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 exhilarating top-of-the-table conflict on the Brick Group 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 had 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 seemed set to show the defining second of the match.
However simply as Burgess’ harsh yellow for holding down within the deal with had seen Wigan claw again in rivalry earlier than the break, so Whitbread’s excessive deal with on Tyler Dupree paved the best way for the hosts to stir and Marshall’s late brace finally settled a rip-roaring contest.
Regardless of their disappointment, Rovers, who had 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 menace 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 Area’s surge over the midway line was halted by Oliver Gildart and Burgess seemed to be harshly penalised for holding his opponent down.
Minutes later, Abbas Miski obtained on the top of Area’s looping cross to go over within the nook, then the hosts moved again inside two as an excellent run from Bevan French resulted in him delivering the ball for Junior Nsemba to cross unchallenged.
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Joe Burgess capitalised on a fantastic interception from Peta Hiku to provide Hull KR an prolonged lead
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 cross 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 Area despatched Marshall over within the left nook to pile the stress on their opponents, looking for a win that might all however have sealed their finest ever Tremendous League end.
Drawing on all their current 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.
Liam Marshall of Wigan celebrates victory over Hull KR
Peet: ‘It might have gone both approach’
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 a fantastic recreation proper from the beginning and each groups delivered. Hull KR had been the higher crew within the first half and we had to enhance to get again into it. It might have gone both approach and I used to be pondering, if we get overwhelmed right here I am going to nonetheless have been proud to be part of this recreation.”
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 plenty of effort into that recreation. We obtained in entrance and we should always have closed the sport out however we had 12 males twice and that damage us. We went greater than toe-to-toe and they are going to be trying over their shoulders, that is for certain.”
What’s subsequent?
The Betfred Tremendous League continues on Saturday, with Warrington Wolves dealing with St Helens (3pm) and Salford Purple 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.
