Wigan narrowly beat Leigh tonight, but what were the three major talking points and how did the players rate?
Three major talking points
1. Hair today, gone tomorrow
The look of Blake Wallace taking to the field made a lot of rugby league fans think nostalgically back to the 1980s with a hairstyle that the Rolling Stones would have been proud of. An incredible mullet stood out on the middle of the pitch like a vest top in the old Hacienda nightclub after 5pm. Can’t see it being around for long, though stranger things have happened.
2. Zak Hardaker makes his case
It’s no secret that Zak Hardaker wants to be Wigan’s fullback and, in the absence of Bevan French, he more than made his case for starting at number one. Some superb touches – including setting up the Warriors’ final try in brilliant fashion – must have made Adrian Lam sit up and take note.
3. Did Wigan underestimate their opponents?
An 18-0 lead was finally overturned by Wigan who beat their rivals 20-18, but my word they had to work hard for it. The Warriors didn’t appear like their full, flowing self and though hampered by injury to Jai Field, they never looked likely of breaching Leigh by too many points. The Centurions certainly took the game to the Warriors and would have been disappointed not to get the two points in the end.
Leigh Centurions
1. Ryan Brierley – 8
2. Matty Russell – 8
3. Iain Thornley – 8
24. Keanan Brand – 7
5. Lewis Tierney – 6
6. Blake Wallace – 8
7. Joe Mellor – 7
20. Adam Sidlow – 8
9. Liam Hood – 7
10. Mark Ioane – 7
11. Ben Hellewell – 8
18. Matty Gee – 6
12. Jordan Thompson – 6
Substitutes
16. Nathaniel Peteru – 8
19. Nathan Mason – 7
27. Josh Eaves – 6
28. Matty Foster – 6
Wigan Warriors
3. Zak Hardaker – 9
6. Jai Field – 5
11. Willie Isa – 6
22. Jake Bibby – 8
30. Umyla Hanley – 6
7. Tommy Leuluai – 8
20. Harry Smith – 6
8. Brad Singleton – 7
9. Sam Powell – 8
10. Joe Bullock – 7
12. Liam Farrell – 7
13. John Bateman – 9
14. Oliver Partington – 6
Substitutes
15. Morgan Smithies – 6
19. Liam Byrne – 8
21. Ethan Havard – 6
25. Joe Shorrocks – 6
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