WIGAN’S at-times heroic defence won the match – but when the Challenge Cup quarter against Wakefield was revisited by the match review committee, it was hard not to see them as losers.
Wakefield enforcer Jazz Tevaga lashing out with his foot at Warriors winger Liam Marshall was the big talking point as the visitors progressed with a tense 26-22 triumph at DIY Kitchens Stadium.
Tevaga – who was sent to the sin bin at the time – on Monday received charges carrying a two-match suspension – for the kicking and for another incident, a late shot.
Wigan halfback Harry Smith is facing a longer suspension – three weeks if he does not challenge – for retaliating against Tevaga for lashing out with his foot. Smith was found to have illegally made contact with a player who might be injured – Tevaga.
And towering forward Sam Walters was caught on video head-butting during a melee and received a charge that carries a three-game ban.
Unless the Warriors successfully go to a hearing, Smith and Walters will be sidelined until the semi-final against St Helens.
“Before halftime and after halftime,” Trinity coach Daryl Powell said following the game, “obviously Jazz gets binned and then they score two tries in that period.
“You can still defend with 12 but it makes it a bit harder.”
Addressing the incident, which saw Tevaga’s knee twist awkwardly under Marshall, Powell said: “I thought Marshall knew what he was doing, to be honest.
“But I don’t thunk Jazz can lash out like that. I don’t have any problem with the sin bin but I thought that was pretty cute from Liam.
“I still thought we should have won the game but it doesn’t help. It never helps going down to 12 men. I’m not going to blame Jazz for the loss.
“I think he’d be disappointed with that. He is – I’ve spoke to him.”
Brad O’Neill’s interception of a pass by Jake Trueman with a Wakefield try in the offing and two minutes left proved to be a match-winning play.
WIGAN 26 (Eckersley 2 Mago Marshall Smith Jowitt 3 goals) beat WAKEFIELD 22 (Trueman Rodwell Johnstone tries Jowitt 3 goals) at DIY Kitchens Stadium.
Teams:
WAKEFIELD: Max Jowitt; Oliver Pratt, Cameron Scott, Corey Hall, Tom Johnstone; Jake Trueman, Mason Lino; Mike McMeeken, Tyson Smoothy, Ky Rodwell, Seth Nikotemo, Jay Pitts, Isaiah Vagana. Res: Jazz Tevaga, Caleb Hamlin-Uele, Harvey Smith, Tray Lolesio.
WIGAN: Jai Field; Zach Eckersley, Adam Keighran, Liam Farrell, Liam Marshall; Jack Farrimond, Harry Smith; Sam Eseh, Brad O’Neill, Luke Thompson, Junior Nsemba, Sam Walters, Kaide Ellis. Res: Patrick Mago, Oliver Partington, Kian McDermott, Noah Hodkinson.
Referee: Liam Moore.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
