Saturday 9 July 2016 09:09, UK
Wigan coach Shaun Wane hailed his team's "unbreakable spirit" as they secured a last-gasp win over Wakefield on Friday.
The Warriors, who had both Dom Manfredi and Josh Charnley sin-binned and skipper Sean O'Loughlin sent off in the first half, looked like losing back-to-back Super League home games as they trailed 18-16 with seconds remaining.
But a try on the hooter from Lewis Tierney, his second of the night, saw Wigan snatch a 22-18 victory from the jaws of defeat, and Wane insists he always had confidence in his team.
"I'm very proud of our effort and desire," said Wane. "To be as busted as we are and having to hand two debuts out along with some decisions going against us, so to get that win and show the desire we showed, I cannot put in to words how proud I am.
"To come up with that win was extra, extra special. It's a very proud victory, not for the club, but mainly for a junior department."
Wane revealed he did let his emotions get the better of him when Tierney went over to seal the win.
"Me and Rads [Kris Radlinski, rugby director] hugged like we have never hugged before," he added.
"It was the strangest thing you have ever seen, but it meant a lot to him and to me. To come out with a win like that was one of the sweetest victories ever.
"We just have that unbreakable spirit and never say die attitude. Even when Sam [Tomkins] lost the ball in that next to last set, I still thought we could pull something out of it."
Wane revealed Frank-Paul Nuuausala could make his debut against Leeds next Friday.
Wakefield head coach Chris Chester admitted that defeat was hard to take and felt his side deserved at least a point from the game.
The former Wigan second row forward was proud of his team's effort, but is well aware that the game is played for 80 minutes and not 79.
"There is a lot of disappointed players in the dressing room," said Chester. "It's heartbreaking to lose in that fashion but Wigan were very clinical. I know they had a lot of kids out there, but they brought plenty of energy and enthusiasm and fair play to Wigan for that.
"I thought we deserved something out of the game. I thought for large parts we had the game in control, it just shows you can't afford to switch off. It's an 80-minute game and unfortunately we only played for 79 and Wigan scored that try at the end."
Chester revealed that Chris Annakin was unable to return to the field after suffering concussion from the challenge that saw O'Loughlin sent off.
"He's not great. He couldn't come back on, he was out cold," he added. "It wasn't a great challenge in all honesty, but we will let the match review people look after that."
