Warrington Wolves 18 Wigan Warriors 19, post-match reaction

Harry Smith's drop goal on the stroke of half time proved to be the difference, capping a purple patch in the game's second quarter which saw Junior Nsemba, Liam Marshall and Kruise Leeming score tries.

Stefan Ratchford's late try which saw him beat Smith to Josh Drinkwater's kick into the in-goal set up a grandstand finish with Wigan down to 12 men following Adam Keighran's sending-off for a high tackle on Arron Lindop, but they could not fashion another opportunity.

Before then, Warrington, who made 12 changes to their 17 with next weekend's Challenge Cup Final in mind, had defied pre-match predictions of struggle by racing into an early 12-0 lead.

Drinkwater's boot was pivotal again after Ratchford had kicked them ahead from a penalty - the Australian scrum-half put in a perfectly-weighted kick for Lindop to touch down before setting up himself with another low grubber, touching down after the ball had come off the post.

Josh Drinkwater touches down (Image: SWPix.com)

Warrington 18 Wigan 19 - post-match reaction

> THE FINAL WORD: Predictions of a hammering grossly misplaced

> STAT ATTACK: Debutant's superb metres and all-round excellence from Whitehead

> THE MORNING AFTER: A loss that feels like a win as Wire show the future is bright

> Joe Bullock on how he feels his 'Wembley audition' went against Wigan

> Everything Sam Burgess had to say after young Wire's loss to Wigan

> WIRE SOCIAL: 'Never been so proud in defeat'

> Re-live all the action from The Halliwell Jones Stadium as it happened here

Match facts:

Super League, Round 13

Saturday, June 1, 2024

Warrington Wolves...18 Wigan Warriors...19

Wolves: Cai Taylor-Wray; Connor, Rodrick Tai, Arron Lindop, Jake Thewlis; Stefan Ratchford, Josh Drinkwater; Joe Bullock, Sam Powell, Max Wood, Adam Holroyd, Nolan Tupaea, Tom Whitehead. Subs: Matty Nicholson, Zane Musgrove, Lucas Green, Ben Hartill. 18th man: Dan Okoro

Warriors: Ryan Hampshire; Jacob Douglas, Adam Keighran, Zach Eckersley, Liam Marshall; Bevan French, Harry Smith; Ethan Havard, Brad O'Neill, Liam Byrne, Junior Nsemba, Sam Walters, Kaide Ellis. Subs: Kruise Leeming, Tyler Dupree, Patrick Mago, Harvie Hill. 18th man: Jack Farrimond

Scoring: Ratchford penalty, 13mins, 2-0; Lindop try, 16mins, 6-0; Drinkwater try, 19mins, Ratchford goal, 12-0; Nsemba try, 23mins, Keighran goal, 12-6; Marshall try, 32mins, Keighran goal, 12-12; Leeming try, 35mins, Keighran goal, 12-18; Smith drop goal, 40mins, 12-19; Ratchford try, 77mins, Ratchford goal, 18-19

Penalties: Wolves 13 Warriors 4

Sent off: Keighran (70mins, high tackle)

Referee: Jack Smith

Attendance: 12,184

Arron Lindop scores the game's opening try (Image: SWPix.com)