When the dust settles on this most extraordinary of Super League seasons, it is highly likely that all six teams who make the playoffs look back on this night as one of the most pivotal of them all.
Let us begin at the top, and this outstanding victory for Warrington Wolves. As recently as a fortnight ago, the battle for the League Leaders’ Shield was considered done and dusted when Wigan Warriors beat St Helens, who at the time were second but could finish this weekend sixth, such is the congested nature of the competition in 2024.
But all of a sudden, there are gaps appearing in the armour of the reigning Super League and world champions. Back-to-back defeats, the latest a humiliation at the hands of a bona fide title rival and serious injuries mounting, the latest to hooker Brad O’Neill, whose season could potentially be over after a knee injury forced him off here.
Without the marquee duo of Bevan French and Jai Field, who are both currently sidelined, Wigan look bereft of attacking ideas on occasions. The players the responsibility is entrusted to aren’t able to conjure up the same magic. They came into this game knowing they could end the night four points clear at the top. They ended it third in the table.
But enough of Wigan for now, as a lot of the talk here should go to Sam Burgess’s Warrington. The rugby league legend has made an impact far greater than anyone could have imagined during his first six months in England: so much so, in fact, that the Wolves are in talks about trying to keep him longer than his original two-year deal.
His side scored seven tries to Wigan’s one to not only avenge last month’s Challenge Cup final defeat, but go top of the most competitive league in years in the process ahead of both Hull KR and the Warriors on points difference. “It’s great for the competition,” Burgess said of the scramble at the top.
“But we’re just concentrating on building our own game. We’ve just got to keep try building our own process.” The tone was set from the very first tackle, when three Warrington defenders forced an error from Wigan’s prop, Liam Byrne. Within 60 seconds, the visitors went ahead through Arron Lindop.
The Warriors briefly responded through Liam Marshall but in truth, they were abject all evening long: and that was the only time they troubled the scorers. “Whenever we turn out as a team we’re embarrassed to be associated with a scoreline like that,” their coach, Matt Peet, admitted. “It’s a tough night.”
Wigan knew victory here would set a club record of 18 consecutive home wins but that never looked likely all evening, in truth. By half-time it was 18-4 as further tries from Adam Holroyd and Matty Ashton put the visitors in control, before a superb individual score from Lindop shortly after half-time made it 24-4.
Warrington weren’t done, either. O’Neill’s withdrawal due to injury stunted Wigan even further and the Wolves took full advantage as Ashton scored his second, before a Josh Thewlis interception had the home fans flooding for the exits.
Rodrick Tai’s try to help make it 40-4 felt inconsequential but, given the nature of Hull KR’s win elsewhere on Friday, it was enough to ensure the Warriors finished the night in third. Strap yourselves in: we have some finale to 2024 approaching.
