KENNY BLOW FOR DRAGONS
Sent off ace faces cup ban
HOT HEAD Kenny Edwards has dealt Catalans a massive blow ahead of their Challenge Cup semi-final.
The Dragons need all guns blazing if they hope to beat St Helens and reach their first final for 11 years.
But they will now probably have to do it without one of their key forwards after he got his marching orders.
The giant back-rower had already given away a penalty for a high tackle moments earlier.
But the controversial Aussie, who is a serial off-field offender as well as a firebrand on it, failed to calm down.
He went in late on Wigan’s John Bateman, after a kick, sparking a furious reaction from the England player.
Referee Scott Mikalauskas showed Edwards red, but his painfully slow walk off the field clearly showed what he felt of the decision.
Coach Steve McNamara, however, will be far more furious if Edwards cops a ban on Tuesday as a result of that tackle in the 40th minute.
With top-eight safety guaranteed last week, McNamara rested a few players ahead of the semi in Bolton next Sunday.
Three others, including former Wigan favourite Micky McIlorum, were also offered a rest but insisted they wanted to play instead.
It summed up the tremendous heart in a Dragons side who were bottom in May but are now one of the form teams in the competition. Rather than hold themselves back for the Cup game they went for the Warriors throats even though there was nothing at stake in the league.
Winger Jodie Broughton gave them an early lead in his surprise early return following surgery on a torn bicep in May.
His hopes of playing in the semi look in doubt, though, after he was later helped off with ankle and head injuries.
Liam Marshall was at fault for the try, failing to react quickly enough to
Tony Gigot’s grubber kick, and Wigan looked out of sorts. The second-placed side, who clearly underestimated the Dragons, got back in front with a Chris Hankinson try and two Sam Tomkins goals.
Edwards’ sending off swung the advantage in Wigan’s favour and they took control early in the second half.
Tries from Morgan Escare and Tomkins, plus two Tomkins goals, gave them a 20-6 lead but Catalans refused to roll over.
Arix Da Costa sounded the first alarm bells for the home side when he darted over but Wigan ignored the signs.
Minutes later Fouad Yaha grabbed another try, with Lucas Albert converting both to leave them only two points adrift.
Albert then landed a penalty to level the scores, and tempers started to boil over as both sides went gunning for the win.
Tomkins, who joins Catalans next season, nudged Wigan ahead with a drop goal and Joe Greenwood sealed the win with a late try.