A SCRAPPY first half ended with Wigan 12-6 ahead against Wolves but down to 12 men.

Some wild handling and fortune from a ricochet paid off for Wigan as they opened the scoring in the ninth minute.

Matty Russell was only able to palm Sean O’Loughlin’s looping pass further into the direction of Liam Marshall as the winger walked over. Josh Woods converted but he had been limping and was soon to be replaced by Joel Tomkins.

Wolves were soon back on level terms, Daryl Clark picking up a ball that came loose from Chris Hill’s attack of the try line to then force his way over. Stefan Ratchford squared things up with the boot.

A period of scrappy play was capped off by Marshall picking off a Kevin Brown pass and not only having the legs to pull away from chasing Clark but to keep Ryan Atkins at arm’s length too as the Wolves centre came across from the opposite side of the field.

With George Williams adding the conversion, Wigan led by their 2016 Grand Final-winning scoreline of 12-6 after 24 minutes.

Russell did just enough to force Marshall’s left foot into touch as the winger looked set for his hat-trick soon after, and then George King was held up over the line from from his arrival off the bench.

It was Russell who sparked The Wire back into life with a dazzling run from his own 30-metre line, dancing around Taulima Tautai and handing over to Ratchford in support.

Lewis Tierney found himself in the sin bin for holding down and Wolves messed up the next two sets attacking the try line with handling errors, allowing Wigan to hold on to their slender lead at the break.

Wolves: Stefan Ratchford; Matty Russell, Jack Hughes, Ryan Atkins, Tom Lineham; Kevin Brown, Kurt Gidley; Chris Hill, Daryl Clark, Mike Cooper, Benjamin Jullien, Ben Westwood, Joe Westerman. Subs: Dom Crosby, Joe Philbin, Brad Dwyer, George King.

Warriors: Lewis Tierney; Tom Davies, Liam Forsyth, Joe Burgess, Liam Marshall; George Williams, Josh Woods; Frank-Paul Nuuausala, Michael McIlorum, Ryan Sutton, Willie Isa, Liam Farrell, Sean O’Loughlin. Subs: Taulima Tautai, Joel Tomkins, Jack Wells, Callum Field.

Referee: Ben Thaler