McIlorum leaves Wigan dreaming of roaring 20s
WEMBLEY beckons once again for Wigan, whose love affair with the Challenge Cup shows no sign of ending.
A high-octane semi-final saw Salford overturn an early 12-0 deficit to lead at the break and encourage hopes of reaching their first final in the famous competition since 1969.
There was a certain romance to the Red Devils, coached by local lad Ian Watson and owned by Palestinian refugee turned millionaire Marwan Koukash, reaching the big stage.
But after a tight, rain-soaked second half at Warrington’s Halliwell Jones Stadium, it was Wigan who deservedly prevailed thanks to a rare try from hooker Michael McIlorum on the hour before Oliver Gildart’s second in the closing stages.
Wigan, record 19-time winners of the trophy, will face Hull at the national stadium on August 26 in a rerun of 2013 when the Warriors won 16-0 in one of the worst finals in recent memory.
Shaun Wane won the competition as a Wigan player against Halifax in 1988 and again as head coach four years ago.
The Warriors boss, still on crutches after recent hip surgery, said: “I’m very happy and very relieved. Without sounding cocky, I thought we deserved it and I’m very proud of the players.
“We’ll need to improve because Hull were outstanding on Saturday against Leeds. There are not many teams who could have lived with them during that second half. But on our day we can challenge people and I don’t think we have even touched the surface, if I’m honest.”
When the sides clashed at the semi-final stage at Doncaster last season, Hull ran out worthy victors but Wane denied the scars of that defeat have yet to heal.
He said: “That was the worst coach journey home we’ve had but we’ve got it out of our system. The Challenge TRY TIME: McIlorum is congratulated and, inset, Gildart scores his first send homegrown centre Gildart over in the eighth minute.
The Warriors soon struck again when second-rower Isa broke clear from 20 metres to score.
The stage was set for Wigan, with Sam Tomkins showing signs of his best form, to take Salford to the cleaners. Yet the Red Devils, so sluggish during the opening quarter, gradually awoke to the magnitude of the occasion.
Buoyed by the inclusion of debutants Manu Vatuvei and Tyrone McCarthy, Salford scored two tries in quick succession. Greg Johnson dived over in the right corner before McCarthy grounded Michael Dobson’s kick.
Wigan’s problems mounted in the 30th minute when Tomkins, lining up against his brother Logan, was sin-binned for pulling back McCarthy. Dobson kicked the resulting penalty, which made it 14-12 at half-time.
A penalty from Williams levelled matters in the 55th minute before Wigan landed the decisive blow.
Williams’ long pass found Joe Burgess on the left and he kicked infield, where McIlorum pounced to score. Salford were given
hope when Wigan lost Anthony Gelling to a yellow card but Gildart’s second late on added gloss to the victory.
Red Devils boss Watson said: “It was a big effort from our boys. We spoke about how we wanted to come here and let people know what sort of team we are.
“Wigan won the energy battle in the second half and people talk about big-game experience – Sam Tomkins turned up massively – but we’re on a journey and this is just the start for us. We should be proud of what we’ve done.”
WIGAN – Tries: Goals: DG: SALFORD – Tries: Goals: