Wigan Warriors hammered Widnes Vikings 48-4 at the DW Stadium tonight, and they delighted their supporters by announcing at half-time that they have re-signed Joel Tomkins from Saracens RUFC.
Wigan Chairman Ian Lenagan had apparently denied rumours at the weekend that Tomkins would be returning to the club when he spoke to League Express, but Tomkins was unveiled to the club’s excited supporters tonight.
But it was another Wigan player who stole the show tonight, when Josh Charnley scored five tries on his return to the team, with four of them coming in a superb first half for the Warriors, who led 32-4 at the break.
Wigan also scored three other tries, with Liam Farrell scoring two, skipper Sean O’Loughlin touching down once, and debutant Connor Farrell scoring Wigan’s last try, when he sold an outrageous dummy to cross the line. Matty Smith added six goals for Wigan.
The Vikings’ only score was a first-half try by Paddy Flynn, with Danny Tickle unable to add the conversion.
But this was a night that belonged to Wigan, to Joel Tomkins and, even more so, to Josh Charnley, whose return to the team was truly spectacular.
A full report and photos from tonight’s game will feature in next Monday’s Rugby League Express.
