Wigan end losing streak by beating Bradford

Betfred Super League

Wigan (26) 38

Tries:Eckersley, Field 2, Hodkinson 3, O'Neill Goals:Keighran 4, Farrimond

Bradford (6) 14

Tries:Fulton, Ryan 2 Goal:Atkin

Noah Hodkinson scored a hat-trick as Wigan Warriors ended a four-match losing streak with a comfortable Super League win over struggling Bradford Bulls.

The 20-year-old winger added to two tries from Jai Field and others from Zach Eckersley and Brad O'Neill as Wigan dominated to remain in the play-off places.

Bradford have been badly hit by multiple injury problems, and had shipped 100 points in their previous two games, against Hull KR and Wakefield Trinity.

George Marsden, making his debut in the halves at the age of 17, was behind much of Wigan's best work, while Zac Fulton and Ethan Ryan (2) replied for Bulls.

Wigan had responded to their latest injury issues by including Hodkinson for Liam Marshall, out for three months with a hamstring problem, while Marsden formed a half-back pairing with 20-year-old Jack Farrimond which was their youngest since Shaun Edwards and Mike Ford first teamed up 41 years ago.

Marsden made an instant impact, lifting a high ball which created chaos in the Bulls' ranks and led to Eckersley's try, courtesy of a looping pass over the top from O'Neill.

Field supported Adam Keighran's break to add another and when Bulls winger Greg Eden missed with an interception attempt, Jake Wardle was free to range down the left flank and feed Hodkinson for his first.

Hodkinson then teed up Field for another, before the beleaguered Bulls finally posed a threat and Fulton went over to get them on the scoreboard.

Patrick Mago drew in four defenders and released O'Neill to restore the 20-point gap at half-time, and Hodkinson was first to Farrimond's neat kick to claim the first try of the second half.

With the game won, Wigan eased off but Bulls continued to fight hard and Ryan grabbed two tries either side of Hodkinson's hat-trick finish.

'Certainly beats losing' - Peet reaction

Wigan coach Matt Peet told BBC Radio Manchester:

"It certainly beats losing! It was nice to get two points and keep tabs on the Super League table. It's not the be-all and end-all but you don't want to be drifting too far away.

"The performance was decent in large parts. The second half lacked a bit of intensity but credit to Bradford, they do continue to throw a bit at you.

[On debutants] "I was trying to get people back in their natural positions a bit. It meant hanging our hat on a very, very young, part-time half-back so we decided to go in that direction and young George [Marsden] delivered.

"We've lacked a bit of flow and cohesion for a while and I take responsibility for that, so maybe I've learnt a little bit there."

Wigan:Field; Eckersley, Keighran, Wardle, Hodkinson; Farrimond, Marsden; Havard, O'Neill, Thompson, Nsemba, Farrell, Partington.

Interchanges: Ellis, Mago, Eseh, Cartwright.

Bradford:Aekins; Eden, Chamberlain, Armitage, Ryan; Atkin, McNamara; Douglas, Souter, Lewis, Russell, Fulton, Gardiner.

Interchanges: Ackers, Hallas, Gill, Peposhi.

Referee:Aaron Moore.