Frustrated Wane wants improvements

Wigan head coach Shaun Wane was far from satisfied despite his team ending their winless run against Widnes yesterday.

The Warriors prevailed 28-12 at the DW Stadium but the match was in the balance up until two Joe Burgess tries in the final eight minutes.

And speaking to the club website after the win, Wane was critical of his teams handling and discipline during the match.

“I felt frustrated if I’m honest, he said. “Players were dropping the ball with no pressure on them and making silly mistakes.

“I wasn’t nervous, I thought we would get the game, we’ve made some massive improvements but we can’t mask ten penalties and eight errors, four of which were unforced.

“That’s not good enough and we’re not going to win big games with stats like that. The way we defended helped us though.

“I have just said to the players, I don’t want that win to mask anything up. There’s things we need to fix in defence. That was the main thing we needed to improve on today and we did.”

The story of the day was Warriors prop Tony Clubb, who returned to the side and scored a try just 58 days after having a kidney removed.

“It’s credit to him,” said Wane. “He’s a great bloke and a great player.

“It was unknown territory for us, a player having a major organ out and we didn’t know how long he would be out for but we should have known with him.

“He’s just a winner and a competitor and that’s why we all love him.”

Yesterday’s victory takes Wigan within six points of the top four and level with arch-rivals St Helens who sit above them on points difference in sixth place.

With players returning to the fold and with all the top teams still yet to play in the Super 8s, the reigning Super League champions will look to mount an assault on the top four.

The Warriors next match is on Saturday as they travel to Perpignan to take on Steve McNamara’s Catalans side who will buoyed by their dramatic comeback victory against Leigh.