The defending champions started their title defence with a 4-32 win over the Castleford Tigers, in a game where Castleford “controversially” had Liam Watts sent off in the first half.
On Saturday, the Castleford Tigers took on 2023 super league winners, Wigan Warriors at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle. Castleford wanting to move on from a difficult season last season and Wigan hoping to get off to a good start in their title defence. The home side came into this with news of Paul Mcshane set to miss a month with a hamstring injury, with Wigan having Mike Cooper back on the pitch for the first time since a horrific injury against St Helens on good friday last year, along with new signings Adam Keighran, Kruise Leeming and Luke Thompson included in the squad.
Wigan got the game underway, in horrible conditions in Castleford.
In the 3rd minute, Wigan won a penalty, and the warriors decided to kick and get the two points on the board early, Harry Smith made no mistake and made it 0-2 to Wigan.
In the 6th minute, the first time Castleford got into Wigan’s Half, ended with a Castleford penalty from a wigan player being offside, Castleford like wigan decided to kick the two, and Danny Richardson made no mistake to make it 2-2 after 8 minutes
In the 18th minute, Hooley’s kick to the corner had just too much for Senior’s diving effort.
Hooley in the 21st minute was tackled by Harry Smith, Tom Grant the referee deemed it to be a dangerous tackle and the Wigan half was shown a yellow card and sent to the sin bin for 10 minutes
Castleford won a penalty four minutes later, Cas decided again to kick the two and Danny Richardson made no mistake to make it 4-2 to the Castleford Tigers
Castleford in the 28th minute were penalised for a high tackle on Tyler Dupee, which resulted in front row Liam Watts being sent off by Tom Grant and leaving Castleford with 12 men for the remainder of the game. Adam Keighan converted the penalty to level the game 10 minutes before half time
Great defence from Castleford to deny Farell from scoring but moments later Wigan crossed through Patrick Mago after Keighan’s kick was spilled and the prop grounded the ball. Harry Smith converted the kick to make 4-10 to the defending champions.
Wigan won another set of six and decided to go for the try instead of kicking the two, which proved to be a great decision quick hands from Mago found French who went over in the corner to make it 4-14 to Wigan. Harry Smith converted the kick to make it 4-16 to Wigan at half time.
Great and patient play from Wigan, ball ended up with Liam Marshall who stepped inside and went over, a try that had been coming for the past 5 minutes, 4-20 to Wigan with half an hour to go, Harry Smith failed to convert.
Minutes later Wigan went over again, as Miski found Leeming with a kick,Leeming grounded the ball to make it 4-24 to Wigan. Smith made no mistake with the kick, 4-26 to Wigan.
Liam Marshall got his second try, as a flowing move ended with Marshall going over to bring up Wigan’s 30 in front of the Wigan fans. Harry Smith infront of the posts couldn’t miss and made it 4-32 to the Warriors.