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Betfred Super League

Wigan (24) 54

Tries: Keighran, French, Field 2, Smith 2, Eckersley, Nsemba, Forber Goals: Keighran 9

Wigan Warriors ran in nine tries to hammer local rivals Leigh Leopards 54-0 and continue their impressive start to the 2026 Super League season.

Tries from Adam Keighran, Bevan French, Jai Field and Harry Smith put Wigan into a dominant 24-point lead at half-time for the second match in a row.

Further tries from Field and Smith plus one each from Zach Eckersley, Junior Nsemba and Tom Forber after the break – as well as nine goals from Keighran on a perfect night with the boot – ensured a third league win from three for Warriors.

Wigan went ahead after 10 minutes – French fired in a short pass for Keighran to cross over from close range on the last tackle after Leigh’s Lachlan Lam conceded a set of six in his own half for a late shot.

Liam Marshall dotted down for Warriors soon after but the celebrations were cut short as referee Liam Moore spotted a forward pass from French in the build-up of a flowing team move.

French then found a small gap in the Leigh backline on the right edge to roll challenges from Lam and Tesi Niu to grab Wigan’s second in a dominant opening 20 minutes from the hosts.

A well-measured kick from Smith was batted back one-handed by Nsemba to full-back Field who showed a dummy before darting over for the impressive Warriors’ third try.

Moments into the second period, Leigh’s Matt Davis was forced off with a head injury having taken the full force of a kick to the corner by Smith.

And Warriors stretched their legs soon after when a beautiful line break from Patrick Mago allowed the prop to pass to Smith, who unselfishly found Field to finish another free-flowing move for his second of the night.

At this stage, Wigan were playing exhibition rugby league and a miss-out pass from French cut out three Leigh defenders and found Eckersley who strolled in for Wigan’s sixth try.

Nsemba then got his name on the scoresheet, getting on the end of a delicate grubber kick from Smith, before Field raced away on a wonderful break and found the supporting Smith to dive over next to the sticks.

Hooker Forber got 50-up for Warriors, barging over for his side’s ninth try between the sticks before Keighran added the extras once more to seal a perfect night for Wigan.

Wigan boss Matt Peet told BBC Radio Manchester:

“It’s hard to know what level the other teams are at. Hull were missing a few [players] last week, Leigh were missing a few [players], so it’s important we don’t get carried away at this stage of the season.

“The boys have got themselves in outstanding physical shape, credit to our performance staff – we were ready for this season physically.

Leigh boss Adrian Lam told BBC Radio Manchester:

“Obviously terrible. That is probably as bad as we’ve played in my time here and I think we were our own worst enemies.

“We gave away a tackle six penalty when the score was 0-0 and that certainly turned the game completely on its head.

“You’ve got to come here and win possession and not do those things [mistakes] so it put us under pressure and it just escalated from there.

Wigan: Field; Eckersley, Keighran, Farrell, Marshall; French, Smith; Havard, O’Neill, Thompson, Nsemba, Walters, Ellis.

Replacements: Mago, Partington, Eseh, Forber.

Leigh: Hodgson; Senior, Niu, Brand, Charnley; Cook, Lam; Ofahengaue, Horne, Mulhern, Halton, Trout, Liu.

Replacements: Hughes, Davis, Alick-Wiencke, O’Brien.

Speculation around Jurgen Klopp’s role with Red Bull is dismissed, Chelsea remain in pole position to land Murillo and Wolves‘ asking price for Mateus Mane is putting off Liverpool and Manchester United.

Reports that Jurgen Klopp will leave his role as head of global soccer at the Red Bull organisation are “complete nonsense and totally unfounded”, says CEO Oliver Mintzlaff. (Sky Sports Germany – in German)

Liverpool are firmly in the frame for Nottingham Forest‘s 23-year-old Brazil defender Murillo, although Chelsea still lead the pursuit. (Teamtalk)

Serbia international Dusan Vlahovic favours a switch to Barcelona when his Juventus contract ends this summer, although Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea remain in the hunt to sign the 26-year-old forward. (Teamtalk)

Arsenal and Manchester City are considering bids of £30m for Atalanta left-back Honest Ahanor. Chelsea are also interested in the 18-year-old Nigerian. (Caught Offside)

