Wigan head into semi-finals having won every Super 8s game

Drew Darbyshire

Wigan became the first team in history to win every game in the Super 8s and they are now just 80 minutes away from Old Trafford.

The Warriors beat Hull FC 14-12 at the DW Stadium on Friday night in the final game of the Super 8s.

Wigan host Castleford Tigers in the semi-final play-offs next Friday as they aim to reach the 2018 Super League Grand Final, while Hull’s season has come to an end after losing their last 11 games.

Shaun Wane made two changes to his squad that beat Huddersfield Giants last week. Liam Farrell and Craig Mullen came in for Ollie Partington and Sam Tomkins.

Hull FC coach Lee Radford also made two changes to his side that lost to Catalans Dragons last time out. Dean Hadley and Jordan Lane were replaced by Jordan Abdull and Cameron Scott. Jake Connor made his 100th Super League appearance.

It was a very slow start to the game and it was Hull FC who drew first blood as Connor patted a Jordan Abdull kick back to Carlos Tuimavave who scored. Connor converted to give his side a 6-0 lead.

Hull FC extended their lead on the half hour mark as Jamie Shaul latched onto a reverse kick from Connor to glide over.

Wigan hit back though later in the half as Josh Woods sent Gabe Hamlin through a gap to dart over. Woods added the extras but they were 12-6 behind at half-time.

Taulima Tautai was placed on report shortly after the restart following a collision with Shaul.

The hosts were the better team in the second half and Dan Sarginson got on the scoresheet as he collected a George Williams kick to touch down.

Oliver Gildart put Wigan in the lead for the first time on the hour mark. The England Knights representative wriggled his way through a couple of Hull defenders to reach over.

Hull FC threw the ball about late on but Wigan held on for a 14-12 victory to complete their Super 8s campaign with a 100% winning streak, while Hull FC end it with a 100% losing streak.

Wigan: Escare; Manfredi, Gildart, Sarginson, Davies; Williams, Woods; Sutton, Powell, Navarrete, Bateman, Greenwood, Clubb. Subs: Hamlin, Farrell, Mullen, Tautai.

Hull FC: Shaul; Faraimo, Tuimavave, Scott, Talanoa; Abdull, Connor; Matongo, Houghton, Taylor, Washbrook, Griffin, Fash. Subs: Bienek, Litten, Miloudi, Paea.

Starman: There wasn’t a clear standout in the game but Jamie Shaul put in a solid display for the Black and Whites, coming up with a couple of crucial tackles and scoring a try.

Attendance: 11,189