| Year: | 2009 |
| Team Colour: |
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| Font Colour: |
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| League: | Super League |
| League Rank: | 6th |
| League Wins: | 17 |
| League Draws: | 0 |
| League Losses: | 13 |
| Points For: | 716 |
| Points Against: | 593 |
| Playoff Result: | Lost qualifying semi-final (St Helens R.F.C., 14–10) |
| Cup: | Challenge Cup |
| Cup Result: | Lost semi-final (Warrington Wolves, 26–39) |
| Cup Wins: | 3 |
| Cup Losses: | 1 |
| Ceo Title: | Chairman |
| Coach Title: | Head coach |
| Avg Attendance: | 13,695 |
| High Attendance: | 22,232 (St Helens RLFC, 9 April) |
| Top Tries: | Pat Richards (23) |
| Top Goals: | Pat Richards (102) |
| Top Points: | Pat Richards (296) |
| List: | yes |
| List Link: | List of Wigan Warriors seasons |
Wigan Warriors played in the Super League XIV and Challenge Cup in the 2009 season.
See also: History of Wigan Warriors. Following Brian Noble's move from the Bradford Bulls to the Wigan Warriors in 2006, his third full season at the club took place in 2009.[1] The season was also the first in which the Super League operated under a franchise system, after the Wigan Warriors were granted a 'B' license.[2] The salary cap, which the club broke in 2007,[3] was still in effect for this season, and the limit remained at GBP£1.7 million;[4] the cap was maintained 'live', in continuation of an operational change by the Rugby Football League in 2008.[5] As an ever-present club in the Super League format, this season was the Wigan Warriors' fourteenth year in the competition.[6] This year also marked the tenth anniversary of rugby league at the JJB Stadium, after the club moved there upon the stadium's completion in 1999.[7]
In contrast to the club's historical success,[8] Wigan Warriors had not won a major trophy since 2002, when they defeated St Helens R.F.C. 12–21 in the Challenge Cup final.[9] They had only won the Super League title once, in 1998. In the previous season the Wigan Warriors finished fourth in the league table meaning they qualified for the play-offs,[10] and after defeating Bradford Bulls and Catalans Dragons,[11] [12] the club fell short of the 2008 Super League Grand Final after losing to Leeds Rhinos at Headingley for the second year running.[13]
Following their knock-out at the hands of Leeds, the task of acquiring new players began. 2008 was influential stand-off Trent Barrett's last season for the Warriors, after he signed for the Cronulla Sharks for the 2009 National Rugby League (NRL) season;[14] Barrett himself insisted that Tim Smith could replace him, after Smith was released by Parramatta Eels following an episode of bipolar disorder.[15] [16] It was also to be the last season for Liam Colbon and Mark Calderwood, who both transferred away from the club.[17] An attempt to sign the Canberra Raiders' Todd Carney ended after Huddersfield Giants signed him instead.[18] The club prevented a possible cross-code transfer with George Carmont to rugby union by extending his contract.[19] Wigan eventually signed their first new player with former Sydney Roosters player Amos Roberts, who was released from his contract a year prematurely,[20] but lost another player to the Warrington Wolves in Mickey Higham.[21] Joel Tomkins, a Wigan Warriors Youth Development product, also extended his contract until the end of the 2011 season.[22] Rumours about a move for Ryan McGoldrick ended after he publicly ruled out any possible transfer.[23] The question over Barrett's successor in the stand-off position was again raised when Tim Smith, who was on holiday in his native Australia at the time, approached the Cronulla Sharks seeking a return to the NRL, although the club did not pursue any deal with Smith and he therefore stayed at Wigan for the 2009 season.[24] Greg Bird, who had been suspended by Cronulla Sharks for an alleged assault on his girlfriend was also cited by The Independent as a target for the Warriors, but any plans of a transfer were initially denied by the club's chairman, Ian Lenagan.[25] On 30 January 2009, Lenagan confirmed it was unlikely there would be any more signings for the new season, having acquired two new players (Amos Roberts and Mark Riddell), after attempts to sign Richard Moore from Wakefield Trinity Wildcats failed.[26]
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was held in Australia during the off-season, and several Wigan players from the 2008 season were involved in matches concerning their own international teams. Pat Richards, Eamon O'Carroll and Michael McIlorum were called by the Irish team, with Paul Prescott missing out due to a back injury.[27] Carmont and Harrison Hansen were selected for the Samoan national team.[28] Stuart Fielden was omitted from the England squad but Calderwood, Higham and Gareth Hock all received places.[29] Thomas Leuluai became the only Super League player from the 2008 season to win the World Cup when the New Zealand team he played hooker for defeated the Australian team 20–34 in the final.[30] [31]
