“It just feels as though everything is going against us” – Lam slams key refereeing decision

Wigan went down 40-14 to Warrington, but Warriors head coach Adrian Lam believed his side wouldn’t have been too far away had it not been for a lack of clinical play – as well as a major decision which turned the momentum.

“I thought the scoreline was quite flattering, but I thought there was plenty of effort there and we are really close to where we want to be,” Lam said.

“We did allow too many points in which is unacceptable – there were three moments against the run of play really hurt us.

“Two interceptions and the try from the drop-out and that’s 18 points, but the referee gave away a six again for no reason at all with 20 minutes to go on tackle five.

“We had fought hard to get back to ten points down and I was feeling good, but we flattened out a bit after they scored from that.”

The Wigan boss didn’t think his side would need to change much to start winning again.

“There was a 20 minute period where we were playing the rugby we should have been.

“They’ve won five in a row and when you’re playing those teams with the confidence oozing you’ve got to be clinical with everything you do.

“Today was always going to be a tough day if we weren’t clinical – it just feels as though everything is going against us.

“But, from the coach’s eye, things will certainly change if we keep playing like that.”

Lam did confirm that Morgan Smithies has suffered the same injury as before and gave an update on John Bateman.

“He’s (Smithies) had that niggly injury and he’s played with that injury but not being 100% – but we’ve just ran out of bodies.

“He will probably be a week or two out for that, but we will get Brad Singleton back for the St Helens game and then Tony Clubb will be available after that.

“It’s a high ankle strain for John (Bateman), he’s in a boot for a week so it could be up to four weeks.

“It’s not a syndesmosis which is six weeks but it’ll be two to four weeks.”