Betfred Super League
Wakefield (6) 10
Tries: Storton, Johnstone Goals: Jowitt
Wigan (20) 48
Tries: Farrell 2, Hodkinson 4, Partington, Wardle, Eckersley Goals: Keighran 6
Noah Hodkinson continued his red-hot form with four tries as Wigan Warriors delivered a masterclass to thump Wakefield Trinity 48-10 and go fourth in the Super League table.
The 20-year-old winger made it nine tries in six games with a standout display for Matt Peet’s side on a night when everything went right.
In addition to Hodkinson’s dazzling finishing, Wigan were at their irresistible best all over the field with Jai Field, Brad O’Neill, Adam Keighran, Junior Nsemba and Jack Farrimond impressing.
As well as Hodkinson’s second hat-trick of the season, there were tries for Ollie Partington, Jake Wardle and Zach Eckersley and six conversions from nine for Keighran.
There was also a 150th try in Wigan colours for Liam Farrell, who went over twice, and another 25-minute cameo for Bevan French as he continued to ease back from three months out injured.
Just two weeks after Wigan routed Hull KR in the Challenge Cup final at Wembley, here was another display to be noted with interest by the rest of Super League.
As the halfway mark of the season is reached, no team is in warmer form than the Cherry and Whites.
It should be noted, too, that they registered this win against a side unbeaten at home in five, sitting in third before kick-off, and fresh from a win over Hull KR last weekend.
Trinity coach Daryl Powell might point to the fact that they were missing key players, including Mason Lino and Corey Hall, through injury, the latter for up to six weeks, and Jazz Tevaga suspended.
But even so, his side had no answers to the question posed by the visitors.
If the more youthful Hodkinson took the honours, it was veteran Farrell who got the ball rolling as he finished off a brilliant move by the visitors five minutes into the match after Zach Eckersley and Adam Keighran combined to keep the ball alive hard up against the sideline.
It was a 150th try for Farrell on his 426th appearance.
Wakefield initially responded through Matty Storton as he barged his way over from five metres out, but from there on, until Tom Johnstone’s consolation with 15 minutes to go, it was one-way traffic.
Dotted in between Hodkinson’s four were tries from Partington, Wardle and Eckersley, with Farrell ensuring Wigan finished on the front foot three minutes from time.
Wakefield: Jowitt; Johnstone, Nikotemo, Scott, Myers; Trueman, Sinfield; McMeeken, Smoothy, Rodwell, Storton, Vagana, Pitts.
Interchanges: Hamlin-Uele, Faatili, Lolesio, Tate.
Wigan: Field; Eckersley, Keighran, Wardle, Hodkinson; Farrimond, Smith; Havard, O’Neill, Thompson, Nsemba, Farrell, Partington.
Interchanges: French, Ellis, Mago, Eseh.
Referee: Marcus Griffiths.