Now let’s be Hudd masters
JAI WANTS TO STAY ON A HIGH
HE’S taken Wigan to the top of the world but Jai Field has no intention of letting Huddersfield crash them back to earth.
The Aussie full-back features in tonight’s Super League clash fresh from playing a starring role in Warriors’ epic World Club Challenge triumph.
Field set up Jake Wardle’s matchwinning score and then produced two crucial try-saving tackles on Taylan May to leave NRL premiers Penrith gutted.
But he feels that will mean little if they tumble against the Giants tonight at the DW Stadium.
Field said: “You don’t want to be a one-game wonder. You want to back up that result and performance.
“That’s the goal. There’s no greater task than against a team like Huddersfield who’ll try and give it to us. We have to be up for it and it will be a good contest.
“We’ll expect what we always expect from Huddersfield.
“They’re very gritty but have some very classy players as well. They’ll be trying to turn us over and will come with plenty of conviction to try and get a result.”
Ian Watson’s visitors have the unusual task of facing World Club champions twice inside a week.
They were thrashed 28-0 by reigning kings St Helens on Saturday just hours before Wigan took the crown by becoming the second successive English side to down Penrith.
And they will have to be far sharper if they are to inflict Wigan’s first defeat in 13 games tonight, especially with Field so dominant.
He’s known for his attacking prowess but it was the 26 yearold’s defensive quality to the fore last week.
Field showed elusive centre May the outside before chasing down the Samoa star and sliding him into touch with a perfect tackle to protect Wigan’s 16-12 lead.
Asked what he was thinking at that moment, he admitted: “I don’t know.
“It’s your role as full-back – to put yourself in the best position possible to make that tackle.”
And then came the desperate bid to stop May again in the final second.
Field said: “It’s one of those moments where it’s the 80th minute and you just scramble.
“But I’ve not reflected on it all yet – we’re straight into Huddersfield and it still hasn’t really sunk in.”