Liverpool and Manchester United will not pay Wolves‘ £50m asking price for 18-year-old England youth international Mateus Mane this summer as they consider the midfielder too raw. (Football Insider)

Former Brentford striker Ivan Toney is targeting silverware in Saudi Arabia with current club Al-Ahli, but the Englishman, 29, is not ruling out a return to the Premier League. (Talksport)

Forward Nicolas Jackson is set to return to Chelsea. The 24-year-old Senegal international moved to Bayern Munich on loan last summer, but the Bundesliga champions are not keen on a permanent switch. (CFBayernInsider)

Newcastle United are looking at Brighton‘s Netherlands goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen and Manchester City‘s English stopper James Trafford, both 23, as they target finding a long-term successor for England international Nick Pope, 33. (The i Newspaper – subscription required)

Newcastle United are also watching Union Saint-Gilloise winger Anan Khalaili. The 21-year-old Israel international has scored three times in the Champions League this season. (Mail+ – subscription required)

Liverpool‘s 19-year-old winger Trent Kone-Doherty, from Northern Ireland, might soon leave to join Norwegian club Molde despite being offered a new contract at Anfield. (Football Insider)

With the Europa League behind them, Celtic now face a season-defining fortnight.

By 14 March they could be motoring in the league with the wind at their backs and into the Scottish Cup semi-finals.

Or they could be further toiling to defend their title and staring at a trophyless campaign.

The first stop is Ibrox on Sunday for a titanic league match, with Celtic trailing Rangers by two points having played one game fewer, with Hearts six clear of the champions.

Then it is a midweek trip to Aberdeen, before returning to Ibrox in the Scottish Cup quarter-final and then hosting in-form and formidable Motherwell.

Six of their next seven matches are away from Celtic Park. This much-maligned Celtic squad is about to be stress-tested after a tumultuous first two-thirds of the season.

“There will be a lot of twists and turns,” former Celtic defender Johann Mjallby said on TNT Sports after the 1-0 victory over Stuttgart.

Despite the 1-0 win over Stuttgart proving moot in Celtic’s quest to reach the last 16 of the Europa League after a 4-1 home loss, it could yet prove significant.

Martin O’Neill changed eight of his starting line-up and some of the fringe players put in eye-catching displays to secure the club’s first ever win in Germany against the side fourth in the Bundesliga.

Luke McCowan stroked home the winner after just 28 seconds and played positively, while in the back four Dane Murray, and Marcelo Sarrachi stood out in a gutsy display.

Murray in particular made his case to start alongside Liam Scales with Auston Trusty suspended for the next three league games.

One magnificent block stood out and he was assured at defending corners.

Kasper Schmeichel, 39, has been under intense scrutiny after a series of errors, culminating in last week’s slack performance in the home defeat by Stuttgart.

The 26-year-old from Finland stepped in and made six saves, in a display former Celtic midfielder Stiliyan Petrov described as “perfect”.

Pat Bonner, the former Celtic goalkeeper, believes Sinisalo did enough to start against Rangers on Sunday.

“He had some very good saves and looked composed when he had the ball and read the game well,” he said on BBC Scotland’s Sportsound.

“It’s a big decision for Martin O’Neill to make at the weekend. On that performance, I would be starting him. Give him a run in the team now.”

The Celtic manager agreed several players have given him “food for thought”.

“[Sinisalo] played brilliantly in the game, really well. That’s the name all round the dressing room,” the 73-year-old said. “He’s got plenty of talent.

“Tonight, we made some changes. Some enforced, players stepped up to the plate but we didn’t throw in 16-year-olds… these boys have played in the team and have shown they’re capable of winning games.

The other benefit of Celtic’s win was that they showed they can grind out a victory.

Over the years, Celtic have pitched up and naturally looked to dominate the ball from start to finish against every domestic opponent.

But this more fragile side had looked increasingly vulnerable in 2026, regularly conceding more than one goal per game.

Having not won at Ibrox in four attempts since September 2023 and given Rangers have won their past 10 home matches, a show of resilience in Stuttgart was timely.

Might Celtic take a slightly more pragmatic approach? Right now, it is all about winning.

