Brian Noble: Derby thrashing due to “emotional fallout” from Challenge Cup semi-final defeat

Aug 6 2007 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

WIGAN coach Brian Noble claimed the “emotional fallout” from last week’s Challenge Cup semi-final defeat contributed to yesterday’s 43-24 derby thrashing by Warrington.

As in their cup mauling by Catalans Dragons, Warriors were sluggish in the opening stages and went into half-time 25-6 down.

Noble admitted they were having a problem getting out of the blocks.

“Full credit to Warrington, they showed some great touches,” he said. “Our start is proving a bit of a problem, and maybe there is some emotional fallout.

“Last week was very tough and we promised ourselves no excuses. But in the first half we could not get past plays one or two. We were more positive in the second half but did not help ourselves overall and gave away a lot of field position.

“The effort is there but it has been a pretty terrible two weeks.

“We are licking our wounds but have to roll our sleeves up and come through on the other side.”

The Wolves, with skipper Lee Briers masterminding the show, maintained their march up the Super League table.

Briers notched a try, helped set up several others and booted seven goals from seven attempts plus a drop goal.

Stuart Reardon, Kevin Penny, Brent Grose, Jon Clarke, Henry Fa’afili and Chris Bridge also crossed for the rampant Wolves.

Replies from Liam Colbon, Thomas Leuluai and Darrell Goulding (two) were in vain for Wigan

Warrington boss Paul Cullen said: “We’ve had to work hard and chase the pack to climb to fourth and received our reward.

“It’s been very hard to get into the top four but it’ll be harder to stay there.

“We knew Thomas Leuluai and Trent Barrett were outstanding players and Iefeta Paleaaesina would take some holding, and if we had lost our focus they would have done some damage.

“But we put Wigan under pressure with some great defence.”

Cullen added: “Adrian Morley and Ben Westwood both played the full 80 minutes and Ben can push himself through to the highest level.

“The only blow was Rob Parker, who has gone straight to hospital with what looks to be a quite serious facial injury.”

Warrington swept to their fourth win in a row against a Wigan side without winger Mark Calderwood, who was dropped.

Noble recalled Chris Ashton with Pat Richards reverting from full back to wing as Wigan desperately sought a much-needed victory after their recent troubles. It never looked like materialising.

A four-point salary cap deduction and Maurice Lindsay’s decision to quit at the end of the season has been followed by owner Dave Whelan revealing he is ready to sell Wigan.

Warrington were missing Chris Leikvoll, Paul Johnson and Vinnie Anderson but still had too much power for Wigan.

The Wolves took only three minutes to go ahead with smart passing from Chris Bridge, Briers, Brent Grose and Martin Gleeson putting Stuart Reardon over in the corner.

Then wing sensation Kevin Penny lit up the stadium taking Jon Clarke’s pass to race 40 yards and round Ashton with little room to manoeuvre and bag his 10th try in only eight starts.

Mistakes by Ashton and skipper Sean O’Loughlin had proved costly for the first two tries but Wigan threatened a recovery when Phil Bailey and Ashton combined for Liam Colbon to go over after 11 minutes and cut the gap to 12-6.

Then Briers forced his way over from dummy half and booted his third conversion.

Wigan were on the rack and their plight worsened when Brent Grose took Martin Gleeson’s pass straight from a scrum to scorch through a gap and make it 24-6.

Wigan switched Ashton to the wing with Richards reverting to full back with Warrington on fire.

It would have been worse for Wigan had Penny and Henry Fa’afili both tried to score from Briers kick and the chance was lost.

Fa’afili then inexplicably dropped the ball over the line after being put through by Bridge.

Gaz Hock was denied a Wigan try by a forward pass from Bridge before Warrington blew a third touchdown when Briers spoiled an electrifying burst by failing to pass to the supporting Martin Gleeson.

A Briers drop goal gave Warrington the commanding interval advantage.

Wigan needed an early score in the second half and Thomas Leuluai obliged, taking Iafeta Paleaaesina’s pass to sidestep Grose and go over under the posts with Richards adding the goal.

Warrington missed a fourth try when Penny should have gone himself but passed inside to Henry Fa’afili. Penny took the return ball but was then knocked into touch.

Harrison Hansen saved a Bridge try with a superb tackle after more Briers magic.

Stuart Fielden can consider himself harshly dealt with for his 56th-minute sin-binning for a challenge on Briers whose pass to Clarke extended the lead to 31-12.

Darrell Goulding went over for Wigan but Warrington soon responded through Fa’afili and Bridge to wrap up an emphatic victory.

Goulding added outclassed Wigan’s final try in stoppage time.