New Zealand Warriors 22-46 Wigan Warriors
Joe Burgess scored four tries as Wigan finally hit their stride, defeating New Zealand Warriors 22-46 in their own back yard.
The visitors, preparing for the World Club Challenge against Sydney Roosters on February 22, fielded a strong side against a youthful looking New Zealand outfit, but were nevertheless trailing 22-16 at half-time.
Thirty unanswered points in the second half resolved that issue, though, as Sam Powell shined again, this time deputising for Blake Green at stand-off. Dom Manfredi, Ryan Hampshire and former Bradford forward John Bateman also stood out and put their hands up to be selected for the Sydney clash.
Wigan, with England internationals Josh Charnley and Michael McIlorum back in the fold, raced into a 0-12 lead within eight minutes, but the New Zealanders struck back with three tries of their own. Wigan’s Darrell Goulding crossed again to tie the scores but with half time just minutes away, Nathan Friend pounced on a Chad Townsend kick to put the home side up at the break.
It was to be their last score of the game, though, as Wigan took the match by the scruff of the neck. Joe Burgess laid the foundations, completing his hat-trick by the 50th minute, before Gil Dudson and Sam Powell crossed in quick succession to really put the foot down.
Manfredi scored arguably one of the best tries of pre-season late on when he gathered a Chad Townsend kick and sprinted 90 metres to cross, while Burgess hammered in the final nail with his fourth four-pointer, with just three minutes to go.
“I thought our defence was poor in the first half,” said Wigan coach Shaun Wane.
“Our attack was good, but I’m a defence-oriented coach and we need to defend better that we did.”
On the subject of man-of-the-match Joe Burgess, 19, Wane said: “He’s very, very classy and he knows where the tryline is.
“He’s not the finished article, but he going to be a great player for us for many years.”
New Zealand Warriors
1 Jerome Ropati
2 Malo Solomona
3 Adam Tuimavave-Gerrard
4 Agnatius Paasi
5 Jarrod Wilson
6 Chad Townsend
7 Steve Waetford
8 Jacob Lillyman
9 Nathan Friend
10 Sam Rapira
11 Ben Matulino
12 Feleti Mateo
13 John Palavi
Substitutes
Sam Lisone
Albert Vete
Jordan Baldwinson
Nathan Peteru
Paulos Latu
Jarrod Tua
Josh Tamasu-Russell
Mason Tonks
David Bhana
Patrick Sipley
Siliva Havili
Tevita Latu
Jono Carl
Michael Sio
Mason Lino
Tries: Townsend, Tuimavave-Gerard. Peteru, Friend
Goals: Townsend (3)
Wigan Warriors
1 Matt Bowen
32 Joe Burgess
3 Darrell Goulding
23 Dan Sarginson
2 Josh Charnley
19 Sam Powell
7 Matt Smith
8 Scott Taylor
9 Michael McIlorum
16 Gil Dudson
14 Jack Hughes
12 Liam Farrell
24 Tony Clubb
Substitutes
31 Dom Manfredi
5 Anthony Gelling
27 George Williams
20 Greg Burke
22 Eddy Pettybourne
15 Logan Tomkins
17 Dom Crosby
25 John Bateman
10 Ben Flower
26 Ryan Hampshire
Tries: Hughes, Burgess (4), Goulding, Dudson, Powell, Manfredi
Goals: Smith (2), Powell (3)
We couldn’t find any video highlights to share with you as Wigan TV had exclusive rights. We do, however, have a video about Sam Tomkins’ switch from Wigan to New Zealand.
//youtu.be/eVYeP0yIEtg
