Shaun Wane insisted on Thursday night that “there is no panic at all” at Wigan, after yet another defeat for the Warriors amid off-field turmoil at one of Super League’s most famous clubs.
This was Wigan’s third successive defeat since the sudden decision from Wane to announce he would be ending his 30-year association with the club at the end of this season.
The Warriors have scored just four tries in those three games.
The headlines which accompanied the ill-fated behaviour of the Tomkins brothers last weekend have stolen much of the spotlight in the past seven days, but it is impossible to avoid the fact that on the field Wigan’s form has collapsed since news of Wane’s impending departure broke.
“There’s absolutely no panic at all,” Wane said. “We have to improve and we need to be better, work harder, and I need to be smarter. But they’re a strong bunch, and I know people will enjoy the position we’re in.”
Home games against Wigan usually bring out the best in Chris Chester’s Wakefield side, and by the end it was hard to argue with the final scoreline being so comprehensively in Trinity’s favour. Like Wigan they, too, have only league matters to focus on after exiting the Challenge Cup but it is not unreasonable that, with more performances such as this, a top-four push could be realistic. They have now beaten the league’s top two at home this season.
With one of their greatest sons, Neil Fox, in attendance, this was a performance of which he would have approved. “We want to be in that top six every year, and it’s really important for us now to invest a bit more money in the team – but we’re looking up, not down,” Chester said post-match.
Wakefield took an early lead when some wonderful lead-up play allowed the wing Ben Jones-Bishop to cross. Ryan Hampshire improved that try with a penalty before Bill Tupou finished well shortly after.
Trinity’s dominance emanated from the strength of their pack, and after the outstanding David Fifita won them another penalty Hampshire improved again to make it 14-0. By the time Wigan scored via Gabe Hamlin, it ended a barren run of 184 minutes without a point.
Trailing 14-6 at the break, it was clear the first score after half-time was vital. It went to Wakefield as Jones-Bishop superbly picked a Sean O’Loughlin pass with the visitors pressing to race the length and, realistically, consign Wigan to yet another defeat.
Tom Johnstone then produced a magnificent finish after another Wigan error, and while the visitors did briefly threaten a thrilling finish when Tom Davies and Morgan Escare scored it always felt a stretch too far for a side so dramatically out of sorts.