Wigan start with hard-fought win at Castleford

Betfred Super League

Castleford (6) 10

Tries: Hood, Ravalawa, Lawler Goals: Weaver 2

Wigan (10) 26

Wigan Warriors began their bid to regain the Super League title with a hard-fought success at Castleford Tigers.

After an opening weekend in which champions Hull KR, Leeds Rhinos and St Helens all lost, 2024 winners Wigan overcame spirited opponents at the One Bore Stadium.

Castleford scored first through Liam Hood’s try, but a burst of three tries in nine minutes either side of half-time swung the match in the visitors’ favour as Liam Marshall, Bevan French and Zack Eckersley all crossed.

Wigan won everything in 2024 as they collected an unprecedented quadruple, but had to watch last year as Hull KR were the team to beat and the Warriors were trophyless.

But head coach Matt Peet has resisted any urge to make major changes, with the side that started here containing no newcomers and full of the names synonymous with their back-to-back Super League titles.

In contrast, it has been all change over the winter for Castleford after their 11th-placed finish last year.

New Australian head coach Ryan Carr has taken over and there were eight debutants in the starting line-up – the Tigers have been shaken up under new owner Martin Jepson.

And it was one of those newcomers, Hood, who scored the first try, as the hooker went over from dummy half.

The home side withstood some serious pressure close to their line but defended with real intent until Marshall was given space near the corner and went over for his 148th Super League try.

And a turn of speed from French and a nice exchange of passes with Eckersley allowed the star half-back to put his team in front for the first time.

That duo reversed roles straight after the break, when winger Eckersley followed on from four tries in the Challenge Cup last week here.

Nice hands from Adam Keighran put Eckersley in for his second, while Wardle’s excellent line and burst of speed took him over.

But the Tigers were rewarded late on for a committed first outing under their new head coach as Ravalawa grabbed a debut score and Lawler went over with the final play, either side of Keighran being sin-binned for late head contact.

Castleford Tigers head coach Ryan Carr told BBC Radio Leeds:

“We made it too hard on ourselves. If we got some other moments right, and didn’t make the game of footy so hard on ourselves, the scoreline would have been much closer coming into the last 20.

“We were playing against good opponents in Wigan. They’ve been together a long time, they’re well drilled and they know what they’re doing.

“We knew we were in for a fight, but we were definitely up for it. We just didn’t manage the game well at certain times.”

Wigan Warriors head coach Matt Peet told BBC Radio Manchester:

“I’m pleased with the result, pleased with the performance, but there’s room for improvement.

“It was probably just about right – I would have accepted that on the way over in terms of my thoughts on it.

Castleford: Taaffe; Rawalawa, McIntosh, Mapapalangi, Qareqare; Asi, Weaver; Atoni, Hood, Lawler, Lane, Mellor, Stimson.

Interchanges: Singleton, Westerman, Atkin, Hall

Wigan: Field; Eckersley, Keighran, Wardle, Marshall; French, Smith; Walters, O’Neill, Thompson, Nsemba, Farrell, Ellis.

Interchanges: Havard, Mago, Partington, Farrimond.

Sin-bin: Keighran (71)