PRE-MATCH tributes to Sir Billy Boston completely overshadowed the Super League match in his adopted home of Wigan.
The Warriors blitzed a dramatically understrength Hull KR 46-0 in a replay of the 2025 grand final and a match played – at times – in torrential rain at the Brick Community Stadium.
But the entire pre-match was handed over to Sir Billy, who died on Wednesday aged 92.
The seats normally occupied by rugby league’s first knight and his late wife Joan adorned with tributes and, according to club chief executive Kris Radlinski, will never be occupied on match day again.
Floral tributes were laid on the pitch by the RFL and Hull KR and Wigan’s club chaplain read a tribute in a taped package which also included Boston’s career highlights before kick-off.
For the record, Wigan led 28-0 at halftime and were already at that point going extend an unbeaten streak that stretches back to May. Winger Liam Marshall posted a hat-trick.
Perhaps their best play of the evening was Bevan French’s desperate trysaving tackle on Frankie Dearlove – detected only by the video referee – in the second half.
Wigan went back to the top and are in the box seat for the League Leaders Shield while only St Helens can displace defending champions Hull KR from the top six.
WIGAN 46 (Marshall 3 Eckersley 2 Field Keighran Wardle tries Keighran 6 goals) beat HULL KR 0.
Teams:
WIGAN: Jai Field; Zach Eckersley, Adam Keighran, Jake Wardle, Liam Marshall; Bevan French, Harry Smith; Ethan Havard, Brad O’Neill, Luke Thompson, Kian McDermott, Oliver Partington, Kaide Ellis. Res: Sam Walters, Patrick Mago, Taylor Kerr, Shea O’Connor.
ROVERS: Jack Broadbent; Harvey Horne, Louix Gorman, Noah Booth, Lee Kershaw; Arthur Mourgue, Jack Charles; Sauaso Sue, Bill Leyland, Sam Luckley, Rhyse Martin, Frankie Dearlove, Karl Lawton. Res: Tom Amone, Zach Fishwick, Dec Murphy, Alfie Wood.
Referee: Aaron Moore.
