Perhaps the biggest positive here for Wigan was the manner in which they extended their fine start to the season against one of their likely rivals for the title come autumn.
The last eight days have produced victories against Leeds and now Castleford but the differing manner in the way those wins have come about should provide the greatest optimism yet that the woes of 2017 are firmly behind the Warriors this season.
While last week they scraped home against Leeds courtesy of Sam Tomkins’s drop goal, there could be no argument about the worthy winners here, as the Warriors took full advantage of a Castleford side below the standards Super League has come to expect from them in recent years.
The latter half of last season was the nadir of Shaun Wane’s six-year reign as Wigan coach; but in the aftermath of that poor ending, which left the Warriors sixth and outside the play-off places for the first time in years, there was a defiant message from Wane that they would learn from those mistakes before this season.
With nine wins now from their opening 11 league games, all the evidence suggests Wane’s prediction is a decent one. “We can get miles better, though,” was his defiant post-match message to the rest of the competition. “I think there’s loads of improvement left in us: I’m never truly happy with things.”
For Castleford this defeat – only their third of 2018 – was a rare off-night for last season’s Grand Finalists who, by and large, have maintained the momentum that took them to a maiden appearance at Old Trafford last October, even if without the same level of attacking panache they displayed for large periods last year. “I don’t think we showed the best of ourselves tonight,” said their coach, Daryl Powell.
Castleford’s scrum-half, Luke Gale, had kicked them into an early lead but after Tomkins had replied from the tee, tries by Oliver Gildart and Liam Farrell put the hosts into a commanding 14-2 lead.
Farrell’s try in particular raised a wry smile from Wigan’s guest for the night, the England rugby coach, Eddie Jones. “I didn’t speak to him – I had a game to go and win,” Wane joked afterwards. Castleford responded to those early setbacks well, though, and, after Oliver Holmes reduced the deficit, a wonderful set move ended with a debut try for the wing, Garry Lo, to make it 14-12.
The Papua New Guinean was one of Castleford’s biggest positives in a below-par performance – and Wigan quickly asserted their dominance after half-time when a scintillating break from Joe Burgess laid the platform for Gildart’s second try. When George Williams stretched out on the hour mark to open up a two-score lead, it was clear who the winner would be and Tony Clubb’s try four minutes from time merely rubbed it in on another successful night for Wigan.
Wigan remain two points behind the leaders, St Helens, after they posted the highest score of the season so far to inflict more misery on Huddersfield. Justin Holbrook’s side ran in 12 tries – including a hat-trick for the sensational Ben Barba – in their 66-4 victory as they solidified their position at the summit and ensured the Giants remain second from bottom. The night’s other result saw Salford further strengthen their claims for a top-eight finish with a convincing victory over Wakefield, who the Red Devils moved above into seventh place. Jake Bibby scored twice as the hosts beat Trinity 38-4.
