Wigan Warriors 48 Wakefield Trinity 6: Hock returns with hat-trick to help undermine Trinity

Gareth Hock marked his first start since returning from a two-year suspension with his first Super League hat-trick as the defending champions romped to a sixth straight win.

But the Warriors forward was perhaps outshone by a fine all-round performance by England full-back Sam Tomkins, who scored two of Wigan’s eight tries.

Second-bottom Wakefield had lost their previous four, leaking 208 points in the process, and another drubbing looked on the cards as the hosts were 12-0 up inside 10 minutes.

The Wildcats rallied and might have levelled, but Wigan crossed three times in seven minutes before the break to lead 30-6 at half-time.

Tomkins then claimed his second try, with Hock crossing twice late on while Pat Richards kicked all eight goals to finish with 20 points.

Hock was making his fourth appearance since returning from his drugs ban and the England forward took just four minutes to make his mark, charging onto Paul Deacon’s short ball to burst through and score.

Wigan extended their lead, Hock supporting Brett Finch to usher George Carmont in.

Josh Griffin then gathered a scrappy pass wide to cut inside and claim a well-taken try.

Harrison Hansen was stopped short for Wigan and a fine tackle by Tomkins denied Frankie Mariano a try for Wakefield.

Josh Charnley had to tap Josh Veivers’s grubber out for a repeat set but a Wildcats knock-on relieved the pressure before Mariano was penalised for a high tackle on Tomkins. Wigan took full advantage with Finch and Tomkins sending Pat Richards over on the left.

Finch then managed to offload in the tackle for Tomkins to touch down, and just a minute later, Tomkins burst down the right before kicking through for Charnley to win the chase and slide over.

A scrappy start to the second half saw Jeff Lima flatten Michael Korkidas with a huge hit and the Wakefield prop managed to get to his feet and hobble off after a lengthy stoppage.

Tomkins’s chip kick then forced Veivers to concede a drop-out but more sloppy play left the crowd waiting for the first second-half score. Wakefield spurned the chance to deliver it following a penalty and Charnley’s knock-on, with Jeremy Smith’s grubber comfortably taken by Tomkins.

A fine kick by Tomkins put the hosts back on the front foot and shortly after he chipped through and gathered his own kick to claim a 66th-minute try.

Hock then picked the right angle to charge onto another pass by Deacon before pouncing on a loose ball after Tomkins’s break to seal his hat-trick.

Wigan Warriors: S Tomkins, Charnley, Marsh, Carmont, Richards, Finch, Deacon, Mossop, McIlorum, Lima, Hansen, Hock, O’Loughlin. Substitutes: Coley, Farrell, Tuson, Cross.

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats: Veivers, Griffin, Murphy, Dean, Tadulala, Smith, Lee, Korkidas, Wildie, Amor, Mariano, P. Johnson, Henderson. Substitutes: Rinaldi, King, Tony, Higgins.

Referee: T Alibert (Toulouse).