This dress rehearsal for next Saturday’s Challenge Cup final had all the hallmarks of a game of chess rather than a top-of-the-table Super League clash. In the end, Wigan emerged victorious but there is no doubting it has come at an enormous cost for the reigning world champions.
Yes, Wigan were the winners on a day when they and Warrington rested individuals – the Wolves much more so than the Warriors – with their meeting at Wembley in mind. Harry Smith’s drop goal on the verge of half-time proved to be the difference in a thrilling contest to move the Warriors level at the top with St Helens.
But the main story here is not the two points Wigan left Warrington with: it is the ramifications that could come from it and how it shapes the cup final. Wigan’s winger Liam Marshall spent large periods of the second half nursing a knee problem – and that was not all.
Wigan will almost certainly be without Adam Keighran after his red card in the final moments for a high tackle on Warrington’s Arron Lindop. “I thought it was poor from him,” said Matt Peet, the Wigan coach. “There was some mitigation but he has to be tidier than that and it might cost him.”
Keighran will find out his fate on Monday when the disciplinary hearings take place.
There may be more charges. Tyler Dupree may face a ban for a possible headbutt, while the tackle from Brad O’Neill that enabled Warrington to take an early 2-0 lead through a penalty could also be picked up. It would leave the Warriors facing an almighty reshuffle, though they did at least hold on without Keighran for victory.
But this almost felt like a psychological blow struck for Warrington. It would be a stretch to suggest Sam Burgess had in effect written this game off given the character he has but with five survivors from last week’s win at Catalans and four debutants, it is not an exaggeration to suggest where Burgess and Warrington’s priorities lay.
His youthful side certainly did not disgrace themselves against a Wigan team with much more experience. The game was not decided until the final seconds, with Smith’s drop goal the difference in the end.
“It was a good game to watch,” Burgess said. “It could have gone either way but I’m proud of my team. It was a good day for Warrington.”
They took the lead with that Stefan Ratchford penalty, before tries from Lindop and Josh Drinkwater made it 12-0. But Wigan had rotated far less than Warrington and you always wondered if their bigger, more experienced bench would have a say. That proved to be the case as three tries in 10 minutes turned the game on its head.
Junior Nsemba, Marshall and Kruise Leeming all crossed before Smith’s drop goal made it 19-12 at the break.
All of the second-half drama came at the end, Keighran’s red being followed by a Ratchford try that was converted, but Wigan held on.
The opening act of this back-to-back meeting between two of Super League’s heavyweights did not disappoint. If the follow-up has half as much drama next Saturday, we are all in for a treat.
