WARRINGTON Wolves cemented top spot with a bruising 16-28 victory away at second placed Wigan Warriors.
But instead of celebrating the victory Head of Coaching Tony Smith said after the game that he was more concerned about his players than the win, after losing Chris Sandow and Rhys Evans through injury.
Warrington’s first-half performance laid the platform leading 22-4 at the break through tries from Ben Currie, Tom Lineham, Kevin Penny and Stefan Ratchford, with Dom Manfredi replying for the host.
Winger Manfredi completed his hat-trick with a second-half double as Wigan fought back after the break with Ryan Atkins scoring for the Wolves to seal the points.
It was Warrington’s first win in five at the DW Stadium as they cemented their place at the top of the table, winning their second top of the table clash of the season, after previously beating Widnes on Good Friday.
Atkins’ try was his fourth in as many games, but Warrington lost two key personnel in Sandow, hamstring and Evans with a shoulder problem.
After the game Smith said : “I couldn’t care less if Wigan were going to win it, I was more worried about my players. It was tough, we couldn’t rotate them after losing those two players in the first half.
“We had a number of players who shouldn’t have been on there after a while with some of the knocks they took.
“I saw the determination of the players – they weren’t going to let it slip. Their defence was enormous tonight.”
Wigan coach Shaun Wane said he was proud of his team’s performance against a strong Warrington team, who he admitted were the best team and deserved to win.
ALL PICTURES EDDIE WHITHAM
Wigan Warriors: Sarginson; Manfredi, Higginson, Gildart, Charnley; O’Loughlin, Smith, Mossop, Powell, Clubb, J. Tomkins, Farrell, Burke.
Subs: Tautai, Sutton, Isa, Gregson.
Warrington: Russell; Penny, R. Evans, Atkins, Lineham; Gidley, Sandow; Hill, Clark, Sims, Currie, Hughes, Westwood.
Subs: Ratchford, Westerman, G. King, Cox.
The DW is a very tough place to go and come away with the win!
Some true spirt shown by our boys and some even greater vocals by our fans 👏🏾— ryan atkins (@rararyan85) April 2, 2016
Best away day so far, great win, great support, have a fantastic weekend all 👍
— Tommy Lineham (@TomLineham) April 1, 2016
Thanks everyone for the messages! Going for a scan tomorrow fingers crossed it ain’t too bad! Great win by the boys tonight! #wire#2016
— rhys evans (@rhysevans23) April 1, 2016
Thanks everyone for the messages means a lot good win from the boys I was having a party 😂😂😂😂😂 I’ll be back 🙌🏾 fans outstanding tonight 👌🏾
— Chris Sandow (@Sandow_7) April 1, 2016
Up the wire, great effort tonight.. Fans outstanding once again 👏🏻🔥🔥
— Matthew Russell (@mattyrussell3) April 1, 2016
Smith says scans on @Sandow_7 (hamstring) & @rhysevans23 (shoulder) over weekend.
— Warrington Wolves (@wolvesrl) April 1, 2016
Just wow! @wolvesrl pic.twitter.com/OdLcgf1vZQ
— Matt Wilko (@wirewilko) April 1, 2016
True grit shown by @wolvesrl tonight. Played @WiganWarriorsRL at their own game & we won👍
— Dave Thompson MBE DL (@davet21) April 1, 2016
What a win for the boys ! And I’ve got pink eye 👍
— Dec Patton (@DecPatton7) April 1, 2016
What a game 3 games in 7 days and 2 top of the tables clashes is a tough 1. Proud of the boys show real character tonight. Weekend off boom
— Bennie Westwood (@bennie_westwood) April 1, 2016
Outstanding team win tonight especially away at there place! 🙌🏻 good job front two teeth are made of concrete or they’d of gone!😂👊🏼 #blessed
— jordan cox (@Jdc1192) April 1, 2016
Wire MoM? Take your pick! @Chrishilly1987 @kurt_gidley @Darylclark9 @mattyrussell3 @georgeking9876 @bennie_westwood were immense as were all
— Brendan Douglas (@BrenDoug) April 1, 2016
@wolvesrl top of the league. Let’s make it a double with the @theyellows this year!
— Tony Banks (@bankstoe) April 1, 2016