Super League: Wigan Warriors see off Warrington Wolves
By Rob Lancaster
Last Updated: 12/09/14 7:29am
Wigan produced a repeat of their thrilling Grand Final comeback to defeat Warrington 24-20 in a pulsating clash at the DW Stadium.
Just as they had done at Old Trafford last year to defeat the Wolves and take the title, the Warriors recovered from 14 points down to pull off a sensational win that means they are certain to finish the regular season in the top three.
The Wolves - who could yet drop to fifth place if Huddersfield beat St Helens on Friday - had looked set to triumph on their travels when a second try from the prolific Joel Monaghan just before the break put them 18-4 up.
However, winger Josh Charnley grabbed a brace of tries to help the reigning champions overcome the deficit and do the Super League double over their opponents for the first time in 11 years.
Joe Burgess also crossed twice for the hosts on the other flank to Charnley, the first of his pair breaking the deadlock after six minutes when he dived in at the left corner from Sean O'Loughlin's clever cut-out pass.
The teenager showed his abilities at the other end of the field to deny Monaghan on two occasions, both times forcing the Australian into touch as it looked like he might squeeze over by the flag.
Yet there was nothing Burgess could do to stop the competition's leading try-scorer from adding to his tally in the 27th minute, Warrington working the ball from left to right to create the overlap.
Chris Bridge had put in the final pass to Monaghan and the centre was again assisting for the Wolves' second try, combining with hooker Mickey Higham to set up a routine finish for Richie Myler underneath the uprights.
Not happy
Wigan fans were far from happy when replays on the big screen suggested Chris Hill had knocked on at the play-the-ball; the mood amongst the home crowd was hardly improved when Myler spotted Monaghan out wide and put in a kick over the top for his team-mate to catch and ground before he skidded out of play.
Stefan Ratchford's third conversion sailed through the posts just as the hooter sounded and at that stage it seemed Warrington were on course to gain revenge for a 12-4 defeat at the Halliwell Jones Stadium back in March.
Yet the Warriors - who had trailed 16-6 at the same stage in that Grand Final in Manchester before scoring 24 unanswered points in the second half - were not finished just yet.
Despite losing Liam Farrell to injury, Burgess finished in the left corner before Charnley got his first try of the night, winning the foot race to a loose ball after he had hacked on Anthony Gelling's grubber sent down the right touchline.
Matty Smith's failure with all three kicks at goal left Wigan still trailing, and the gap was extended from six to eight when Ratchford knocked over a penalty shortly after Eddy Pettybourne and Paul Wood had been sin-binned for exchanging punches, the latter having landed several strikes before his opponent responded.
Warrington looked set to add to their advantage until Michael Monaghan telegraphed a pass out wide, giving Charnley the chance to nip in, catch the ball and race away for an intercept score that Smith converted.
Blake Green crashed over from close range as both teams returned to a full compliment of 13 players, meaning the men in Cherry and White were back ahead again.
That wasn't quite the end of the drama, however. Gelling had a potential contender for try of the season ruled out for obstruction, while Wigan hooker Michael McIlorum was placed on report for a late hit that resuled in James Laithwaite being carried from the field on a stretcher.
