Wigan Warriors 30-24 Salford Red Devils: Highlights, player ratings and talking points

In one of the most entertaining games you’ll see all season, Wigan and Salford served up a tryfest at the DW Stadium full of plenty of sublime scores.

However, the game was won by a great try from Jai Field for the Warriors as they move level on points with St Helens at the top.

Highlights:

Jai Field does what Jai Field does
Right now, Jai Field is the most dangerous player in Super League and the last thing you want to do is give him an inch of space. But not long into the game he was given that space by John Bateman’s turn up pass which allowed Field to glide through Salford’s defence with ease outpacing the cover to score.

𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗖 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗧 ⚡️

Jai Field goes over for @WiganWarriorsRL first try of the game. #C4League | #SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/juYPryno38

— Channel 4 Sport (@C4Sport) April 24, 2022

Brierley answers Field’s challenge
Ryan Brierley was outpaced by Field for the opening score and was somewhat overlooked going into this game. But he stepped up to give Salford the lead in the first half getting on the outside of Harry Smith and setting up a try for Matt Costello.

Liam Farrell the try scoring machine
Liam Farrell is one of the highest scoring forwards in Super League history and added another to his tally today coming back on the inside of great play from Cade Cust showing good pace to burst through the gap and score. Then he created a try for the other halfback in Harry Smith. It was Farrell’s stand-off like cut out pass saw Smith carve through the Salford defence to score.

A tale of two grubbers
At the start of the second half, Wigan looked set to add to their 12-point lead when Jai Field skipped out of a Ryan Brierley tackle to drill the ball behind for Bevan French to chase but the ball alluded the speedster with the bounce not being so kind. This gave Salford the ball and at the end of that set Brodie Croft’s laser like grubber was grounded by Alex Gerrard. Credit Brierley for his coolness when he could’ve gone for the ball himself as he and the prop chased. Instead, he left it for Gerrard to score a key try and diminish the deficit.

GAME. ON. 🤘

Sensational kick through by @SalfordDevils to go over for their third score of the game.#C4League | #SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/SY4FgucnBA

— Channel 4 Sport (@C4Sport) April 24, 2022

Field wins it
Jai Field scored the opening try of the match and he scored the last try of the game at the conclusion of a scintillating contest. A long range drop goal attempt from Morgan Escare fell into Field’s hands. He engaged the Salford chase and dummied to carve them open and storm away to score.

Talking Points:

1. Possession is nine tenths of the law
Credit to Salford, they looked very dangerous today especially the way they shifted the ball. However, the same could be said of the most exciting team in Super League this season the Wigan Warriors. This made possession essential to the game more so than usual as both teams used the ball to score points at will which is why we had such an entertaining clash.

2. Fatigue factor
Today was a great game to watch, but it’s clear that the fatigue of playing three games in just over a week was a factor in the number of tries scored this afternoon. Defence in rugby league is always a hard thing to do and always saps energy but on the back of a so many games, it’s even tougher. Thus, it’s no surprise players like Jai Field shone today with the extra space afforded to them. That said, we should commend plenty of the brilliant scrambling defence we saw.

3. Not sticking for French
Before the game, all the talk was about the threat of Jai Field and Bevan French’s partnership, but twice the two combined to no avail despite it seeming like a certain score. The first the ball just did not bounce for French after Field’s grubber but the next truly was a certain score as Field drew in defenders feeding the ball out to French only for the former Parramatta man to drop it. That said French did look like being the hero as he made an exceptional break causing havoc in the Salford defence sucking defenders in allowing the Warriors acres of space out wide. It seemed like all Wigan needed was get it left and they’d score but remarkably Liam Marshall then dropped the ball himself squandering another try. Fortunately, Field was able to win it all by himself with a length of the field try.

Player Ratings:

Wigan Warriors
23 Jai Field – 9
1 Bevan French – 6
4 Iain Thornley – 6
2 Jake Bibby – 6
5 Liam Marshall – 7
6 Cade Cust – 8
16 Harry Smith – 7
15 Kaide Ellis – 7
28 Brad O’Neill – 7
20 Liam Byrne – 6
12 Liam Farrell – 8
13 John Bateman – 7
14 Morgan Smithies – 7
Substitutes
10 Patrick Mago – 7
17 Oliver Partington – 6
19 Ethan Havard – 6
22 Joe Shorrocks – 6

Salford Red Devils
1 Ryan Brierley – 8
2 Ken Sio – 8
28 Deon Cross – 7
24 Matt Costello – 7
22 Rhys Williams – 6
18 Chris Atkin – 7
6 Brodie Croft – 8
10 Greg Burke – 6
9 Andy Ackers – 8
15 King Vuniyayawa – 8
14 Danny Addy – 6
3 Kallum Watkins – 7
13 Elijah Taylor – 7
Substitutes
19 Jack Ormondroyd – 6
25 Morgan Escare – 6
26 Sam Luckley – 6
29 Alex Gerrard – 6