Shaun rookies tame Dragons

SHAUN WANE had his young guns to thank as third-placed Wigan got a third successive win.

Warriors coach Wane pinned his faith in youth, with Joe Burgess at 22 the oldest player in a rookie three-quarter line alongside Liam Forsyth, Tom Davies and Liam Marshall.

The four academy products did Wane proud, grabbing seven tries between them.

Burgess, Davies and Forsyth each claimed two tries, while Marshall and Liam Farrell also crossed for the Super League champions.

Wigan assistant coach John Winder, whose side had a scare when letting slip a 16-0 lead to trail 22-20, said: “We pride ourselves on our kids coming through the system and Tom Davies is taking his chance.

“He’s a bit of a late developer but his two finishes today were outstanding.

“We turned over too much cheap ball to allow Catalans back and were really disappointed at half-time, but had plenty of energy and endeavour in the last 20 minutes.”

Sam Powell was irrepressible for Wigan, whose injury problems piled up with Thomas Leuluai suffering a suspected broken jaw.

An early 90-metre solo effort by Davies was the pick of the tries.

Tries from Fouad Yaha and Tony Gigot and two from Louis Anderson turned the game on its head before Wigan got four tries without reply.

Dragons coach Laurent Frayssinous said: “We made too many early errors but didn’t panic.”