WANE GETS THE PERFECT TONIC
SAM TOMKINS paid tribute to Wigan assistant John Winder who helped Shaun Wane deliver a victory from his hospital bed.
Wane had to stay in England for a hip operation yesterday morning, though he remained in contact with Winder through the game.
And his No.2 delivered a crucial half-time team talk as Joe Burgess scored a hat-trick to give Wigan’s top-four hopes a major boost.
Tomkins said: “Waney’s back home struggling a bit with his hip, but we’ve got a brilliant assistant here in John Winder.
“He spoke to us at halftime with real composure and told us everything we needed to do.”
Full-back Tomkins notched his first try of the campaign with a second-half effort from a Micky McIlorum kick.
Wane’s side are now formally confirmed in the top eight – but defeat for the Dragons almost certainly condemns them to a relegation scrap.
Burgess opened the scoring for the visitors when he scrambled over but the Dragons responded with a Vincent Duport touchdown, only to fall further behind to a George Williams penalty.
The home side moved ahead for the only time when Duport jumped highest to touch down another kick out wide.
Williams levelled the score with another penalty before Burgess grabbed his second.
Williams then took the game away from the Dragons when he reached over to score after Wane’s side kept the ball alive well.
Tomkins pinched his first try since returning from long-term injury.
Burgess competed his hat-trick from Williams’ cut-out pass before the latter added a sixth goal for a personal haul of 16 points.