• Wigan 16-10 Warrington• Wolves captain sent off for high tackle on Sam Powell
It was never likely to be dull, was it? Following an off-season that has produced high-profile arrivals, Royal involvement with the Rugby League
World Cup and the Israel Folau controversy in the hours leading into the big kick-off, Wigan and Warrington probably had some unwanted pressure to deliver a blockbuster opener to the season here. They did not fail to deliver.
Wigan were made to work for the win against a Warrington side that showed the kind of resilience that could take them a long way over the next eight months. For almost an hour, they were without their captain, Chris Hill, following a tackle that could lead to him have an extended pre-season in the coming weeks.