Liam Marshall scored twice as Wigan Warriors hit again from a double-figure second-half deficit to sink Hull KR 24-20 and return to the Betfred Tremendous League summit after an exciting top-of-the-table conflict on the Brick Neighborhood Stadium.
A showdown that spectacularly lived as much as its billing was formed by yellow playing cards for Joe Burgess and Jai Whitbread which helped Matt Peet’s defending champions to hit again from behind and reclaim pole place with two video games of
the common season remaining.
Rovers have been left shell-shocked after Burgess had earlier completed off a 90-metre counter-attack in entrance of their jubilant followers early within the second interval in what had appeared set to show the defining second of the match.
However simply as Burgess’ harsh yellow for holding down within the sort out had seen Wigan claw again in rivalry earlier than the break, so Whitbread’s excessive sort out on Tyler Dupree paved the way in which for the hosts to stir and Marshall’s late brace in the end settled a rip-roaring contest.
Regardless of their disappointment, Rovers, who have been hit by the lack of full-back Niall Evalds to a calf harm within the build-up, will take nice coronary heart from a efficiency that underlines their standing as a real risk within the upcoming post-season play-offs.
How Warriors edged Tremendous League thriller
The guests had shortly obtained to grips with the event, Matt Parcell crashing over for the opener after Adam Keighran was penalised for impeding Ryan Corridor, then Mikey Lewis bulling by two Wigan tackles so as to add to his earlier conversion to place his aspect 10 factors up.
However the pivotal second of the primary interval arrived when Jai Subject’s surge over the midway line was halted by Oliver Gildart and Burgess gave the impression to be harshly penalised for holding his opponent down.
Minutes later, Abbas Miski obtained on the top of Subject’s looping go to go over within the nook, then the hosts moved again inside two as a superb run from Bevan French resulted in him delivering the ball for Junior Nsemba to cross unchallenged.
Lewis kicked Rovers again six clear with a pair of penalties both aspect of the break, earlier than Rovers appeared to have summoned the sport’s defining second as Peta Hiku collected Harry Smith’s free go and galloped clear earlier than feeding Burgess to cap a shocking counter-attacking attempt.
Burgess was a fingertip away from a second interception as Wigan turned more and more ragged of their bid to get again into the match, however they obtained their reward after a scrappy passage of play when French darted onto his personal intelligent kick to attain.
Keighran kicked Wigan again inside six, then Peet’s males brutally exploited their second interval of numerical benefit as Subject despatched Marshall over within the left nook to pile the strain on their opponents, searching for a win that might all however have sealed their finest ever Tremendous League end.
Drawing on all their latest trophy-winning expertise, Wigan duly summoned a match-winning transfer that befitted such a stirring contest. With 12 minutes left on the clock, an end-to-end transfer involving Jake Wardle and the excellent Nsemba resulted in Marshall going over once more for his match-clinching second.
Peet: ‘It may have gone both manner’
Wigan head coach Matt Peet: “We’ll have to be better than that – that (performance) won’t win us anything. I thought the quality of the game was intense. It was an 80-minute arm-wrestle, it was in the balance and it was a pleasure to be a part of.
“It was an incredible sport proper from the beginning and each groups delivered. Hull KR have been the higher crew within the first half and we had to enhance to get again into it. It may have gone both manner and I used to be considering, if we get crushed right here I will nonetheless have been proud to be part of this sport.”
Hull KR head coach Willie Peters: “When you finish four points behind Wigan and you’ve been down to 12 men twice, you’ve done all right and there are so many positive things we can take out of that performance.
“Naturally the gamers are dissatisfied as a result of they put lots of effort into that sport. We obtained in entrance and we should always have closed the sport out however we had 12 males twice and that harm us. We went greater than toe-to-toe and they are going to be wanting over their shoulders, that is for positive.”
What’s subsequent?
The Betfred Tremendous League continues on Saturday, with Warrington Wolves dealing with St Helens (3pm) and Salford Crimson Devils taking over Catalans Dragons (5.30pm) and each stay on Sky Sports activities+.
Hull KR journey to Leigh Leopards on Friday September 13, the penultimate week of the common season, with Wigan Warriors internet hosting Leeds Rhino the identical night. Stream Betfred Tremendous League and extra with NOW.
Sky Sports activities+ has formally launched and can be built-in into Sky TV, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports activities app, giving Sky Sports activities prospects entry to over 50 per cent extra stay sport this yr at no additional price. Discover out extra right here.