Wigan played three friendly matches after the World Cup, the first being a 4–44 victory over Warrington Wolves at the Halliwell Jones Stadium during the traditional festive season, in which Riddell and Karl Pryce both made their first-team debuts.[32] The Warriors played in a changed pink and black-hooped jersey in support of a local hospice, as Sam Tomkins completed a twenty-minute hat-trick, Richard Mathers and Pryce scored a double each, and Shaun Ainscough and Joel Tomkins also picked up one try apiece. The next match against Huddersfield Giants proved to be more difficult, as Carmont scored a last-minute try to hand Wigan a narrow victory at the Galpharm Stadium, with Riddell scoring two tries and Fielden being sin-binned in the first half.[33] On the official opening on the new Leigh Sports Village and a week before the new Super League season began, the Warriors whitewashed their local rivals Leigh Centurions by 0–32 with a squad in which both new signings, Roberts and Riddell, were left out of.[34]
| LEGEND | - | width=100 | Win | - | width=100 | Draw | - | width=100 | Loss | - | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opponent | Score | H/A | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4–44 | Away | 28 December 2008 | ||
| Huddersfield Giants | 24–28 | Away | 25 January 2009 | |
| 0–32 | Away | 30 January 2009 |
See also: 2009 Super League season results.
With Mathers suspended and Cameron Phelps injured with a hamstring injury and two other injury concerns, Karl Pryce and Shaun Ainscough were given places in the initial 19-man squad to take on Castleford Tigers.[40] A third defeat out of three matches came as Castleford won a ten try game 22–28, a result which meant Wigan's worst start to a season in twenty-four years.[41] With Richards still missing due to injury, conversions proved to be the difference as both teams scored five tries apiece, but kickers Roberts and Riddell could only manage one successful kick whilst the Tigers' kicker Kirk Dixon managed four. Two disallowed Castleford tries in the first ten minutes were followed by two penalty goals by Dixon to give Castleford a 0–4 lead. Thomas Leuluai's effort gave Wigan a try before Joe Westerman put the Tigers ahead again after 34 minutes. Castleford scored again through Brett Ferres, with Dixon converting to give Castleford a 6–16 lead at half-time. Wigan scored first after the break thanks to a try from Karl Pryce, but this was unconverted and Castleford replied with two more of their own with Dixon and Ferres scoring his second try. Wigan started a fight back, initially through a Goulding try, and then again through Joel Tomkins. Ainscough marked his debut with a fifty-yard try to reduce the deficit to two points, but Michael Shenton's try sealed the victory for Castleford. Michael McIlorum was also cited and suspended by the Rugby Football League after the game for a dangerous throw on Mitchell Sargent.[42] After failing to gain a point from the first three matches in the season, Noble's position as head coach was strengthened when Ian Lenagan publicly supported him, stating, "Brian is a very experienced coach and I'm sure we'll get this right. He has had bad starts to the season before, and he has good starts."[43]
Wigan recorded their first win of the season with an 18–24 victory over Harlequins RL at the Twickenham Stoop in London.[44] Ainscough scored his first of two tries after a break from Roberts down the wing, and it was converted by Richards who was playing at fullback as a replacement for Mathers who was omitted from the squad. Chad Randall punished Joel Tomkins' handling error for Harlequins' first try before Matt Gafa scored another try for the home side to make the half-time score 10–6. On his Super League debut, Sam Tomkins—Joel's younger brother—was involved in the build-up to Carmont's try after the second half had begun, and Bailey scored another try to put Wigan 10–14 ahead following two missed conversion attempts. A disallowed try for a knock-on by Will Sharp was followed by a knock-on from Carmont, before a 40-20 gave Louis McCarthy-Scarsbrook a chance to score a try in the 64th minute. Chris Melling restored a four-point lead for the home side with ten minutes left in the game after Harrison Hansen knocked-on. In the 75th minute, Randall's pass was intercepted by Roberts for an easy intercept try which Richards converted to give a two-point lead, which was increased to six as Ainscough scored the final try of the game.
