Warrington 16-38 Wigan: Warriors storm to the top

Match Stats

Warrington tries:   Atkins (38), Evans (64), Lineham (77)
Penalties/conversions:  Gidley (38, 64) 

Wigan tries:  Marshall (4, 18, 48, 69), Gelling (14), Williams (32), Wells (58)
Penalties/conversions:  Escare (14, 18, 48, 58, 69) 

Match Report

Wigan put on a champion display to utterly destroy winless Warrington in a one-sided Grand Final rematch at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

The Warriors shrugged off the absence of nine senior players through injury to go top of the Betfred Super League and leave Warrington rooted to the bottom with a clinical 38-16 rout.

Four of Wigan's seven tries came from 20-year-old winger Liam Marshall on only his second appearance for the club but star of the show was stand-off George Williams, who continued his sensational early-season form to propel his side to a fourth win from four league games.

The fairytale contribution from Marshall, a trainee accountant who was playing part-time rugby for Swinton just a few months ago, was further evidence of Wigan's conveyor belt of talent.

CLICK HERE FOR FIXTURES, RESULTS & STANDINGS

Teenage forward Jack Wells scored his first Super League try on only his fourth appearance while another academy product, winger Liam Forsyth, made his debut alongside French international forward Romain Navarrete.

Like their opponents, Warrington had just nine survivors from October's Old Trafford title decider and they gave a first start to Harry Livett at scrum-half in place of Dec Patton but they were a pale shadow of the side that demolished Brisbane Broncos in the World Club Series in January and will take on promoted Leigh next Thursday still looking for their first league win of the season.

Wigan caught their hosts cold from the start, with Marshall pouncing on Williams' grubber kick to open the scoring on five minutes and Morgan Escare kicking the first of his five conversions.

The Wolves were all fingers and thumbs in the first quarter and their errors were punished in ruthless fashion by a Wigan side brimming with confidence from their unbeaten start to the year.

A break through the heart of the defence from full-back Escare created the position from which centre Anthony Gelling touched down and when Marshall gathered a bouncing ball from Sean O'Loughlin to grab his second try, the Warriors were well in control, leading 16-0 after just 17 minutes.

Warrington looked to be on the end of a harsh call when Livett was denied a try for a forward pass and their fragile defence was exposed again on 31 minutes when second rower Liam Farrell gratefully accepted a short pass from Williams to cross for his side's fourth try.

The home side grabbed a lifeline two minutes before the break when a break by winger Tom Lineham was carried on by Kevin Brown for centre Ryan Atkins to finish off an impressive move with a try that Kurt Gidley goaled.

But the comeback was snuffed out early in the second half when Marshall pounced on a wayward pass from Gidley to sprint 80 metres to complete his hat-trick.

Escare's goal made it 26-6 and Wigan almost scored again moments later when O'Loughlin broke clear but his kick was just too strong for the chasing Forsyth.

Wigan's vastly superior kicking game kept their opponents pinned inside their own half and when prop Ashton Sims lost the ball in the tackle the error was seized on by Williams, who laid a try on a plate for substitute Wells.

Marshall then went over for his fourth try and, although Warrington late scores through Lineham and replacement centre Rhys Evans, they resembled a thoroughly demoralised side by the end.

Match Reaction

Shaun Wane on Wigan's hopes for the season: We've had a good start but we can play better. Once we get some players back we' ll improve, but so will other teams. It was a good win and, after the week we've had, I'm happy to get two points.

"We're not going to go overboard and pat ourselves on the back. We'll have a tough period in the season.

"We're playing with a bit of confidence but we came here showing Warrington lots of respect. There is no doubt Warrington will be there at the end, they have too many good players not to."

Wane on Liam Marshall: "He was good, I thought the way he finished was fantastic. I was very impressed with him. Our attack is a lot better than this time last year. I was disappointed with conceding three tries but I'm happy with the composure and our desire to defend."

Wane on skipper Sean O'Loughlin: "That was one of his best games for a long time. He was absolutely fantastic. I was so impressed with the way he carried the ball, he's a smart player."

Tony Smith on Warrington's poor start to the season: "We're doing it tough at the moment. We expected a tough game but we certainly didn't want a scoreline like that, particularly at half-time. A lot of the damage was done in the first half.

"We've got a dressing room full of boys who are hurting at the moment but they are trying really hard. They're a bit frustrated with how we're playing and where we're sitting in the table.

"We've just got to work that through and toughen up. That will come but it hurts for our supporters and I can feel that.

"We went through a slump last year, so we all know what losing is about, it's how you handle it, how you ride it out and learn from it. We will look back at this little period and it will do us good, but it's horrible while you're in it."