ROOKIE fullback Noah Hodkinson played a decisive role as depleted Wigan came from behind to edge out brave York.
Hodkinson, 20, made his first team debut last week in the Challenge Cup and took his Super League bow in a Wigan side missing stars Bevan French, Jai Field and Jack Wardle.
It was his footwork and swerve which allowed Adam Keighran’s conversion to edge the home side in front for the first time after the break after the Knights stunned them early despite having Ata Hingano sent to the sin bin.
And Hodkinson was involved in the lead-up as Keighran’s touchdown put Wigan ahead again with 16 minutes left. Halfback Harry Smith later added a drop goal before Hingano scored to set up a nailbiting finish.
York held a shock 14-0 lead after just 25 minutes. Wigan hit the front 16-14 after a brilliant try by rookie fullback Noah Hodkinson.
But a Danny Richardson penalty goal levelled things up and thats where they were on the hour.
WIGAN 23 (Marshall 2 Hodkinson Keighran tries Keighran 3 goals Smith drop goal) beat YORK 22 (Nofoaluma Vaughan Hingano tries Richardson 5 goals) at Brick Community Stadium. Crowd: 13,187.
Teams:
WIGAN: Noah Hodkinson; Zach Eckersley, Adam Keighran, Liam Farrell, Liam Marshall; Jack Farrimond, Harry Smith; Ethan Havard, Brad O’Neill, Luke Thompson, Junior Nsemba, Kaide Ellis. Res: Patrick Mago, Oliver Partington, Sam Eseh, Nathan Lowe.
YORK: Tom Mata’afa; Ben Jones-Bishop, Sam Wood, Nikau Williams, David Nofoaluma; Ata Hingano, Danny Richardson; Xavier Va’a, Paul McShane, Paul Vaughan, Josh Griffin, Jesse Dee, Sam Cook. Res: Denive Balmforth, Jack Martin, Justin Sangare, Oli Field.
Referee: Marcus Griffiths