'Togetherness' - Ollie Partington reveals Wigan Warriors' mindset behind strong run of results

Ollie Partington insists Wigan Warriors are still searching for improvement despite their strong run of form as Super League enters the business end of the season.

The Warriors have won 14 of their last 15 matches in all competitions, with Saturday’s 48-18 victory over Toulouse Olympique moving them into second place in the Super League table.

Wigan are now two points clear of third-placed Wakefield Trinity and two behind leaders Leeds Rhinos with five rounds of the regular season remaining.

But Partington believes there is still more to come from Matt Peet’s side as they prepare for a tough run-in.

“We’ve probably not put a perfect performance together yet, so we’re looking forward to some big games coming up,” Partington told Wigan Today.

“We’ve got Bradford away and then into KR and Leeds, so we’ve got some big games coming up, and I think we’re ready for them.

“We’re finding different ways to win, so it’s an exciting challenge ahead, and we’re looking forward to the play-off race.”

Wigan had to respond from a difficult first half against Toulouse, with the visitors scoring three tries before the break to leave the Warriors 24-18 ahead at half-time.

Partington said the half-time message was to tighten up defensively and improve their discipline, with Wigan subsequently keeping Toulouse scoreless in the second half.

“It was just about our defence really, get our defence right and then we’ll score the points on the back of it and just some effort areas and all the stuff that makes a Wigan performance, so that was the focus going out,” he said.

“I thought the attack was okay in the first half, so it was more of the same and then tidy up our D and our discipline.”

The 27-year-old forward was pleased with the way Wigan adapted after coming into the Toulouse game on the back of several big fixtures.

“They’re a tricky team to play against,” Partington continued. “Obviously we’ve come off the back of a few big games now and this has been one against a different team and a different type of game.

“Probably in the first half they had the better of us, but credit to us, we fixed it up with what Matt said at half-time and what the leaders said, and we got the job done in the end.”

Despite their position near the top of the table, Partington says Wigan’s focus remains on continuing to improve in every area.

“Every aspect, I think,” Partington said when asked what Wigan are looking to improve on. “Our togetherness is really what is getting us wins now and just more of the same really, keep working on our attack, keep working on our defence and our togetherness, and I think we’ll be good.”

Wigan now turn their attention to Saturday’s trip to Bradford Bulls before facing further tests against Wakefield, Hull KR and Leeds as the race for a top-two spot heats up.