“You don’t have to have all the possession to win the game,” Bonner said on Sportsound.

“You’ve got to work hard, defend well, get a bit of luck and have a good goalkeeper.

“Celtic have not played well this season, but they are hanging in there [in the league]. They still have a chance, with a game in hand.

Eleven years ago, a young Harry Westlake went viral.

After winning a competition to be an England mascot, he spent the days running up to England’s meeting with Italy learning the words to the national anthem.

Standing in front of then England captain Chris Robshaw, the six-year-old certainly took his chance.

Fist clenched over his heart, Westlake belted out God Save the Queen with such gusto, that images were shared widely across the internet, spawning a hashtag #DoItLikeHarry.

A couple of days later, a little more tired and quiet, Harry was interviewed on BBC Breakfast. Midway through the chat, presenter Naga Munchetty asked him: “One day will we see you on the pitch singing as one of the players?”

Now 17, Westlake has been included in an England training camp in preparation for a warm-up match against France next month and April’s U18 Six Nations Festival in Vichy, France.

“England Rugby was always a massive thing for me growing up,” says Westlake, looking back.

“I just loved England and I’m very patriotic.

“I remember getting into the tunnel and asking Chris Robshaw if he was ready.

“Then we cracked on, went out and I think I thought I was going to play!

“You see me walking out and almost staring everyone down.

“Before it, my mum had said to me, ‘Make sure you sing it loud and sing it proud’.

“So I just thought, ‘All right, I’ll do that’.”

Westlake was playing for Devonport Services under-7s at the time, but already had his eyes on the big stage, with plans to become England fly-half or centre.

That part probably won’t come to pass.

Westlake, who plays in Exeter’s academy, is now a hard-running back row, channelling the energy and drive of Ben Earl and Henry Pollock, even if he does cite childhood hero Owen Farrell as the embodiment of the mentality he aspires to.

Westlake has already had to show resilience to keep pursuing his dream.

“Rugby has always been the focus, even if the ride hasn’t necessarily been as smooth as it could have been,” he says.

Westlake has Crohn’s disease, a chronic gut inflammation.

“I’m on medication which I take every eight weeks, which sort of ticks me over and gets me through,” he explains.

“There was a two, three, four-year period where it was pretty tough, but we’re getting through it now.

“It affects energy levels so for two or three days before my medication is due, I’ll struggle and then a day after I’ll struggle as well.”

Harry’s anthem moment was not his even his first experience meeting the England squad.

After his viral rendition of the anthem, Harry, decked out in a black suit, even hosted his own online mini chat show with England internationals Dylan Hartley, Luther Burrell and Kieran Brookes as guests.

Are any of his new age-grade team-mates aware of his brief childhood burst of rugby fame?

“The core group of friends I have now, I’ve been friends with since I was about six, seven, eight anyway,” says Westlake. “So they all know and share the clips – it gets around.

“But no, I don’t think any of the England Under-18s know about it yet.”

If they haven’t seen the recorded version, Westlake is determined they get to hear him sing live.

“I’d love to be playing in a [senior] England shirt in five years’ time,” he says.

“I think that’s everyone’s goal who’s in this camp at the minute to progress through the pathway and become an England player eventually.

Saracens have rejected “disrespectful” reports that they have offered Ireland head coach Andy Farrell a coaching role for after the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

The club said “no offer has been made” after the Irish Independent reported that Farrell has been approached with a deal worth more than £1m per year to return to Sarries following next year’s tournament in Australia.

Brendan Venter will return to the director of rugby role at the Premiership club when long-serving Mark McCall steps down at the end of the season.

“Andy has not discussed his future with anyone on the board or ownership group of Saracens and we can categorically state, despite numerous reports to the contrary in the press, that no offer has been made to Andy,” the club statement read.

“The misguided reporting is disrespectful to Brendan Venter who will be assuming the DOR [director of rugby] responsibilities from Mark McCall at the end of the 25-26 season. It is also disrespectful to Andy and the IRFU.”

Farrell was a Saracens player between 2005 and 2009, also winning eight England caps, having switched to union after a long and successful career in rugby league with Wigan, during which he also captained Great Britain. After retiring as a player, he took his first steps into coaching with Saracens.