The fourth round of the 2009 Challenge Cup occupied the first weekend of April, and for all Super League clubs this meant their first Challenge Cup ties. In March, Wigan learned that they would face an away tie to the Barrow Raiders, and it was expected this match would be held in front of the first sell-out crowd at Barrow's Craven Park for twenty-five years.[50] [51] The game itself was still in the balance fifteen minutes from time, with Barrow trailing Wigan by four points at 20–24, following a match which had seen a Shaun Ainscough hat-trick and Wigan's defensive frailties exploited again.[52] The result pivoted on a forward pass decision which ruled out another Barrow try, minutes before Pryce scored a controversial try for Wigan in which he appeared to have knocked-on, with twelve minutes left to play. A try from Tomkins eventually sealed the win for Wigan to advance them into the fifth round of the competition.
On the day after, it was confirmed Martin Gleeson would transfer to Wigan from the Warrington Wolves, on a three-and-a-half-year contract.[53] The signing came after Warrington had left Gleeson out of the squad which defeated York City Knights in their fourth round Cup tie, meaning Gleeson would be eligible to play for Wigan in future Cup games.[54] Wigan were reported by the Wigan Evening Post to have spent £110,000 and given Richie Mathers in return for Gleeson.[55] On the day after Gleeson's signing was announced, the draw for the Challenge Cup's fifth round took place. Wigan received an away tie to Wakefield Trinity Wildcats.[56]
Gleeson featured in the first derby match of the year against St Helens RLFC. Ainscough put the home Wigan side ahead after nine minutes with a try on the wing, following a kick from Leuluai.[57] Richards missed the conversion, and so Wigan only went four points ahead before St Helens replied with a try of their own through Keiron Cunningham, with Paul Wellens making the conversion. Hock had a try disallowed for a double movement, and later on a high tackle on Paleaaesina gave Roberts an opportunity to level the scores, with which he succeeded to draw the score at 6–6 at half time. Ainscough again carved out a lead for Wigan in the second half, and Roberts converted from the sideline. Two quick St Helens tries through Matt Gidley and Leon Pryce gave the visitors a 12–18 lead, and a Kyle Eastmond drop goal sealed the match for them.
Prior to their next match, Barrow Raiders confirmed that they had signed Lee Mossop on a month-long loan.
Despite providing a close fight against St Helens, the club's visit to Perpignan for their away tie against Catalans Dragons ended in its third consecutive loss. The Dragons scored first through Dimitri Pelo's try in the second minute.[58] Wigan scored fourteen points in return, with three tries from Roberts, Ainscough and Gleeson and one conversion for a 4–14 lead. A ten-point lead proved precarious as Catalans ran in thirty-six unanswered points, the first of them coming through a Greg Bird try. Grégory Mounis scored next, and Thomas Bosc kicked the conversion to give the home side the lead, and Jason Ryles gained another try before half-time. The Catalans fullback Clint Greenshields scored first after the break and also scored the next try. Ryles also scored a second try of his own to open a twenty-six-point deficit. Tomkins and Richards gave Wigan two late tries, but the match by then was all but finished.
Similarly to Mossop, Darrell Goulding completed a transfer to Salford City Reds on a month-long loan deal. After an extension to this deal in May, Goulding was to be eventually recalled on 7 July to cope with an injury crisis.
