Wigan Warriors 26 Hull FC 12

Manfredi hadn't played a senior game since last April - when he suffered his third serious knee injury within four years.

But he looked sharp and strong on his comeback and marked the occasion by collecting a cut-out Bevan French pass to dive over five minutes into the second-half.

It was the major highlight of a bitterly cold afternoon as Adrian Lam's outfit claimed their third win in four matches to draw level with Huddersfield and Castleford at the summit of the embryonic Super League ladder.

Wigan limited their opponents to two tries and in a strong, composed team display, French, Liam Farrell and Ollie Partington all impressed.

Manfredi returned to the right wing spot, shifting Liam Marshall to the left which saw Joe Burgess squeezed out of the frame. Sean O'Loughlin missed out with an eye injury but Sam Powell returned from a head knock suffered in the opener last month.

There was little between these sides last year - both contests were settled by a drop-goal - and by half-time, Wigan held only a 10-8 advantage.

Livewire Australian French, who has sparkled in the opening rounds, both scored the Warriors' try and later handed Hull FC theirs, with all the other first-half points coming from goals.

Both sides finished the first-half with 12-men after Josh Griffin and Farrell were sinbinned for their roles in a melee which will be viewed by the RFL's match review panel.

Wigan fired out of the blocks, Jackson Hastings sending Farrell bursting through a gap and he sent French angling under the sticks. Zak Hardaker's goal made it 6-0 after three minutes.

Manfredi went close in the corner before Hull had even had the ball and when the visitors did get possession, they threatened through Jake Connor - one of several stars hoping to impress new England coach Shaun Wane, who watched the action from the directors' box.

French forced a repeat set with a scorching break and from that position, Hardaker's penalty opened up an eight point gap.

But it was far from all one-way traffic, and FC had spells pressuring the home line before they were handed their breakthrough moment.

Cruelly, it was the eye-catching French who threw a loose pass, which was intercepted by Griffin who then sent Adam Swift racing away.

Marc Sneyd tagged on the conversion and a penalty on the half-hour locked the scores.

It was a bruising, intense half and it boiled over just before the break when Farell took offence to Danny Houghton from preventing him play the ball, shoved the hooker - and sparked a 26-man melee.

Once it had calmed down, Griffin and Farrell were yellow-carded and Wigan were awarded the penalty, allowing Hardaker to nudge them into a two-point lead.

Like the first-half, the hosts started the second fast and crisp. French's cutout pass sent Manfredi diving over and a break from Marshall - who impressed throughout - provided the position for Hastings to muscle over for his first try in the Cherry and White.

Hardaker added one conversion to make it 20-8 and in the 67th minute, Harry Smith - fresh on from the bench - carved out a try with his first touch.

The young halfback kicked the ball on and chased and, when Swift fumbled the clearance, Willie Isa was on hand to touch down. Hardaker's goal secured the result.

But there was still time for FC to reduce the deficit as Griffin powered beyond centre Hardaker from a scrum-base move to cut the gap to 14 points - and deny Wigan top spot.

They have a top-of-the-table showdown at Huddersfield in their next match, next Sunday.

Wigan: French; Manfredi, Hardaker, Bibby, Marshall; Leuluai, Hastings; Clubb, Powell, Partington, Isa, Farrell, Smithies. Subs: Bullock, Byrne, Clark, Smith.

Hull FC: Shaul; Swift, Griffin, Fonua, Faraimo; Connor, Sneyd; Taylor, Houghton, Sao, Lane, Jones, Fash. Subs: Ellis, Matongo, Bowden, Johhstone.

Referee: Robert Hicks

Half-time: 10-8

Attendance: 12,005