Brian Carney airs Wigan Warriors sporting plea as pundit reflects on 'class' year

Brian Carney believes Wigan Warriors are not just a 'blueprint' for rugby league teams but in 'other sporting environments' as well. The Cherry and Whites enjoyed an incredible 2024 season, first defeating Penrith Panthers in the World Club Challenge Cup before going on to win the Challenge Cup, the Super League Leaders Shield, and the Super League Grand Final.

The latter triumph, a 9-2 victory over Hull KR, capped a historic quadruple, with Wigan retaining the league title for the first time in the summer era. The success also made it six major honours in a row, adding to their League Leaders Shield and Grand Final victory in 2023.

It caps a magnificent reign under current head coach Matt Peet, who has the 2022 Challenge Cup in his locker as well. The local supremo has turned Wigan into the best team in the land, with Carney, speaking on Sky Sports, full of praise for his former club.

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The presenter hopes more people hear of Wigan's success, with the club, who won 22 of 27 games in the regular season, not to mention seven knockout games, heading to Las Vegas to take on Warrington Wolves in March as they look to make it three Super League titles in a row.

Before then, the Warriors kick off the 2025 season against Leigh Leopards on Thursday 13 February. Meanwhile, Carney was asked if anyone can stop the juggernaut next year. He replied: "I would say, can anyone stop them from being the sports team of the year? They haven’t needed to recruit for next year, so good is their side. They will make some minor adjustments to their playing roster, but this is a side that swept the board last year.

"They won the Challenge Cup, they won the League Leaders’ Shield, they won the World Club Challenge against Penrith Panthers and they went to Old Trafford, with huge pressure on them to try to defend the title for the first time in their Super League history, and they came up trumps.

"This is a class outfit. More of the country should know of what Wigan Warriors achieved last year, and I hope between now and the start of the season that will happen. This is a formidable side. What they’ve created at Wigan is a blueprint maybe for success not just in rugby league but in other sporting environments."

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