It was, without doubt, the game of the nineteenth round of Super League 2024 as top of the table Wigan Warriors took on a Warrington Wolves side sat in second place and knowing that a win by twenty points or more could send them to the top of the table, depending on the size of Hull KR’s win over London Broncos.

Wigan needed to get back on the bike after last weeks shock loss against Hull FC, the most incredible result of the season so far, while Warrington came into the game flying high after last weeks victory over St Helens, despite being reduced to twelve men for sixty minutes.

Wigan were favourites with the bookies, home advantage meaning that they were handicapped on the coupon by four points, the Wolves looking to end a seven-game losing streak against the Warriors.

Wigan spilled the ball on the kick-off return gifting the Wolves possession ten from the line and with just two minutes on the clock Arron Lindop pounced on a Matt Dufty grubber into goal for the opening points of the game. Josh Thewlis added the touchline conversion for the best possible start for the visitors.

A 40-20 from Harry Smith on twelve gave Wigan their first real opportunity and on the fourth tackle Liam Marshall collected a Smith kick to the corner for a walk-in try. Smith, the key component of the try, pushed his conversion across the face of the posts.

On nineteen minutes a delightful George Williams short pass bamboozled the Wigan defence and put Adam Holroyd through a gap to dive over. Thewlis hit the mark again for 12-4.

Matty Ashton scored a ninety-metre interception try on thirty-one minutes when he picked off a Farrimond pass and sprinted the length of the field, beating the chasing Wigan defenders. Thewlis hit the mark again for 18-4, Warrington pulling away, Wigan with no response.

Lindop got his second of the night within three minutes of the restart, breaking the Wigan line and going over from fifteen metres. Thewlis hit his fourth goal of the night, Wigan now needing four scores in the remaining thirty-five minutes.

The game was won on fifty-five, Ashton getting his second as he coasted down the left wing off a Matt Dufty miss-out pass to go over in the corner. Thewlis was off target for the first time in the game, but Warrington were now moving top of the table.

A second length of the field intercept try, this one for Thewlis, sent the large visiting support into raptures. He try scorer kicked his fourth goal of the game for 34-4, Wigan going down for the second week running.

Dufty was sin-binned on seventy-three for lifting in the tackle on Liam Marshall, the Wolves ending the game with twelve men.

Eight second from time Rodrick Tai crashed through the broken Wigan defence to get the seventh Warrington try of the night after a fifteen-metre run. Thewlis was wide with his conversion attempt, Warrington with a massive 38-4 victory over the league leaders as they took their place at the top of the table.

This was a perfect performance from the Wolves who humiliated the Warriors on their home ground and took their league position to add insult to the injury. Matt Peet will be stripping the paint off the dressing room walls while Sam Burgess is praising his players and celebrating two points well won. Wigan were never at the races, looked defensively frail, and could not contain a free flowing Warrington side, the visitors were at the top of their game.

Wigan Warriors: Eckersley, Miski, Farrell, Wardle, Marshall (T), Farrimond, Smith (0/1 G), Byrne, O’Neill, Thompson, Nsemba, Walters, Ellis. Subs: Havard, Mago, Dupree, Hill. 18th Man: Hampshire. 

Warrington Wolves: Dufty (SB on 72), Thewlis (T, 5/7 G), Tai (T), Lindop (2T), Ashton (2T), Williams, Drinkwater, Yates, Powell, Vaughan, Nicholson, Holroyd (T), Currie.  Subs: Musgrove, Crowther, Walker, Wood. 18th Man: Taylor-Whitehead.

Half-Time: 4-18.

Full-Time: 4-38.

Score Progression: 0-4, 0-6, 4-6, 4-10, 4-12, 4-16, 4-18 : HT: 4-22, 4-24, 4-28, 4-32, 4-34, (SB), 4-38  :FT.

Lead Exchanges: Warrington.

Referee: Liam Moore.