CASTLEFORD TIGERS 16 WIGAN WARRIORS 26
CALLUM WALKER, OneBore Stadium, Sunday

PATIENCE was the key word coming out of this victory from a Wigan perspective.

Matt Peet must have almost been tearing his hair out in the first half following continuous attacking sets with no result.

But the Warriors didn’t panic and, led by the destructive Patrick Mago, eventually tore down the steely Castleford walls to lead 10-6 at the break before hammering the Tigers in the second 40 minutes.

Whilst there was plenty of promise for Castleford, a first-half defensive stint that saw Wigan camped on the Tigers’ line certainly took its toll.

Brad Singleton came in for Brock Greacen in Castleford’s only change from the side that beat Doncaster, whilst Harry Smith replaced Jack Farrimond who dropped to the bench for the Warriors. Sam Eseh missed out for Sam Walters.

It was almost bad news early on for the Tigers when Blake Taaffe knocked on over his own line, but a great flying tackle from Jason Qareqare prevented Zach Eckersley from crossing.

With Krystian Mapapalangi earning a penalty, the hosts raced down the other end, and, after Alex Mellor was somehow held back by Bevan French, Liam Hood burrowed over from dummy-half. Tom Weaver converted to make it 6-0 with ten minutes gone.

A harsh penalty against Taaffe after Weaver was caught late by Brad O’Neill handed the Warriors the perfect chance to respond.

The Tigers were caught offside, and then they were adjudged to have ripped the ball from Adam Keighran’s grasp. But, even then Mapapalangi expertly took Keighran down on the last tackle.

It was quite a remarkable defensive effort from the Tigers – and one which differed greatly from that of 2025.

Finally the pressure told and it was from yet another penalty that the Warriors grabbed their first four-pointer, Liam Marshall rounding Darnell McIntosh to dot down on 34 minutes. Keighran couldn’t convert as the hosts led 6-4.

Wigan should have had another moments later with Eckersley failing to gather a French pass with the whitewash begging.

There was no mistake with a minute remaining in the first half, though, as Eckersley sprinted down the right before feeding French on the inside for a scintillating score. Keighran converted for a 10-6 lead at half-time.

It was an incredible start from the Warriors immediately following the resumption with the devastating Mago sending Field on a 70-metre run on the first tackle.

From that, Eckersley finally got his try off a bullet French pass. Keighran couldn’t convert, but Wigan now led 14-6.

The Tigers were obviously gassed from their first-half defensive heroics and, following a Mikaele Ravalawa error, the visitors got their fourth.

A neat move from left to right saw Keighran send over Eckersley for his second on the hour as Keighran made it 20-6 with the boot.

Jake Wardle dived under the posts to stretch that to 26-6, before Ravalawa pounced in the corner off great centre play by McIntosh.

Weaver couldn’t convert while Keighran spent the final embers of the game in the sin bin for a late tackle on Daejarn Asi.

George Lawler then cantered through a huge gap in the last minute and Weaver rounded off the scoring on an afternoon belonging to Wigan.

GAMESTAR: Patrick Mago changed the game in Wigan’s favour when he came on as a substitute.

GAMEBREAKER: Zach Eckersley’s try straight after half-time.

HIGHLIGHT REEL: Patrick Mago sending Jai Field on a 70-metre run with a delicious offload.

ALBERT GOLDTHORPE POINTS
3 pts Patrick Mago (Wigan)
2 pts Bevan French (Wigan)
1 pt Junior Nsemba (Wigan)

MATCHFACTS

TIGERS
1 Blake Taaffe
5 Mikaele Ravalawa
4 Darnell McIntosh
23 Krystian Mapapalangi
22 Jason Qareqare
6 Daejarn Asi
7 Tom Weaver
8 Renouf Atoni
9 Liam Hood
10 George Lawler
11 Jordan Lane
12 Alex Mellor
13 Joe Stimson
Subs (all used)
16 Joe Westerman
17 Chris Atkin
19 Brad Singleton
25 Sam Hall
18th man (not used)
18 Fletcher Rooney
Also in 21-man squad
14 Brock Greacen
24 Jenson Windley
30 Jimmy Beckett

Tries: Hood (10), Ravalawa (70), Lawler (79)
Goals: Weaver 2/3

WARRIORS
1 Jai Field
2 Zach Eckersley
3 Adam Keighran
4 Jake Wardle
5 Liam Marshall
6 Bevan French
7 Harry Smith
14 Sam Walters
9 Brad O’Neill
10 Luke Thompson
11 Junior Nsemba
12 Liam Farrell
13 Kaide Ellis
Subs (all used)
8 Ethan Havard
15 Patrick Mago
17 Oliver Partington
19 Jack Farrimond
18th man (not used)
20 Sam Eseh
Also in 21-man squad
22 Tom Forber
23 Kian McDermott
32 Dayon Sambou

Tries: Marshall (34), French (39), Eckersley (43, 60), Wardle (67)
Goals: Keighran 3/5
Sin bin: Keighran (74) – late tackle

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 6-4, 6-10; 6-14, 6-20, 6-26, 10-26, 16-26

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Tigers: Krystian Mapapalangi; Warriors: Patrick Mago

Penalty count: 10-8
Half-time: 6-10
Referee: Jack Smith
Attendance: 8,259