Wigan Warriors 30 Hull KR 16: Five things we learned

Liam Farrell was one player who emerged with his reputation enhanced

1. It was patchy and scratchy and for Adrian Lam, it didn't matter one bit.

This, he warned, would be a test of their resilience and Wigan passed with flying colours to claim their fifth win in six matches.

The Warriors were patchy and scratchy in a stop-start game, which happens over a long season. What's important is they finished with two points to move clear at the top of the Super League ladder.

What happened to Wigan being slow starters?

2. To the game, and it was much more competitive than many expected.

Two Jackson Hastings tries, sandwiching a Liam Farrell effort, gave the Warriors an 18-12 half-time lead but that was cut to four points early in the second-half.

In doing so, KR became the first team to score three tries against Wigan this season; frustratingly, two were handed on a platter from the hosts' errors.

It needed tries by Sam Powell and Liam Marshall to make the game safe though, in truth, they never really looked in real danger of losing. Zak Hardaker's five goals from as many attempts helped keep them in control.

3. Lam called it an "ugly game" but there were moments of real beauty - not least Bevan French's piercing break for Hastings' second.

The Australian full-back showed Shaun Kenny-Dowall a dummy to break clear, turned on the after-burners and then weaved through the covering defence before finding his half-back in support.

It wasn't the type of game for a player to enhance his reputation, but Hastings, Powell and Farrell - as well as young prop Ethan Havard - all emerged with real credit.

4. Was Ben Flower's comeback short lived?

The Welsh prop came off the bench for his first appearance since September, having overcome a back injury.

But within minutes he was placed on report for joining a tackle on Matt Storton which saw him limp off with an ankle injury.

"It's not my job to judge," said KR coach Tony Smith. "But I'm sure those who do, will take a look at it."

Counterpart Lam said he hadn't reviewed the first-half incident but had his "fingers crossed" he would not be charged by the RFL's match review panel, which will view the incident tomorrow (Monday). Lam reported no fresh injury concerns.

5. Finally, a word on Hull KR.

They may be struggling at the bottom with only one win so far but if points were awarded for character, they'd be pushing for the play-offs spots.

They were competitive throughout, they offloaded well, they threatened through Shaun Kenny-Dowall and battled on even when they lost three players through injury.

Maintain this type of spirit and polish up their attack, and they should move away from relegation trouble.