Ben Currie marked his return after a long injury nightmare with the winning try as Warrington kept alive their faint hopes of a top-eight finish and spoiled Sean O’Loughlin’s 400th Wigan appearance.
Last season’s Grand Finalists knew anything other than victory here would consign them to this summer’s Qualifiers, where they would face the Championship’s best sides in a battle to avoid relegation to the second tier.
And while this victory may prove only temporary respite – a win for Huddersfield on Friday night would confirm their bottom-four place – this was a welcome victory for Tony Smith’s side. “He [Currie] was terrific, whether he scored or not,” Smith said of the forward, who had suffered a serious knee injury playing against Wigan last September.
For Wigan, a night supposed to be a celebration for their talismanic captain ended in frustration. Back-to-back victories had ended their worst winless run since 1903 but this was a worrying regression for the Super League champions, who could end the weekend six points adrift of the top four with eight games left. “I’m really disappointed and the players all know that,” said the Wigan coach, Shaun Wane. “It was a massive game but I didn’t see the desperation in them.”
Wigan had taken the lead after little over a minute. Warrington made a mess of the kick-off and, from it, Oliver Gildart touched down a pinpoint Thomas Leuluai kick. At that stage it looked as if it would be a comfortable night for Wigan but tries from Benjamin Jullien and Ryan Atkins either side of John Bateman’s for Wigan kept Warrington in touch at half-time with the home side leading 10-8.
There were only eight points in the second half and all of them went to the visitors. Currie’s crucial try put the Wolves ahead for the first time before Stefan Ratchford kicked two late penalties.
Wigan Tomkins; Marshall, Gelling, Gildart, Burgess; Williams, Leuluai; Nuuausala, McIlorum, Sutton, Isa, Bateman, O’Loughlin. Interchange Clubb, Powell, Tautai, Wells.
Tries Gildart, Bateman. Goals Williams.
Warrington Ratchford; Hiku, Pomeroy, Atkins, Lineham; Patton, Gidley; Hill, Clark, Sims, Jullien, Hughes, Cooper. Interchange Currie, Savelio, Philbin, Smith.
Tries Jullien, Atkins, Currie. Goals Ratchford 2.
Referee J Child.
