DOUBLE ODDS

ON TONIGHT’S LEICESTER V VILLA WITH

JACKSON HASTINGS’ increasing influence at Wigan yielded two tries to send Adrian Lam’s side back to the top of Super League.

The current Steve Prescott Man of Steel was last week overlooked for Shaun Wane’s first England get-together despite starting every game of Great Britain’s autumn tour.

But he continues to grow into his role in Lam’s side and with Liam Farrell and Sam Powell excellent alongside him, the Warriors eventually battled past gutsy Hull KR.

Lam said: “It was always going to take time for Jackson and the rest of the spine of Tommy Leuluai, Sam Powell and Bevan French.

“They’ve still got so much improvement in them as well and they’re aware of that.

“I said in the dressing room I was proud of our resilience – sometimes you’ve got to win those ugly games and this time last year we’d have lost.”

Rovers had to contend with losing Joe Keyes, Will Maher and Matty Storton to injury, with the latter suffering an ankle issue from a Ben Flower tackle that was placed on report.

Coach Tony Smith wouldn’t be drawn on that incident but said: “I was very proud of our effort and improvement in defence. They’re putting their bodies on the line every week but our methods were better in defence today.

“I thought we held our own for large parts of that game.”

Smith’s side were still only 18-16 adrift approaching the hour before two Wigan tries sealed the contest.

They opened the scoring when Ryan Brierley broke from deep and sent Ethan Ryan over for a debut try, which was cancelled out by Hastings’ first. The in-form Farrell put the home side ahead for the first time.

But Rovers responded as Greg Minikin plucked the ball out of Liam Marshall’s arms to touch down.

Hastings’ second just before the break was the highlight of the match, coming from a scintillating break from fullback French.

But despite continuing to lose players to injury, Rovers refused to buckle, Brierley again sprinting clear to cut the gap to two points.

The crucial try came when Powell crashed over under the posts to extend Wigan’s advantage to two scores for the first time and Marshall then battled his way over to clinch matters.