The club's next match was against newly promoted Crusaders, who had not won a match yet in the Super League season coming into this fixture.[59] Celtic led after two minutes, when Luke Dyer pounced for a try after Phelps mistakenly let the ball bounce into the in-goal area. Richards replied with a try on the wing, before O'Loughlin gathered his own kick for a solo try to present a lead to the home Wigan side. Two more tries came for Wigan before half-time with Riddell and Roberts both scoring one each. Sam Tomkins scored not long after the break thanks to a run from Palea'asesina. Carmont stretched the lead further with a try of his own, and O'Loughlin scored his second try of the match. Damien Quinn was sin-binned in his 100th competitive appearance for the Crusaders—Marshall Chalk was also sin-binned later on.[60] Richards claimed his second try almost instantly after Quinn's dismissal. Mark Dalle Cort scored a late Celtic try and captain Jace Van Dijk successfully converted, but Wigan had another try before the game ended, with Sam Tomkins grounding his second try of the match—his team's ninth—to complete a convincing victory for the home side.
Transfer news occupied the break between this win and the Warriors' second league match against Wakefield Trinity Wildcats. The Wigan Evening Post reported that the club, as well as Leeds Rhinos, were interested in signing Richie Myler from Salford City Reds,[61] although neither club were successful in their approaches to the player. Warrington Wolves would eventually sign Myler later in the year.[62] Meanwhile, Thomas Leuluai extended his contract with the club for a further three years.[63]
George Carmont had to be replaced at short notice prior to kick-off against the club's next opponents, Wakefield Trinity Wildcats. Shaun Ainscough was recalled to take his place in the team, and scored four tries to give his side a second consecutive win.[64] Wakefield, like Celtic, put the first points on the scoreboard after Damien Blanch received a kick from Danny Brough for a try on the wing, with Brough converting for a 6–0 lead. Tim Smith linked with Cameron Phelps, who was switched from fullback to center in Carmont's absence, for Wigan's first try. Phelps turned provider as his work gave Ainscough two tries in nine minutes for a 6–16 lead, before Wigan's indiscipline gave Brough a penalty and a try following a handling error from the stand-in fullback, Pat Richards. Ainscough scored again on the wing to complete his hat-trick, but Wakefield replied after Brough intercepted a pass from Martin Gleeson and returned 45 metres for his second try to make the scores 20–22 at half time. Wakefield took the lead shortly after the break as Blanch took advantage of Ainscough's weak defence for his second try. This was Wakefield's last try of the match, as Phelps gathered a kick from Smith to score a try next to the posts which Richards converted successfully.[65] Riddell was injured with a hamstring, and despite Wakefield pressure, Wigan scored again as a run from Sam Tomkins led to another try for Ainscough—his sixteenth in ten matches. Gleeson scored in the final ten minutes to put the game beyond the home side's reach.Ahead of their 2009 Magic Weekend fixture against St Helens RLFC, Thomas Leuluai learned that he would not be called up to play in the 2009 ANZAC Test, news which was welcomed by Brian Noble, who stated that New Zealand had, "enough southern hemisphere-based Kiwis to cope."[66] Leuluai instead took membership of a Wigan side which recorded its third successive league win at Murrayfield Stadium over a St Helens RLFC side including James Graham, who had complained earlier in the week about the event's location being too far away.[67] Wigan had lost to St Helens at the Magic Weekend event in 2007 and 2008, 34–18 and 57–16 respectively, but it was Wigan's captain Sean O'Loughlin who scored the game's first try after seven minutes.[68] Pat Richards scored the match's second try following a kick from O'Loughlin, and added both conversions to give Wigan a 12–0 lead. This was further extended after Gareth Hock scored after 29 minutes. Sean Long gained a try back for St Helens as his grubber kick rebounded off Leuluai, before a break from Sam Tomkins fed his older brother Joel for a try just before half time. Two minutes after the break, Wigan kicked a penalty to stretch the lead to 26–6, and Wigan ended any hope of a St Helens comeback as Leuluai scored following a break down the wing from Richards. St Helens scored the next two tries through Leon Pryce and Paul Wellens, with Long kicking both conversions, but Richards scored his second try and kicked the conversion to take his personal haul to twenty-two, and end the match 38–18. With Noble's contract due to expire at the end of the season, Ian Lenagan praised him for Wigan's biggest derby win in six years over St Helens, but refused to offer any assurances about Noble's future at the club, after Bradford Bulls refuted a claim that they wanted to replace Steve McNamara with Noble.[69]
