Josh Thewlis and Albert Hopoate found the try‑line for the Warrington Wolves as they secured a commanding 23‑6 victory over the Wigan Warriors in Round Nine of the Super League, played at the Halliwell Jones Stadium. The win not only gave the home side a three‑point boost but also pushed them just two points shy of the league leaders, with a game in hand to chase the top spot. Warrington entered the match without several key figures.
Captain George Williams was sidelined with a serious neck injury that will require surgery, while James Harrison, Luke Yates, Toff Sipley and Adam Holroyd were also unavailable. Mid‑fielder Cai Taylor‑Wray suffered an injury during the game and had to leave the field. Wigan, on the other hand, were missing the prolific Bevan French and were also without Harry Smith and Sam Walters, both serving suspensions.
Early in the second half, winger Liam Marshall limped off with a hamstring strain, forcing the Warriors to reshuffle their back‑line and further destabilising their defensive shape. The opening ten minutes were cautious, with both sides committing errors and conceding penalties.
The first breakthrough came before the break when Warrington took a slender lead. A penalty kick by Marc Sneyd was followed by a well‑timed try from Josh Thewlis, giving the Wolves an 8‑0 advantage at halftime. Wigan thought they had clawed back a try just before the interval when a ball was found on the wing by Wardle, but the referee ruled it a forward pass, leaving the score unchanged.
The second half began with Wigan pressing for an early response. Their effort was initially rewarded when Zack Eckersley appeared to score after grounding a loose ball in the 49th minute, but the try was disallowed after the video referee identified a push from Warrington's Keighran.
Undeterred, the Warriors soon found a way through when Eckersley broke a tackle, sprinted 60 metres and dived over the line, with Keighran converting to make it 12‑6. The momentum shift was short‑lived; Warrington quickly restored their dominance. After a knock‑on by Junior Nsemba, the Wolves capitalised on the ensuing territory, delivering a slick passing move that saw Hopoate finish with a brilliant try on the edge.
Although Sneyd missed the conversion, the lead stretched to 12‑0. Six minutes later, Wigan struck back again. Eckersley, showing great pace and power, sliced through the Warrington defence and scored his second try of the match, with Keighran’s conversion pulling the score to 12‑6.
The Warriors seemed to gather steam, but Warrington’s discipline and execution soon re‑asserted control. In the 67th minute, a penalty awarded to the Wolves allowed Thewlis to dive over from just ten metres out for his second try, and Sneyd added the conversion, pushing the lead to 18‑6. Sneyd then slotted his 50th career Super League penalty, extending the margin to 19‑6. The final blow came when Hopoate completed his brace, diving over for his second try and sealing a 23‑6 triumph for Warrington.
The victory marked Wigan’s fourth straight loss in the Super League, the worst run in the club’s history under head coach Matt Peet. After the match, Matt Peet spoke to Sky Sports, acknowledging the difficulty of watching his side struggle. He praised the effort of his players, noting moments they would like to replicate, but admitted that the Warriors failed to execute when it mattered most. Peet highlighted concerns about consistency, saying, "We can’t afford lapses any week as they increase pressure on the whole squad.
It will be about sticking together and working through this, as we have done before." Warrington’s coach Sam Burgess also addressed the media, describing the first half as gritty and lacking composure, but commending the team’s second‑half resurgence. He noted the loss of Cai Taylor‑Wray during the game and the subsequent reshuffle, but praised the side’s adaptability. Burgess singled out 18‑year‑old Ewan Irwin for his potential, urging patience as the youngster gains confidence and learns to assert himself more consistently on the field. The match was played in front of a packed Halliwell Jones Stadium, with a lively atmosphere that underscored the significance of the contest for both clubs.
Warrington’s defensive solidity, disciplined penalty taking, and ability to capitalise on Wigan’s errors proved decisive. For Wigan, the injuries to key backs and the inability to convert opportunities into points highlighted the challenges they face as they attempt to reverse their recent slump.
The result also has implications for the Super League table. Warrington, now just two points behind the leaders, have a game in hand and will look to maintain their upward trajectory. Wigan, meanwhile, must regroup quickly to avoid further deterioration in form, especially with several suspensions and injuries limiting squad depth. Both clubs will have their next fixtures broadcast live on Sky Sports, which continues to provide comprehensive coverage of the Super League season, offering live streams of two exclusive matches each round and additional coverage of the remaining games throughout the week.