IT is not too often that a Super League game lives up to the pre-match marketing hype.

Of course, Wolves and Wigan’s previous meetings suggested that Warrington’s tagline of ‘This is the one’ would be near the mark, but none in the media and marketing department at the club could have predicted just how accurate it would prove to be.

And that is because this game will be ‘the one’ that I will remember long after the memory of all the other 26 regular season games have faded.

Granted, there will be some brain capacity left spare for any finals (Grand or otherwise) that may be yet to come, but it will take something special to top the exhibition of physical fitness, desire and skill on show on Monday night.

And only a huge final in the likes of Wembley or Old Trafford would be able to match the superb atmosphere that rocked The Halliwell Jones to its foundations from the very first minute.

As Tony Smith said after the game, Sky and the RFL could not have wished for a better advert for the sport.

Both teams played their hearts out and at times it was tough to keep up with the breathless end-to-end ebb and flow of play.

Wolves were near their best, soaking up huge amounts of Wigan pressure throughout the game and striking with deadly accuracy in the first half, when they crafted a 10-0 lead at the break courtesy of Ben Westwood’s short range burst and Joel Monaghan’s touchdown of Lee Briers’ perfectly judged grubber kick to the corner.

Wigan, to their credit, turned the game on its head early in the second half when Sam Tomkins sliced through to reduce the deficit, before Anthony Gelling’s neat finish from a wonderful piece of passing rugby handed the visitors the lead for the first time in the game.

It is remarkable how Wigan are able to slot in young players and still retain their punch in attack, and despite the frustrating nature of their defeat Wigan’s coach Shaun Wane was right to be proud of how his injury-ravaged side performed against a Wolves team nearing their peak.

That goes for both individuals and the team as a whole, because some of Wolves’ players seemed to have saved their best performances of the season for Wigan’s visit.

Ben Westwood, Chris Hill and Paul Wood all stood out in a terrific pack performance, and though Micky Higham has been outstanding for weeks now, he certainly saved one of his most important tries for the match-winning effort on 75 minutes, sending most of the 14,028-strong crowd into raptures.

Many could have been forgiven for thinking that the result was going Wigan’s way at that stage, and I must admit to a thoroughly unprofessional air punch and shout of joy as Higham beat Tomkins to Chris Riley’s kick to turn the game back in Warrington’s favour.

Hill’s charging try at the death was a fitting end to another excellent showing from the prop, but it was a game in which not a single player could be disappointed with the way they performed.

It is becoming increasingly likely that this match-up will be repeated with silverware on the line later in the season, and while much will be made of this game in the future, caution is advised.

Wigan were not at full strength for this, even if they fought like they were, and Wolves will face even stiffer tests than this one should the two teams meet at the aforementioned stadiums in autumn.

It will be tough to call a winner, but if future matches are anything like this one then I can’t wait to find out.

 


 

INTERESTING NOTES

The attendance of 14,028 was the largest crowd at The Halliwell Jones Stadium since the home defeat to St Helens last season.

Warrington have won their last nine games against Bradford, with the Bulls' last victory against the Wolves coming 21-10 at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on 14 June, 2009.

Wolves have also won on each of their last five visits to Odsal. Bradford's last home win against the Wolves was 23-10 on 16 March, 2008.

Joel Monaghan has now scored in his last five meetings with Wigan Warriors.

 


 

Super League Round 19
Monday, June 24, 2013

Warrington Wolves...22
Wigan Warriors...12

Wolves: Brett Hodgson; Joel Monaghan, Stefan Ratchford, Ryan Atkins, Chris Riley; Lee Briers, Richie Myler; Paul Wood, Micky Higham, Chris Hill, Trent Waterhouse, Ben Westwood, Simon Grix. Subs: Adrian Morley, Michael Monaghan, Garreth Carvell, Ben Currie.

Wigan: Sam Tomkins; Josh Charnley, Darrell Goulding, Anthony Gelling, Pat Richards; Sam Powell, Matthew Smith; Lee Mossop, Logan Tomkins, Dominic Crosby, Harrison Hansen, Liam Farrell, Greg Burke. Subs: Jack Hughes, Chris Tuson, Tom Spencer, George Williams.

Scoring: Westwood try, 7mins, Hodgson goal, 6-0; Joel Monaghan try, 30mins, 10-0; Tomkins try, 42mins, Richards goal, 10-6; Gelling try, 50mins, Richards goal, 10-12; Higham try, 75mins, Hodgson goal, 16-12; Hill try, 77mins, Hodgson goal, 22-12.

Penalties: Wolves 7 Wigan 6
Referee: Phil Bentham
Attendance: 14,028
Top Man: Micky Higham