Wigan Warriors ended a difficult week in which one of their star players, Junior Nsemba, was subjected to online racial abuse with a spirited win over Warrington that defied a huge injury crisis and showcased the very best of the next generation of talent at the Super League heavyweights.
Greater Manchester police confirmed on Friday that a 56-year-old male was arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated malicious communication offence, after comments about Nsemba were made on social media during Wigan’s win over St Helens last Sunday.
Nsemba watched from the stands with almost a dozen first-team regulars, with the Warriors and the Wolves having more than 20 stars out with injury between them. But it was Wigan, whose 17 had 12 academy products – many of whom will hope to follow in Nsemba’s footsteps – who handled the so-called war of the wounded the best.
Fittingly it was two of that homegrown dozen, Kian McDermott and Austin Daniel, who scored the decisive late tries to settle a thrilling contest and ensure Wigan strengthened their grip on second spot with nine rounds remaining. Warrington were themselves hit hard by injuries and their young side applied themselves well, but this was the right outcome.
It was Warrington’s injury-hit side who settled much the quicker in the sunshine, with teenage half-back Ewan Irwin taking early control of proceedings. Irwin’s magnificent cut-out pass allowed the Wolves to cross with their first meaningful attack, with Albert Hopoate touching down under extreme pressure in the corner.
Five minutes later, Irwin ghosted through a gap in the Wigan defence to double the lead and put the visitors into a commanding lead that their superiority in the early exchanges merited. But Wigan’s youngsters, seemingly rallied by a stirring speech from stand-in captain Kaide Ellis after going 12-0 down, came to life as the half wore on. A prolonged period of pressure on the Warrington line led to the Wolves conceding four consecutive penalties, with the last of those seeing James Bentley sent to the sin-bin for persistent offending. It took Wigan just three tackles to make their numerical advantage count, as they halved the deficit.
After some clever build-up play from Harry Smith to create the space, youngster Josh Cartwright marked just his third Wigan appearance with a first Super League try, cutting back on the angle magnificently.
Cartwright was only drafted in at the last minute to replace another injured Wigan star, their fullback Jai Field, who pulled up on the morning of the game.
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But as half-time approached and the conditions perhaps began to take their toll, both sides struggled to create clearcut openings. Wigan’s best chance came when Jake Wardle came desperately close to touching down but for a great try-sacking tackle from Josh Smith, before Oli Partington did the same at the other end to deny Max Wood.
However, Wigan returned from the break reinvigorated, and within three minutes of the restart they had levelled the scores. There were questions over the defensive efforts from Warrington which led to Taylor Kerr breaking free to score but there was no doubting that the young forward, who himself has only debuted this season, did superbly to ground.
Adam Keighran’s conversion levelled it at 12-12 before the boot of Irwin nudged Warrington back in front. However, the momentum was all with the hosts. It had to tell and as the hour mark approached Harry Smith’s pass sent Zach Eckersley across to put Wigan ahead. Warrington responded when Matty Ashton grounded under extreme pressure but the Warriors did not buckle. McDermott forced his way over from close range after another great ball from Smith, before the Wigan attack unpicked the Wolves again, Daniel scoring his first senior try to seal a big victory for the hosts.
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