Wigan Warriors came from 10 points down to claim a 30-10 win over Huddersfield Giants a the Brick Community Stadium.
Here’s a look at some of the talking points.
More like it from Wigan
Wigan needed a performance and a result against Huddersfield and at the break they looked to be heading for neither. The Warriors were woeful before the interval with errors and lapses of discipline leaking into their game.
That allowed Huddersfield to build up a 10-0 lead as Tui Lolohea and Jacob Gagai touched down. The game turned on its head in the second half, though, with Wigan taking huge strides towards improving and Huddersfield being the architects of their own downfall as the same mistakes that blighted the Warriors in the first half coming from those in blue.
Christian Wade got the first to set Wigan on their way before Jake Wardle grabbed a superb brace. Ultimately, Wigan ran away with the scoreline as Tyler Dupree and Junior Nsemba touched down to make it 30 unanswered points and that will come as a big relief for Matt Peet.
Wade review
Liam Marshall’s injury opened the door for Christian Wade to make his debut for the Cherry and Whites six weeks after making the step over from rugby union. And, it was a mixed evening for the winger, whose inexperience of the 13-man code told at times in the first half.
After a couple of strong runs, Wade was penalised for an incorrect play the ball and appeared to lose his composure for a period. What followed was a spilled high kick and in the resulting set, he went missing as Jacob Gagai touched down with ease.
He grew in confidence though as the game progressed and he settled into the sport, and at the start of the second half, he got himself over the line. Wade looked like a fish out of water in the first half but a rugby league player in the second.
Try of the year?
After what can only be described as a woeful first half showing, Wigan responded in the second half and took the lead with an effort that will surely go down as a try of the season contender.
A move that started with a Liam Farrell kick, went through the hands of most Wigan players, as the Cherry and Whites played hot potato with the ball with 11 passes. Harry Smith then delivered an inch perfect kick across the field for Jake Wardle to gather, skipped inside Gagai and charged to the line.
Injuries
Wigan Warriors line-up was missing three of the club’s most high profile players, with Abbas Miski, Liam Marshall and Luke Thompson missing. The wing duo looked to be carrying issues last week against Leigh Leopards and they made way as Wade and Jacob Douglas came into the side.
Thompson was a big miss in the pack, too, with the England international usually such a big presence through the middle of the park.
The Giants had their own injury issues, with Adam Swift pulling out before kick-off to be replaced by Adam Swift. They also lost Joe Greenwood and Sam Hewitt to failed HIAs, with the latter having a suspected broken jaw.
A moment for rugby league’s Knight
Before the action commenced, the Brick Community Stadium came together to celebrate Sir Billy Boston’s recent knighthood, with the man himself welcomed onto the field to quite literally take his throne.
The Warriors put on a quite a show for him, unveiling a huge banner of the the man himself, with former teammates and singer Russell Watson joining on the field with the latter delivering a rendition of Abide With Me.
A fitting way to mark a phenomenal achievement from rugby league’s first Knight.