For the next match, the players again returned to Belle Vue, two weeks after their league win. The Wakefield Trinity Wildcats were coached by John Kear, twice a winner of the Cup as a head coach, most recently in 2005 with Hull FC,[70] and in 1998 when his Sheffield Eagles side defeated Wigan 17–8 in the final, three years after Wigan's last of a record eight consecutive Challenge Cup final victories.[71] The match did not start in Wigan's favour, as Danny Brough provided passes to Jason Demetriou and Tevita Leo-Latu, and kicked a conversion to give the Wildcats a 10–0 lead.[72] Wigan went in ahead at half time though. Wigan got their first points with a try on the wing from Richards, and then another try from Michael McIlorum following a Gareth Hock pass. Brough kicked a drop-goal to give Wakefield a point lead, but Cameron Phelps scored a third Wigan try after Sean O'Loughlin broke the line from his own half. Wakefield went ahead for the third time twelve minutes after the break, with a grubber kick from Brough being gathered by Tony Martin. Stuart Fielden then scored his first try in two years before Sam Tomkins finished the game with a try of his own making. The fourth goal of the match meant the final scores were 17–28; a win for Wigan which advanced them to the quarter-finals. The day after, the draw for the next round to be played three weeks later was made, with Wigan receiving a home tie against Salford City Reds.[73]
Following a run of four games, the club's next match was against Hull Kingston Rovers. Their preparations were boosted by news that Sam Tomkins would not receive a match ban for his conduct against Wakefield in the Challenge Cup tie.[74] Goulding extended his loan spell at Salford City Reds, but with a condition that Wigan could recall him with 24 hours notice.[75] The match seemed to be heading towards a 6–0 lead for Wigan at half-time, after Sean O'Loughlin scored a try and Richards kicked a goal, but a controversial try scored by Michael Dobson after the hooter had sounded was awarded by the referee, Richard Silverwood.[76] Incensed, Wigan started the second half with another converted try from the captain, O'Loughlin, but this was to be their final score of the match. Paul Cooke collected his own kick for a solo try, and Jake Webster put Hull KR into the lead, with Dobson kicking both goals for a six-point advantage. A late penalty was kicked by Dobson for another two ponts, concluding the match in favour of Hull KR. The match ended Wigan's run of four victories, and placed Hull KR temporarily at the top of the Super League XIV table.Following his loan spell at Barrow, Lee Mossop transferred to Huddersfield Giants on a month-long loan.[77] Prior to Wigan's next match against Warrington Wolves, Noble, whose contract at Wigan was due to expire at the end of 2009, publicly admitted that he was becoming impatient with the lack of an offer from the club to extend his contract, after reports in the Sydney Morning Herald linked him to a coaching role at Sydney Roosters.[78] Wigan had not won a game in Warrington since 2003, and despite leading for over half the match, failed to break this record.[79] Warrington successfully charged down two kicks, before a kick from Thomas Leuluai on the third set of six tackles lead to Cameron Phelps scoring the match's opening try. Poor discipline from Ben Westwood gave a penalty, and Wigan almost took advantage when Joel Tomkins was held up over the try-line in the act of scoring by former Wigan full-back, Richie Mathers. Wigan again launched the next attack after forcing a goal line drop out, but a try from Amos Roberts was disallowed because of a knock-on by Pat Richards. Warrington then applied a sustained twenty minute period of pressure, but errors from Westwood and Briers kept them off the scoresheet. Briers weighted his next kick better, with Matt King out-jumping Shaun Ainscough to score Warrington's first try. Bridge's missed conversion meant that Wigan lead 6–4 at half-time, and a penalty kicked by Richards early in the second half meant that this lead was increased by two points. Warrington gained the lead after 55 minutes after Chris Riley punished Stuart Fielden and Andy Coley for giving away successive penalties with a try in the corner. Michael Monaghan shimmied past three Wigan defenders to finish the game off with another Warrington try.Tim Smith had been left out of the tie against Warrington owing to a family illness, and did not return from his home country, Australia, in time for Wigan's Challenge Cup tie against Salford City Reds, but George Carmont returned from injury.[80] Fielden was also forced to miss the game, after receiving a one-match ban for raising a knee in a tackle during the defeat to Warrington.[81] Without Smith and Fielden, Wigan comprehensively beat Salford City Reds 28–6 to advance to the semi-finals stage of the tournament.[82] Gareth Hock gave the home side the lead, before Salford equalised with a try from Luke Adamson. Wigan replied by taking the lead with a George Carmont try, and could have scored again after Hock broke the line, but Sam Tomkins knocked-on. Another knock-on, this time from Richards, denied Wigan another try. Salford launched repeated attacks on the Wigan line early in the second half, through Mark Henry and Stefan Ratchford, before Willie Talau was pushed into touch by Sam Tomkins. A penalty from Richards added two more points to Wigan's total, and he soon scored his second try, followed by his third on 70 minutes for his second hat-trick in a Wigan jersey. Hock scored the final try, his second, after Tomkins had come close, to finish the game in favour of the Warriors. Wigan therefore entered their first Challenge Cup semi-final since 2007, when they were defeated by Catalans Dragons at the Halliwell Jones Stadium in Warrington,[83] and it was Warrington Wolves who were drawn as their 2009 semi-final opponents.[84]| Pos | Name | From | Date | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HK | Mark Riddell | Parramatta Eels | 14 May 2008 | [85] | |
