2020 season: The story so far

[Warriors News]

• As Wigan Warriors prepare for the restart of their 2020 Betfred Super League campaign, we take a closer look at their season so far.
• The competition was suspended back in March due to Covid-19, with the Warriors having won four of their opening six games.
• Adrian Lam’s side take on Wakefield Trinity at Emerald Headingley Stadium on Sunday (K.O 15:15).

Wigan Warriors are set to return to action on Sunday afternoon as they take on Wakefield Trinity at Emerald Headingley Stadium following the resumption of the Betfred Super League.

Prior to lockdown due to Covid-19, Adrian Lam’s side had made a strong start to the campaign, heading into Round 8 with four wins under their belts so far.

Please note we have excluded Wigan’s 32-10 win over Toronto Wolfpack on 13^thFebruary following their withdrawal from the Betfred Super League. Player stats earned in the game still stand as Harry Smith, Bevan French (2), Joe Burgess and Liam Farrell all scored tries, with Zak Hardaker kicking four goals.

As the team prepare to get going again, we take a closer look at the season so far:

The season restarts for the Warriors on Sunday.

Round 1: Wigan Warriors 16-10 Warrington Wolves (Thursday 30th January)

The Betfred Super League season was opened by a clash between the Warriors and Warrington Wolves at the DW Stadium.

Although the visitors took the lead through a Stefan Ratchford penalty and Ben Murdoch-Masila try after the opening quarter, Lam’s side fought hard to take victory.

A dazzling Bevan French try gave the Wigan their first points of the evening, before a penalty try was awarded following a high tackle on Sam Powell, which also resulted in a red card for Warrington’s Chris Hill.

Despite having a man advantage, the game was not made easy for the home side, as the Wolves kept the pressure up.

Following 25 scoreless minutes in the second half, Liam Marshall crossed the line, with the Wolves down to 11 men after Mike Cooper was sin binned.

Team celebrations following Bevan French’s try against Warrington.

Round 2: Castleford Tigers 16-12 Wigan Warriors (Friday 7th February)

The Warriors could not follow their opening night win up with another victory, as they suffered defeat to Castleford Tigers at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle the following week.

First half tries from Darrell Olpherts and Cheyse Blair were enough for the West Yorkshire side to take the two points, with Danny Richardson successfully kicking three penalties throughout the evening.

Rare moments of joy for Wigan came at the end of both halves, with Liam Byrne and Joe Burgess both grabbing consolations.

Round 4: Wigan Warriors 26-12 Hull FC (Sunday 23rd February)

After a Round 3 win over Toronto, Wigan made it three in a row at the DW Stadium with victory over Hull FC.

Bevan French opened up the scoring against the Yorkshire outfit after just three minutes, with Jackson Hastings and Liam Farrell combining to open up the space for the full-back.

Zak Hardaker added further points with a penalty, before the visitors pulled themselves level through an Adam Swift try and a kick of their own which was successfully taken by Marc Sneyd to make it 8-8.

An altercation between Liam Farrell and Josh Griffin saw both sides temporally left with 12 men each, as they were both sent to the sin bin. 

The Warriors edged back in front just before half time, as Hardaker kicked two more points.

After the break, Adrian Lam’s side extended their lead, with Dom Manfredi going over on his return from injury to Betfred Super League action.

Further tries from Hastings – who got his first for the Club – and Willie Isa put the game to bed, with a consolation from Griffin not troubling the scoreline.

Dom Manfredi celebrates after scoring on his return from injury.

Round 5: Huddersfield Giants 10-42 Wigan Warriors (Sunday 1st March)

Adrian Lam’s side moved themselves to the top of the Betfred Super League table after victory away at Huddersfield, with Liam Marshall going over for an impressive hat-trick.

The opening half an hour was a tight affair with the home side holding a 10-4 lead, with a try from Adam O’Brien and three Aiden Sezer goals, while Willie Isa had gone over for the Warriors.

The game then completely turned on its head in the final six minutes of the first 40 as Sezer was sent to the sin bin.

Two tries from Marshall, and one from Sam Powell sandwiched in between, put Wigan in the driving seat at the break.

The Wigan winger’s second try will be a strong contender for try of the season as he chased his own kick from his own 20 metre area to gather the ball and sprint to finish in the corner.

"GO ON SON, GO ON SON, OH HE'S GONNA DO IT, OH LIAM MARSHALL! UNBELIEVABLE TRY!"

Simply sensational. Take a bow, @LiamMarshall20!#WWRL pic.twitter.com/rcTgQ2QgQm

— Wigan Warriors (@WiganWarriorsRL) March 1, 2020

Two minutes into the second half, Dom Manfredi extended the Warriors’ lead further, before Marshall completed his hat-trick.

Further tries came from Ollie Partington and a first in Cherry and White for George Burgess, as the win was wrapped up.

Liam Marshall after scoring his stunning solo try against Huddersfield Giants.

Round 6: Wigan Warriors 30-16 Hull KR (Sunday 8th March)

The points continued to come for the Warriors, as Jackson Hastings scored a double in a 30-16 victory over Hull KR at the DW Stadium.

It was the away side who opened the scoring, as Ethan Ryan went over on his debut, but Hastings and Liam Farrell scored within three minutes of each other to edge Wigan ahead.

The scores were level again with Greg Minikin going over out wide.

Things didn’t stay that way for long though as Hastings got his second, following an excellent run from Bevan French.

After the break, Hull KR continued to put in a spirited performance as Ryan Brierley broke away to narrow the scores ten minutes after the restart.

The Warriors continued to fight as tries from Sam Powell and Liam Marshall ensured it would be another victory.

Sam Powell goes over for a try against Hull KR.

Round 7: Salford Red Devils 18-14 Wigan Warriors (Friday 13th March)

Wigan’s last game before lockdown came against Salford Red Devils at the AJ Bell Stadium.

Despite going into the break with a 2-14 lead, following tries from Jackson Hastings and Sam Powell, Adrian Lam’s side could not come away with a victory.

A Niall Evalds double and one from Kevin Brown saw the home come from behind to claim the two points.

The post 2020 season: The story so far appeared first on Wigan Warriors Blog.

View the full article