Wigan Warriors 46 Wakefield Trinity 24: Agar has faith in Wildcats despite poor start

IT WAS, coach Richard Agar admitted, a case of “men against boys” as Wakefield Trinity Wildcats slumped to a third straight defeat, going down at Wigan Warriors.
Wigan v Wakefield.Wigan v Wakefield.
Wigan v Wakefield.

Wigan, playing their first game since the World Club Challenge loss to Sydney Roosters in Australia eight days earlier, were too big, powerful and fast for a below-strength Wakefield outfit.

But despite being out-classed for the most part, Wildcats scored four tries – all converted by Jarrod Sammut – and Agar felt it was a credible effort by his team in difficult circumstances.

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“It was a tough day for us,” Agar accepted. “I thought they were just too strong for us and, at times, it looked men against boys.

“We have to learn how to play a little bit tougher for a little bit longer. We played with very, very limited possession and that made it difficult for us.”

Wakefield were without front-rower Nick Scruton, who joined them from relegation rivals Bradford Bulls for a “nominal” fee on Saturday, too late to make the team for the trip to DW Stadium.

When Andy Raleigh was ruled out, due to a hamstring injury, Wildcats were left with no real power or experience in the front-row.

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They lined up with Lucas Walshaw – until recently a centre – and rookie Daniel Smith, who hadn’t played a senior game before this season, at prop.

Both battled hard, but they were no match for a Wigan side which included Sean O’Loughlin, whose three previous games had been the 2013 Challenge Cup final and Super League Grand Final and last month’s World Club Challenge.

Sammut, signed last month from Bradford, was influential for Wakefield and there was evidence once he has fully settled in that he will prove a good acquisition.

The same applies to his half-back partner Pita Godinet and though a couple of Wakefield’s tries came from long-range, they did put Wigan under pressure at times.

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Defence is an area that needs major improvement. Wigan scored some of their tries with almost embarrassing ease, though there were a couple of occasions when home players were held up over the line.

Wigan got off to an ominous start when Dom Manfredi finished off some quick hands at the corner after only six minutes.

But Wakefield hit the front soon afterwards, Ali Lauitiiti barging over from close range off Sammut’s pass following a break by teenage debutant Luke Briscoe, who is on loan from Leeds Rhinos.

With Wigan on the back of two defeats, Wakefield had an opportunity to expose a nervousness in the home side, but they conceded almost immediately to ex-Leeds Carnegie rugby union back Iain Thornley and by the next time they had possession the game was gone.

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O’Loughlin supported a break by Matty Smith – who finished with five goals -– and then danced over from close range before classy full-back Ryan Hampshire crossed and then John Bateman went over to make it 30-6.

Remarkably, Wakefield scored the next two tries – either side of the break. Captain Danny Kirmond went over off Godinet’s pass and then the half-back intercepted near his own line and held the ball long enough to find supporting winger Peter Fox.

At 30-18 it suddenly looked a contest, but Wigan hit back quickly through Ben Flower, then Joe Burgess and – after Richard Mathers had been sin-binned for a professional foul – Liam Farrell made the game safe, before Reece Lyne’s long-range consolation.

Agar said: “We had an incredibly inexperienced middle. Lucas Walshaw started at prop and he’s not used to playing there.

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“Dan Smith is a 21-year-old with two games under his belt and Kyle Trout has probably about 10 games under his belt.

“We knew we were doing it light in the middle and unfortunately it showed.

“But we did have a number of individuals who tried their hardest.

“On the edges, defensively we operated okay at times and with the football, the limited number of times we had it, we showed – when we set up to the right positions – we look a threat.

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“There was some opportunist stuff in there as well. From that point of view I saw enough signs and I know we are going to get better. I am not going to start dissecting that performance, because we’re not a side that can carry the seven or so blokes we had out from today’s team.

“We are confident we’ve got enough personnel, when we get them all out there, to show significant improvement. There is some positive stuff around the corner for us.”

Scruton will make his debut at home to another side without a point this year, Catalan Dragons, on Sunday.

Australian half-back Harry Siejka is due to arrive this week after finally being granted a visa, around four months after putting pen to paper.

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And Agar feels Wakefield have now unearthed a rare talent in back-rower Jordan Crowther, who – at 17 years and 11 days – came off the bench yesterday to become the club’s youngest-ever forward.

Wigan Warriors: Hampshire, Burgess, Gelling, Thornley, Manfredi, Green, M Smith, Flower, McIlorum, Taylor, Farrell, Bateman, O’Loughlin. Substitutes: Tomkins, Crosby, Burke, Clubb.

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats: Mathers, Fox, Sykes, Briscoe, Lyne, Sammut, Godinet, Walshaw, McShane, D Smith, Lauitiiti, Kirmond, Trout. Substitutes: Washbrook, Tautai, Ryan, Crowther.

Referee: M Thomason (Warrington).