GAME DAY: Whitehaven vs Wire build-up and key matchday info
IT’S been 127 long days since we last saw Warrington Wolves play a competitive fixture.
Today, they’re back!
Pre-season is over and the real thing begins for Sam Burgess and his players as their 2025 campaign starts in very different fashion.
For the first time in more than two decades, they will kick their season off with a Challenge Cup fixture – and an intriguing one at that as they make the long trip north to Cumbria, where League One side Whitehaven lie in wait.
Can The Wire dodge the banana skin and move onto the Super League fixtures with their progress safely secured?
Check out the key matchday info plus all of our build-up pieces in our extensive match preview below…
Whitehaven vs Warrington Wolves tickets, TV/streaming, referee and next round draw details
The match kicks off at 3pm at Whitehaven’s Ortus Rec home ground, where Wire have not played a competitive fixture since 2004 when they won 42-10 in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals.
The game is not being broadcast or streamed live for fans to watch at home, so the only way to watch the action is to be there in-person.
Online ticket sales for the game ended last night but fans can still pay at the turnstiles via cash or card.
The two teams are playing for a place in the fourth round, the draw for which will take place on Saturday, February 15, on BBC Two during half-time of the St Helens vs Salford Red Devils Super League fixture being shown live on the BBC.
Fourth-round ties are due to take place over the weekend of March 15-16.
Whitehaven vs Warrington Wolves, pre-match build-up
> The squad Warrington Wolves have named for the game with front-line stars set for action
> Why the trip to Whitehaven will not be a complete unknown for head coach Sam Burgess
> The man who has coached both Warrington and Whitehaven on what Wire can expect in Cumbria
> Pre-Whitehaven talking points including attitude, a new ground and a dilemma for Burgess
> Luke Yates issues a warning to Warrington Wolves ahead of 'interesting' cup tie
> We make a Warrington Wolves XIII made up entirely of Cumbrian players here
Follow Whitehaven vs Warrington Wolves live with us
As always, the Warrington Guardian will be providing in-depth coverage of this afternoon’s match on our website.
‘Matchday Live’ will be up and running from around 1.30pm with the latest team news and build-up before bringing you live text commentary of all the action as it happens.
Then from the full-time hooter onwards, we will bring you in-depth post-match reaction from the Wire camp.