The 50-year-old – whose son Owen rejoined the Premiership outfit last summer after a season in France with Racing 92 – took over as Ireland head coach in 2019 from Joe Schmidt, stepping up from an assistant role he took up in 2016.

In 2023, he led Ireland to a Six Nations Grand Slam and the championship title the following year.

He then turned his attention to the British and Irish Lions, guiding them to a 2-1 series victory over Australia last year, before returning to the Ireland role.

AI is still leading the BBC Sport predictions table, but could Albert Einstein be the unlikely inspiration to help Chris Sutton hit back this week?

“Einstein used to live in a hut across the field from my house,” said BBC Sport football expert Sutton. “He would have gone for a walk in my garden, I’m sure, so I’m literally following in his footsteps most days.

“I don’t know what he was like at predicting football results, but that kind of genius rubs off, even years later.

“So, AI should beware – for this week’s predictions I’ve been gazing at where his hut used to be and thinking ‘what would Albert do?'”

Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against AI, BBC Sport readers and a variety of guests.

His guest for week 28 is Oli Fox from indie band Good Neighbours, who supports West Ham.

An expanded version of Good Neighbours’ debut album, Blue Sky Mentality (Complete Edition), is out now.

Do you agree with their predictions? You can pick your own below.

The most popular scoreline selected for each game is used in the scoreboards and tables at the bottom of this page.

Oli is the younger brother of Wigan’s former Wales Under-21s defender Morgan Fox, and his early dreams were to follow him into the professional game.

He told BBC Sport: “I played a bit myself growing up, and had trials here and there, but I was never as close as my brother to being a pro – so I sacked it off pretty quickly.

“I don’t think I’ll get away with saying I was better than him. Morgan always had the natural ability when we were kids, even at the age of four or five, and he was scouted by Ipswich by the age of seven.

“Our dad’s Welsh so he was very proud when Morgan played for their under-21s. He got called up for the senior team as well, against Turkey, which was awesome. That was a fun away day.

“It’s been awesome going to watch him down the years – even when I am away on tour I get a link to tune in wherever I am in the world. I’ve not really missed a game, visually anyway.

“It’s been harder for him to come and watch me, but we had our first UK tour in more than a year the other week, and he came to see me in Manchester. That was brilliant too.”

The pair have both featured in the past two editions of best-selling video game EA FC – Good Neighbours songs are on the soundtrack of EA FC 25 and 26, while Morgan is in both as a player.

“We grew up playing it, so that was really cool,” Oli added.

Chris Sutton and Oli Fox were speaking to BBC Sport’s Chris Bevan.

I keep hearing people say that, mathematically, Wolves still have a chance of staying up, but let me just tell them straight – there is no chance of that happening.

There is no doubt Wolves have improved under Rob Edwards, but this is still a game I’d expect Aston Villa to win.

Unai Emery’s side have slipped up a few times in recent weeks, however, and it has cost them.

They have only won one of their past four league games and I am a bit gutted they haven’t managed a couple more wins to really be in the title race.

Emery has always talked down their title hopes anyhow, and I understand why – he obviously doesn’t truly believe they can do it – but until this blip in form they were in with a real shout.

I still think they will have too much for Wolves, but they are going to have to work hard for the points. Villa won 1-0 at Villa Park earlier in the season, so I am going for the same scoreline here.

Sutton’s prediction: 0-1

Oli’s prediction: I don’t think either team is in particularly fine form. Wolves don’t have much to play for but they have got a few young players in the team now who are really good, and they can get a result here. 1-1

Sunderland just seem to be fading a little bit.

They went fourth in the table when they beat Bournemouth 3-2 at the Stadium of Light at the end of November, but their results have tailed off recently and they have missed Granit Xhaka’s influence in recent weeks.

Xhaka came off the bench in last week’s defeat by Fulham and, if he starts this time, they will be better organised here.

I still fancy Bournemouth to win it, though. They always create chances and Rayan has done well since signing in January to replace Antoine Semenyo.

