Salford ‘torn apart’ by wonderful Wigan
WARRIORS ATTACK TOO MUCH TO COPE WITH, ADMITS DEVILS COACH
SALFORD 12 WIGAN 40
GEORGE Williams thrived as the new-look fluid Wigan attack clicked into gear to make it a very difficult opening round for Salford.
The 2016 Betfred Super League champions arrived at the AJ Bell Stadium with a point to prove and gave an early demonstration of the abundance of options Shaun Wane will have this year.
But as Sam Tomkins, Morgan Escare, Sam Powell and Tommy Leuluai floated between the playmaking positions, it was Williams, the one constant, who controlled the game.
It meant a 40-12 round-one defeat for Ian Watson’s side and the Red Devils coach admitted his side struggled to contain the Wigan attack.
“Their left edge has tore us apart,” he conceded. “They’ve been a great attacking edge for a while now – that combination of Williams, Farrell, Gildart and obviously Burgess or Marshall.
“They’ve got the better of us today, all round. I just thought they were very, very good at what they did, but there was some positives in there for us.”
Shaun Wane was “satisfied” with his side’s performance ahead of their trip to Australia to take on Hull FC and South Sydney Rabbitohs, especially the interchanging spine of the team.
“We looked comfortable with whoever we put in there, but we’ve practiced that way,” said the Wigan coach.
“We’ve thrown people in, we’ve made things a bit odd in training to throw a bit of adversity at them and they’ve handled it really well.”
Salford had actually started the game in encouraging fashion, shifting the ball smartly across the field and opening up a number of gaps in the visitors’ defensive line.
Indeed, the Red Devils opened the scoring when Kris Welham collected a Gareth O’Brien kick and raced in under the posts untouched. Tom Davies got Wigan on the board soon after, before Williams’ customary short kick to the left-hand side was collected by Oliver Gildart for their second.
George Griffin was then sent to the sin bin and Warriors capitalised with great hands to the left, where Liam Marshall kicked back inside for Morgan Escare to collect and score.
Marshall dived on Tomkins’ grubber kick for Wigan’s next and the young winger then got the try of the game when Williams chipped over the defensive line 45m out and Marshall hacked on, taking the ball over Greg Johnson, and regathered to race over.
It was enough to seal victory for the Warriors, but there was still time for tries from Gildart and Clubb to take Wigan out to 40 points and a late consolation from Niall Evalds.
ROCHDALE will have to wait for their first Championship fixture of the year – their game against Batley tomorrow has been postponed because the pitch at the Crown Oil Arena is not in a fit state because of the recent winter conditions.
The weather shouldn’t be an issue in the south of France when SWINTON take on Toulouse this evening. Hayden Hansen will be one of a number of debutants for the Lions, but Gavin Bennion’s loan from Salford was not confirmed in time for him to travel.