| Wigan (22) 48 |
| Tries: Miski 5, Wardle, Powell, Pearce-Paul, Area, French Targets: Smith, Hampshire 3 |
| Castleford (6) 6 |
| Attempt: Qareqare Objective: Austin |
Wigan pummelled Castleford for an eighth straight win to stay in pole place for the League Leaders’ Defend.
Abbas Miski scored 4 of his 5 tries earlier than half-time because the Warriors stay high on factors distinction.
Jake Wardle, Sam Powell, Kai Pearce-Paul, Jay Area and Bevan French additionally registered for the house facet.
Jason Qareqare crossed for Castleford, who have been assured of survival after Wakefield’s defeat at Leigh Leopards.
Wigan’s victory means they preserve their place on the high of Tremendous League with one sport of the common season remaining and their 10-try victory padded out their already sizeable factors distinction lead on second-placed St Helens.
Saints beat Warrington on Friday to maintain tempo with Wigan whereas Catalans face Leeds on Saturday in their very own pursuit of the League Leaders’ Defend.
The Cherry and Whites tackle city rivals Leigh Leopards of their last fixture earlier than the play-offs subsequent week understanding that due to their superior factors distinction, victory will reward them a primary League Leaders’ Defend since 2020.
Miski crossed within the nook simply 5 minutes in after the Warriors stripped the ball from Liam Horne, and although Harry Smith slotted the extras, he couldn’t repeat the feat when Miski added one other three minutes later after amassing an ideal cross-field kick from French.
Liam Marshall’s reverse go paved the best way for Wardle to increase the lead on 16 minutes, however Cas replied with a Blake Austin kick inflicting a knock-on earlier than Greg Eden freed Qareqare down the flank, with Austin kicking the extras on 20 minutes.
Warriors’ defence needed to maintain agency on a few events however Miski accomplished his fifth hat-trick of the season simply after the half-hour after a lightning set – and there was nonetheless time for him so as to add his fourth seconds earlier than the hooter, holding off Qareqare to dot down within the nook.
The onslaught continued after the break as Powell scored underneath the posts following a burst from Patrick Mago, and Area’s break arrange Pearce-Paul for one more inside 4 minutes of the restart.
Ryan Hampshire – on his first look since Might – took over the kicking duties earlier than Tigers’ Austin was sin-binned for dissent, with Area jinking his manner by means of for one more attempt on 58 minutes towards the 12 males.
French blazed away from midway to attain Wigan’s ninth attempt underneath the posts within the closing levels, with Hampshire including his third conversion earlier than Miski bought his fifth attempt of the sport – and twenty seventh of the season – within the closing levels after Toby King’s go.
Wigan Warriors boss Matt Peet informed BBC Radio Manchester:
“I believed it was very skilled. There was a spell in the midst of the sport the place requirements dropped a bit bit but it surely did enable us to offer some sport time to totally different lads.
[On heading to Leigh in the final game of the season] “It’ll be improbable. I’ve numerous respect for Leigh and what they’ve completed this 12 months. It”s going to be an actual hostile setting. You do not win the League Leaders’ Defend by doing it every other manner. I am trying ahead to and I do know Leigh are too.
[On Abbas Miski] “I can not reward him sufficient. The way in which he commits himself throughout the week, it is no shock he will get his rewards on the weekend. He scored 5 tries and he did a variety of work for us off the ball as nicely.”
Castleford head coach Danny Ward informed BBC Radio Leeds:“There are a variety of blended feelings. Unhappiness and a variety of sympathy goes to the Wakefield boys – the entire membership. It is a robust place to be for them.
“I’m gutted for Wakey however I’m pleased for Cas; the city, our followers. I’m buzzing for them and what it means – averting potential catastrophe for the neighborhood.”I used to be disillusioned with the efficiency. We ready nicely and got here in understanding the areas we wanted to be good at, however we did not execute tonight.”Sure I’m pleased, however are we celebrating eleventh place? No. That is not adequate. The lads know that.”Now we have been taught a little bit of a lesson by Wigan. That is the usual we have to try for. Now we have to maintain working onerous to get there.”
Wigan: Area; Miski, King, Wardle, Marshall; French, Smith; Ellis, Powell, Dupree, Pearce-Paul, Nsemba, Smithies.
Interchanges: Shorrocks, Mago, Hill, Hampshire.Castleford: Austin; Qaraqare, Turner, Broadbent, Wallis; Eden, Miller; Watts, Horne, Mustapha, Mellor, Lawler, Corridor.
Interchanges: Griffin, Massey, Martin, Johnstone.