Sutton’s prediction: 2-0

Oli’s prediction: Bournemouth’s front three is frightening and West Ham did well to keep them out last week. Sunderland don’t really have the legs in midfield to cope. 3-1

Burnley are still competitive, still scrapping and still picking up points. Their players are still playing for Scott Parker but, even so, it’s still not going to be enough to keep them up.

The Clarets’ draw at Chelsea last week was a good result and they could even have won that game, too, but they didn’t. That lack of wins has been their problem all season, not their performances.

They have only won four of their 27 games so far and I think they are going to need to win five of their final 11 to stay up from here – and that’s not going to happen.

I don’t think anyone saw Brentford’s home defeat by Brighton coming last week – I didn’t anyway – but I am still going to back them at Turf Moor.

It’s going to be another tight one but I can see Igor Thiago getting back on the scoresheet with the winner. That’s as exact as predictions can get.

Sutton’s prediction: 0-1

Oli’s prediction: I always kind of fancy Burnley to get something at home. Zian Flemming is in good form for them too. 2-2

I keep hearing how West Ham have turned a corner, and they have improved recently, but I still thought last week’s draw at home to Bournemouth was a poor result.

The Hammers were helped by Nottingham Forest and Tottenham both being beaten, but a win would have been massive for them.

Liverpool were very unconvincing at Forest, but they did nick the win.

Some of their fans are still whinging about Arne Slot and he is always being compared to Jurgen Klopp, but they are actually on a decent run of results and showing a bit of spirit too.

They are right in the mix for the top four but now they need to keep winning – I expect them to do that on Saturday.

Sutton’s prediction: 2-1

Oli on why he’s a West Ham fan: All my family are from East Ham and Upton Park. They grew up watching them, so when I was a kid I didn’t really have a choice. I wouldn’t have it any other way, though – I love them to bits.

Oli’s prediction: The sensible prediction here is that Liverpool will win but I am not going with that. Instead, we will score inside the first 10 minutes because we always start well, but they will come back and then we will be fighting for an equaliser. I am not too hopeful, but I am going to say we will get one. 2-2

Will West Ham stay up? The end of last season and the beginning of this one have probably been the toughest times to be a West Ham fan, because of what was happening at the club from the top down – it kind of felt like a wasted effort to try and support them.

But I feel like good things are on the horizon for us now – it feels like there is more camaraderie within the team, and they are starting to get Nuno Espirito Santo’s methods more. Axel Disasi coming in has been game-changing too, when I didn’t think he would have that effect.

We’ve found another gear now and obviously Crysencio Summerville’s form has been excellent with Mateus Fernandes, but Tomas Soucek has been really key as well. I am feeling optimistic, because we’ve got a bit of grit.

Everton’s inconsistency makes them an absolute nightmare to predict, and the fact their away form is much better than their home results doesn’t help me much here either.

Anthony Gordon looks sharp as anything up front for Newcastle, with Nick Woltemade playing just in behind.

The Magpies won 4-1 at Hill Dickinson Stadium in November and I’d usually back them in this kind of game at St James’ Park and be quite confident they would win.

But Everton won here last season and, given how good they are on the road, I just have a sneaky feeling they will get something this time too.

Sutton’s prediction: 1-1

Oli’s prediction: Everton had a few good chances against Manchester United but they just don’t have that end product. Newcastle are at home so I’ve got to go with them. 2-0

This will be a great game. I was at Etihad Stadium when these two teams met in November, and it was a real turning point in Leeds’ season.

City were 2-0 up at half-time but Leeds boss Daniel Farke put Dominic Calvert-Lewin on and had a real go.

They fought back to 2-2, and although they still lost to a last-gasp Phil Foden goal, that performance transformed them – they’ve been a different team in recent weeks compared with the way they started the season.

This is the sort of game where, if you are a City fan, you are thinking we have to go to Elland Road and win if we are going to win the title.

Leaders Arsenal did exactly that a few weeks ago, and blew Leeds away.

Can City do the same? I am not sure – especially if we class this Saturday evening kick-off as a night game, because Leeds’ record in those under Farke is extraordinary – out of 21 so far, they have won 18 and drawn three.

It’s hard to call, so this was one of the games I mentioned earlier where I was thinking, ‘What would Einstein say?’.

He was better at physics than he was at predictions but I reckon he would have calculated that the floodlights will inspire Leeds again – but City will still come out on top.