| WG | Amos Roberts | Sydney Roosters | 22 January 2009 | [86] | |
| CE | Martin Gleeson | Warrington Wolves | 6 April 2009 | [87] |
| Pos | Name | To | Date | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SO | Trent Barrett | Cronulla Sharks | 5 June 2008 | [88] | |
| WG | Mark Calderwood | Hull | 11 September 2008 | [89] | |
| HK | Mickey Higham | Warrington Wolves | 15 September 2008 | [90] | |
| WG | Liam Colbon | Hull Kingston Rovers | 18 September 2008 | [91] | |
| FB | Richie Mathers | Warrington Wolves | 6 April 2009 |
| Pos | Name | To | Date from | Until | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SR | Lee Mossop | Barrow Raiders | 9 April 2009 | 9 May 2009 | [92] |
| Huddersfield Giants | 19 May 2009 | 19 June 2009 | |||
| 19 June 2009 | 7 July 2009 | [93] [94] | |||
| CE | Darrell Goulding | Salford City Reds | 14 April 2009 | 14 May 2009 | [95] |
| 14 May 2009 | 7 July 2009 | ||||
| 2009 Wigan Warriors season player statistics (Correct as of 3 October) | - ! rowspan=2 | No. ! rowspan=2 | Pos. ! rowspan=2 width=14% | Name ! colspan=2 width=10% | Apps ! colspan=2 width=10% | Tries ! colspan=2 width=10% | Goals ! colspan=2 width=10% | Drops ! colspan=2 width=10% | Totals ! colspan=2 width=10% | Disciplinary ! rowspan=2 | Notes | - ! width=5% | SL ! width=5% | CC ! width=5% | SL ! width=5% | CC ! width=5% | SL ! width=5% | CC ! width=5% | SL ! width=5% | CC ! width=5% | Apps ! width=5% | Pts ! width=5% | ! width=5% | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[96] | 0 | [97] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | 29 | 4 | 12 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 60 | 0 | 0 | [98] [99] [100] [101] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | 6 (3) | 1 (1) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 (4) | 8 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | 26 | 4 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 72 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | 28 | 3 | 20 | 3 | 89 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 296 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | 12 (1) | 2 (1) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 (2) | 4 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | 30 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 40 | 1[102] | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | 30 (17) | 2 (1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 (18) | 4 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | 28 (3) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 31 (3) | 14 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | 30 (27) | 4 (3) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 (30) | 8 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | 15 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 24 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12 | 18 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 24 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13 | 25 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 20 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 14 | 29 (10) | 4 (3) | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 (13) | 28 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15 | 29 (4) | 4 (1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 (5) | 4 | 1[103] | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 16 | 26 (9) | 3 (1) | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 (10) | 28 | 1[104] | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 17 | 17 (12) | 2 (1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 (13) | 4 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 19 | 24 (7) | 4 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 (8) | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20 | 6 (2) | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 (2) | 12 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 21 | 23 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 24 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 22 | 19 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 24 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 23 | 6 (4) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 (4) | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 24 | 9 (9) | 1 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 (10) | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 25 | 23 (5) | 4 (1) | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 27 (6) | 61 | 1[105] | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 26 | 10 (7) | 1 (1) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 (8) | 4 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 28 | 11 | 1 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 64 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LEGEND | - | width=100 | Win | - | width=100 | Draw | - | width=100 | Loss | - | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
See main article: Super League XIV.
