HERO LIAM IS FAZTASTIC

Warrior Farrell grabs hat-trick & victory in extra time

LIAM FARRELL’S hat-trick try in goldenpoint extra time saw Wigan finally break Hull KR hearts.

Warriors had looked set for defeat before winger Abbas Miski produced a brilliant finish on the final hooter to level the game.

But Harry Smith could not convert from wide out, missing his fourth goal from five attempts.

Hull KR’s Mikey Lewis struck a post with a drop goal in extra time.

But then Wigan star Bevan French found space in the fifth minute to break clear and find England second-row Farrell on his shoulder.

His side had been set for a third successive Super League defeat, but they kept second spot just ahead of the excellent Robins. Wigan had been in control after two tries from Liam Farrell and Liam Marshall gave them a 14-4 lead.

But Willie Peters’ inspired side fought back brilliantly.

Rovers began their fightback when down to 12 men, with Ryan Hall in the sin-bin.

Matt Parcell produced a runaround with Elliot Minchella and slipped James Batchelor through from close range on the hour. Lewis’ conversion put the hosts ahead for the first time at 16-14.

And then Luis Johnson – on his first Robins appearance of the season after being on loan at Castleford – scored his first try in 21 months.

The second-row latched onto Jez Litten’s fine grubber, Lewis doing the rest.

Winger Marshall added a second to set up a frantic finish and Miski forced extra time. Veteran England winger Hall, 35, had got KR up and running in the 22nd minute.

Scrum-half Lewis dared to jink back infield on the last tackle before finding Minchella, who squeezed his own offload out to Hall.

That made it 4-4 after Farrell had given Wigan a 12th-minute lead.

Bevan French was the instigator with a splendid pass that unleashed Marshall.

And the same combination put Matt Peet’s side back in the lead in the 33rd minute.

French once more picked out an expertly timed pass to send Marshall clear again.

And captain Farrell was there inside for his second.

Smith (left) did improve and Wigan notched their third when Field put Marshall over again.

But Parcell twisted out of Smithies’ tackle to score, Lewis clawing it back to 14-10. But there was still a twist to come in the tale.