So, my theory is that City will win. They don’t have the same control in midfield any more, but they have so much firepower – as well as Erling Haaland, Omar Marmoush and Semenyo are both in good form.

Haaland is not exactly playing a different role now, but he is showing what an intelligent footballer he is. I don’t see Leeds keeping them out.

Sutton’s prediction: 1-3

Oli’s prediction: This should be a simple game for City, but Leeds at home is never straightforward. Elland Road is like a fortress and Leeds have got goals in them so I can see this being a bit of a scrap. 2-3

Brighton badly needed last week’s win over Brentford, just to settle things down under Fabian Hurzeler. There had been a lot of talk about his future while they were on a poor run.

Nottingham Forest did not deserve to lose against Liverpool last week but scoring goals is still a problem for them, and I feel like it could haunt them again here.

Sutton’s prediction: 2-0

Oli’s prediction: I obviously hope Forest lose from a West Ham point of view but I’d take a draw here because you never know what you will get from Brighton. 1-1

The Tudor times have not started well for Tottenham under Igor Tudor.

It’s been a classic case of a manager coming in and being bullish in his first press conference, saying he is 100% sure they will stay up – then losing his first game and letting loose on the previous manager, saying things like the players aren’t fit.

I thought it was an astonishing attack on Thomas Frank, because by saying Spurs’ players are “a good group with bad habits”, Tudor is totally blaming him for everything.

We know Tudor is a short-term specialist but what does that actually mean about him as a manager? It is OK going in and shoring clubs up for a few games, but why does he keep losing his job after that?

I don’t think this is an easy game for him after his side were outclassed in the north London derby.

Fulham won well at Sunderland last time out and they look full of confidence. Their home record is good and they’ve already beaten Spurs once this season – there’s a good chance they will beat them again.

Sutton’s prediction: 2-1

Oli’s prediction: Fulham will take this, 100%. That would be great if it happens. 3-1

Manchester United have been very good under Michael Carrick and they are a team full of confidence – the way Benjamin Sesko is playing when he comes on is a great example of that.

Palace picked up a late win over Wolves last time out but it still feels like their manager Oliver Glasner should have left by now, because there is such a negative atmosphere around the whole club.

I don’t like to question anyone’s commitment but, in this scenario, I think you have no choice. Glasner wants to leave, and the whole situation has been handled very badly.

Palace have won away at Manchester United in the past two seasons but, the way things are going for both teams, you’d only ever go for a home win here.

Sutton’s prediction: 2-0

Oli’s prediction: The way United are playing, I can see them scoring a few. 3-0

Arsenal have got to be careful they don’t warm up in the Chelsea half again, for starters. If I was playing in this game, I’d do it deliberately!

In terms of the game, I can’t see anything other than a Gunners win.

Chelsea can cause Arsenal a few problems because they have got players who can hurt anyone but, at the other end, I don’t see Liam Rosenior’s side keeping a clean sheet.

I liked the way Arsenal responded to their setback against Wolves by battering Spurs. Chelsea don’t like them much either, but this is going to end up with the same result.

Sutton’s prediction: 2-0

Oli’s prediction: Off the top of my head I want to say 2-2 for this one, it just feels right – we are going to see a few goals. 2-2

Oli on Declan Rice: I loved watching Kaka in the Champions League when I was a kid and I always wanted to play like him. But being able to watch Rice from when he broke into West Ham’s first team was incredible.

I understood he had to leave to reach the heights he has done and even the way he went to Arsenal, he did it really well. He’s up there with Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard as one of the greatest all-round English midfielders, and to watch that as a West Ham fan, I am just so proud of him.

The outcome of week 27 went down to the final game, Manchester United’s 2-1 win at Everton on Monday.

Chris wrongly predicted a 1-1 draw but his guest, Embrace bassist Steve Firth, correctly backed United to win 1-0 – and those 10 points handed him the weekly win.

Overall, Chris got five correct results from 10 Premier League games, including one exact score, for a total of 80 points.

That was enough for him to beat the BBC readers, who got five correct results with no exact scores for a tally of 50 points, and also get the better of AI, which managed six correct results with no exact scores for 60 points.