| Round | Opponent | Score | H/A | Attendance | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | 6–12 | 14,377 | 8 February 2009 | ||
| 1 | Hull | 18–10 | 14,523 | 13 February 2009 | |
| 2 | 22–28 | Home | 12,079 | 20 February 2009 | |
| 3 | 18–24 | 3,883 | 28 February 2009 | ||
| 4 | 44–10 | Home | 12,588 | 6 March 2009 | |
| 5 | 34–10 | 17,677 | 13 March 2009 | ||
| 6 | 12–38 | 7,016 | 20 March 2009 | ||
| 7 | Huddersfield Giants | 8–22 | Home | 11,670 | 27 March 2009 |
| 8 | 12–19 | Home | 22,232 | 9 April 2009 | |
| 9 | 40–24 | 9,490 | 13 April 2009 | ||
| 10 | 44–10 | Home | 12,371 | 19 April 2009 | |
| 11 | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats | 26–40 | 5,521 | 26 April 2009 | |
| 12 | St Helens RLFC | 38–18 | 29,627 | 3 May 2009 | |
| 13 | 12–20 | Home | 13,415 | 15 May 2009 | |
| 14 | Warrington Wolves | 16–8 | 10,718 | 24 May 2009 | |
| 15 | Salford City Reds | 34–18 | Home | 11,550 | 5 June 2009 |
| 16 | Celtic Crusaders | 22–16 | 5,253 | 13 June 2009 | |
| 18 | Hull Kingston Rovers | 28–36 | 9,007 | 28 June 2009 | |
| 19 | Harlequins RL | 40–12 | Home | 14,977 | 3 July 2009 |
| 20 | Catalans Dragons | 24–22 | Home | 11,543 | 10 July 2009 |
| 21 | Bradford Bulls | 14–20 | 9,487 | 19 July 2009 | |
| 22 | Leeds Rhinos | 28–10 | Home | 20,295 | 24 July 2009 |
| 23 | St Helens RLFC | 10–6 | 15,563 | 31 July 2009 | |
| 24 | Warrington Wolves | 36–16 | Home | 13,452 | 14 August 2009 |
| 25 | Castleford Tigers | 22–29 | 6,574 | 23 August 2009 | |
| 26 | Hull FC | 34–22 | Home | 12,491 | 4 September 2009 |
| 27 | Huddersfield Giants | 48–16 | 8,988 | 13 September 2009 | |
| Castleford Tigers | 18–12 | Home | 8,689 | 20 September 2009 | |
| Hull Kingston Rovers | 16–30 | Away | 8,162 | 26 September 2009 | |
| St Helens RLFC | 14–10 | Away | 13,087 | 3 October 2009 | |
See main article: 2009 Challenge Cup.
| Round | Opponent | Score | H/A | Attendance | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Barrow Raiders [C] | 20–32 | 6,275 | 5 April 2009 | |
| 5 | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats [SL] | 17–28 | Away | 4,883 | 9 May 2009 |
| Salford City Reds [SL] | 28–6 | Home | 9,466 | 29 May 2009 | |
| Warrington Wolves [SL] | 26–39 | 12,975 | 8 August 2009 | ||