Liam Farrell’s try in golden point extra time was decisive as Wigan Warriors completed a sensational comeback to defeat Hull KR and strengthen their grip on second spot in the Super League table.
Trailing by eight points with as many minutes remaining, late tries from Liam Marshall and Abbas Miski made it 22-22 to send the game to extra time. Prior to that Rovers, who like Wigan appear to be genuine Grand Final contenders, had overturned a deficit of their own to lead 22-14. At that stage, they were the side who looked on track to go second and narrow the gap to the league leaders, Warrington, to two points.
But after the game went to extra time Wigan struck the telling blow when Bevan French’s break set Farrell up to score his third try of the evening. It was a game of such quality between two fine sides that it was harsh for either of them to come away with nothing. However, in the end it was the Warriors who held their nerve in the moments that mattered most.
“It was a great advert for Super League,” Wigan’s coach, Matt Peet, said. “They were the better team for large parts but one thing I can never doubt in this team is their never-say-die attitude.” His side forged a 10-4 lead at half-time courtesy of two tries for Farrell, with Hull KR’s response coming from a sensational finish via Ryan Hall. Wigan went further ahead in the second period when Marshall finished a break started by French.
That made it 14-4 but a run of 18 points without reply turned the game on its head. Matt Parcell grounded under pressure before further tries from James Batchelor and Luis Johnson, with Mikey Lewis converting all three, made it 22-14 to Hull KR, who also survived 10 minutes without Hall after he was sent to the sin-bin for a foul on French.
But Marshall’s first try set up a grandstand finale before, after the hooter sounded, Miski dived over in spectacular fashion. Harry Smith pushed wide the conversion attempt which would have won the game. In extra time Lewis hit a post for Hull KR with a long-range drop goal attempt and Wigan made them pay, as a stunning break from French found Farrell in support once again. He crossed for his hat-trick and ensured it would be the Warriors who edged a sensational advert for Super League.
