Rugby League: Sam Tomkins’s drop goal sends Wigan past Warrington in Challenge Cup

It was almost inevitable Sam Tomkins would have the decisive say on the day his nine-month injury nightmare came to an end. The England full-back has made a habit of producing big plays at big moments – even if the past 18 months since his return to Super League have been somewhat frustrating.

Tomkins will undoubtedly take some time to get up to full speed following the troublesome foot injury that has robbed him of almost a year of his career but when the ball came to him in the 73rd minute of this engrossing and dramatic Challenge Cup tie, there was never any doubt as to what would happen next.

His drop goal opened up a seven-point lead for the Warriors which, with such little time remaining, felt like it would be enough to ensure progression into the semi-finals. While that did indeed transpire to be the case, it was not before a quite astonishing finale when Warrington, having not led, almost snatched a sixth successive last-four appearance at the death.

Kurt Gidley’s try and the subsequent conversion reduced the deficit to one point and Joe Burgess’s kick-off sailed out on the full, allowing Stefan Ratchford the opportunity to put Warrington ahead with seconds remaining. He narrowly missed, Wigan had to drop out and at the end of the final, frantic set of six that followed Declan Patton skewed an opportunity to send the game into extra-time with a drop goal of his own. Wigan thus advanced to Sunday’s semi-final draw and closer to a first Wembley appearance in four years.

READ MORE: Ireland cruise to Japan win

READ MORE: Scotland win thriller against Australia in Sydney

“[I felt like] running on the pitch and punching him,” said the Wigan coach, Shaun Wane, when asked about his thought process when Burgess almost cost his side victory.

Some had suggested the loser’s season would be over with defeat here given their lowly positions in Super League but that is far from the case for Warrington. Currently sitting 10th and four points adrift of the top eight, it looks increasingly likely their season will not peter out; instead, they will be involved in a battle against relegation in the Qualifiers as their only realistic remaining chance of silverware came to an end here.

“I’m sure it was a fantastic game for the neutral and there wasn’t too much between us,” said the Warrington coach, Tony Smith. “There was a lot of fight, effort, character and spirit from my boys. They were out there swinging until the very end.”

Wigan led 18-12 at the break thanks to tries from Liam Marshall and Burgess, before a penalty from George Williams extended the Warriors’ lead to eight points heading into the final quarter. John Bateman’s try, Williams’s conversion and Tomkins’s decisive play appeared to have done enough for Wigan fans to relax but the drama really began in the final moments as the reigning Super League champions held on – but only just.