RUGBY LEAGUE:
SHAUN WANE insisted he had no doubts about Sam Tomkins’ commitment after the Catalans-bound full-back starred for Wigan.
Tomkins will leave for France at the end of the season but scored one try and was heavily involved throughout as Wigan made it eight wins in a row.
Wane said: “When I look at players, and look at skill, speed and toughness, the one thing my best players always have is competitiveness spirit.
“Sam‘s got that in abundance. The fact he’s leaving will make him even more motivated.”
Wane hailed George Williams’ performance as his best of the season and the team’s best allround display of the campaign.
Victory avenged a league defeat at the Wolves, ahead of a third meeting between the teams in the upcoming Challenge Cup quarterfinal. Wane said: “When we came back from Australia and played them we were never in that game.
“They said they should have scored more points and that was a good motivator for us, the way we played that day.
“It will be a different Warrington team again in a few weeks’ time but we’ll enjoy tonight first – I was happy with that.”
Harvey Livett’s opening try aside, the Warriors were always in firm control. Sam Powell put them ahead when he forced his way over from close range, before Tomkins stretched out to score. Warrington stayed in the contest through Stefan Ratchford’s response just before the break, but it was one-way traffic after the restart.
John Bateman crashed through two defenders and stepped around Ratchford to touch down, and moments later the Warriors scored the try of the match.
There was nothing on when Williams kicked a loose ball to Oliver Gildart, but the centre released Liam Marshall who raced down the left touchline. When Josh Charnley eventually hauled him down Marshall passed inside for Williams to finish.
Ratchford had a second try controversially disallowed but it mattered little as Wane’s side finished with a flourish.
Marshall got a deserved try from a Williams kick before fellow winger Tom Davies followed him over the line in the dying stages.
Wolves coach Steve Price said: “We’d been playing some really good football and had turned things around.
“But we didn’t come to the races today and that was hugely disappointing. Credit to Wigan they played some really good football.
“At 16-10 at half-time there was plenty to play for, but with a 53 completion rate in the second half you’re never going to win a game.
“We’re a much better footy team than that – that wasn’t the real Warrington out there today.”
Tries: Powell, Tomkins, Bateman, Williams, Marshall, Davies. Goals: Tomkins (5). Tries: Livett, Ratchford. Goal: Goodwin.