LATE HERO SAM READY TO DROP
SAM POWELL admits his last-gasp Wigan heroics only happened because he was so exhausted.
The Warriors hooker landed a 45-metre drop goal to condemn Hull KR to a 19-18 defeat on Sunday. It was harsh on new Rovers coach Tony Smith and leaves his side joint bottom of Super League, while Wigan climb to eighth.
Powell said: “I can never kick them in training, but I had a pop because I knew there wasn’t much time left and my body was saying I cannot do extra time.”
It puts the fallen champions four points ahead of Rovers and two points better than Friday’s opponents Leeds.
But Powell says they need to improve, adding: “We have come to a point where we have to be really honest with each other. We need to clean up individual errors. We will be better for these honest talks.”
Smith (right) will be keen for Rovers to find a ruthless streak in time for the visit of his former club Warrington on Saturday.
Wolves star Joe Philbin will be pumped up to show Smith he was right to scare the living daylights out of him four years ago.
Smith gave Philbin his debut, but only after the forward had slept in and missed a first-team training session.
Philbin said: “I thought I was training with the academy in the afternoon so I was in bed and woke up to nine missed calls off Tony.
“It’s a scary feeling – you’ve either done something good or bad! I rung him and he went, ‘Where are you? You’re playing this week, you’re supposed to be training’.
“It’s good to have Tony back in the game. He turned us from an average club to one that’s fighting for honours every year. I’m sure he’ll do well at Rovers.”