembley triumph

Wigan Warriors star Ethan Havard said he was ‘really proud’ of his teammates after helping his hometown club put the Challenge Cup back in the trophy cabinet at the club’s Robin Park Arena training base.

The 25-year-old prop was one of Wigan’s standout performers under the famous arch, producing a powerful display through the middle and making 139 metres as Matt Peet’s side overwhelmed Hull KR 40-10 to lift the trophy for a record-extending 22nd time.

Having suffered the disappointment of a trophyless campaign in 2025, Havard admitted there was a determination within the Warriors squad to put things right this season.

“It feels great, really good,” Havard told Wigan Today after collecting his third Challenge Cup winner’s medal.

“I’m just proud of the boys. There were some great performances out there, and it’s nice to have the trophy back in the cabinet.”

Jack Farrimond scored twice before further tries from Junior Nsemba, Adam Keighran, Bevan French and Luke Thompson sealed a convincing win in front of a packed Wigan end at Wembley.

Asked about the manner of the performance, Havard said: “Hull KR are a team that pride themselves on defence, so to put 40 on them is quite a feat.”

While much of the attention will rightly go to Wigan’s exciting backs, Havard played a key role in laying the platform through the middle with a tireless display.

The England international, though, was humble enough to play down his own contribution.

“There was some good space through the middle, so I was just pushing on the back of other people,” he said.

One of the biggest talking points of the final was the impact of two young academy graduates.

Halfback Farrimond produced a Lance Todd Trophy-winning display in just his 30th first-team appearance, while 20-year-old Noah Hodkinson impressed again on the wing despite playing only his seventh senior game for the club.

“I’m really proud of Jack and Noah,” he said. “The young lads are killing it at the minute, and it’s nice to see all of their hard work come into fruition.”

Another player to earn special praise from Havard was hooker Brad O’Neill, who completed the full 80 minutes in testing conditions.

“I think Brad did really well in the middle - 80 minutes in tough conditions, it was pretty hot out there, so to be doing that for 80 minutes, with the way he plays, was pretty impressive,” Havard added.

Saturday’s success completed a memorable Wembley double for the club after Denis Betts’ women’s side retained the Women’s Challenge Cup earlier in the day with a crushing 54-6 victory over rivals St Helens.

Havard was delighted to see both teams return home with silverware.

“It’s great for the club,” he said.

“The women’s team performed really well as well. I think what Denis Betts has been doing with them has really come into fruition - they should be proud of themselves, and it’s nice to have two Challenge Cups in the trophy cabinet at Wigan Warriors.”

For Havard and his teammates, the victory also represented an important response to last season’s rare trophyless campaign.

“Definitely,” he said when asked whether the squad had spoken about avoiding another season without silverware.

“We viewed where we went wrong last year, we watched the Grand Final back, and we wanted to be better, and I think we’re on the way to that.”

And after lifting the famous trophy in front of thousands of travelling Wiganers in the capital, Havard admitted sharing the moment with family and fans made the occasion even more special.

“It’s great,” he said. “It’s really special, you’ve just got to take it in, and it was lovely to look up and see our families in the crowd. It was very special.”