Super League: Wigan Warriors 22-23 Hull FC
- From the section Rugby League
| Betfred Super League |
|---|
| Wigan (12) 22 |
| Tries: Gildart 2, Byrne, Flower Goals: Hardaker 3 |
| Hull FC (16) 23 |
| Tries: Tuimavave, Westerman, Naulago 2 Goals: Sneyd 3 Drop-goal: Sneyd |
Hull FC beat Wigan thanks to Marc Sneyd's drop-goal in Super League's first-ever golden-point extra time.
The hosts had come from 10 points down to level, with Zak Hardaker missing a tricky conversion to win the game with the last kick of normal time.
Tries from Carlos Tuimavave, Joe Westerman and debutant Ratu Naulago helped Hull to a slender interval lead.
Ben Flower and Oliver Gildart scored to force extra time for Wigan but Sneyd slotted to end Hull's losing streak.
Reigning champions Wigan have lost two of their opening three Super League games - as well as suffering World Club Challenge title defeat last weekend - while for Hull it was a first victory in the competition since June following 13 consecutive defeats.
It was confirmed in January that the golden-point rule would be introduced to Super League, having already been used in knockout games in English competitions.
Sneyd's match-winning drop-goal came three minutes into extra time - the game would have ended a draw had neither side scored after two additional five-minute periods.
Hull's Fijian winger Naulago finished the game with two tries, having only signed a permanent deal on Friday after being given a temporary release from active service in the army.
Meanwhile, 37-year-old former England forward Gareth Ellis impressed in his 25-minute stint for Lee Radford's side after coming out of retirement to play competitively for Hull for the first time since the end of the 2017 season.
Gildart scored the first try of the match for Wigan, with Liam Byrne going over on his debut before the break, though the home side had Taulima Tautai sin-binned for a high tackle just before the interval.
Wigan: Hardaker, Davies, Sarginson, Gildart, Marshall, Williams, Leuluai, Bullock, Powell, Flower, Greenwood, Isa, O'Loughlin.
Replacements: Tautai, Byrne, Hamlin, Sammut.
Hull: Shaul, Naulago, Griffin, Tuimavave, Faraimo, Connor, Sneyd, Paea, Houghton, Matongo, Minichiello, S Manu, Westerman.
Replacements: Ellis, Lane, Litten, Thompson.
Referee: B Thaler.
