Former Canterbury NRL back-rower Frank Winterstein scored the final try for Widnes to help seal a dramatic 37-36 victory over Wigan in the Super League on Sunday.
Winterstein, 25, couldn’t have picked a better moment to bag his first try for the Super League new boys as he touched down in the 63rd minute to put the finishing touches to Widnes’s first win back in the top flight.
Wigan appeared to be cruising to the top of the Super League after six converted tries gave them a 36-18 advantage after 46 minutes.
But the Vikings, who registered first-half scores from Paddy Flynn, Stefan Marsh and Shaun Briscoe, roared back, with the latter going over for his second and Lloyd White following suit.
Gareth O’Brien then converted Winterstein’s try before replacement White slotted a 70th-minute drop goal for Widnes’s maiden win.
Jermaine McGillvary and Joe Wardle both bagged doubles as Nathan Brown, the former St George Illawarra Dragons coach, watched his Huddersfield Giants down Wakefield 32-14.
McGillvary grabbed his brace in the first half, while Wardle’s tries came after the break with Larne Patrick and Kevin Brown also going over and Danny Brough kicking four goals.
Ben Cockayne impressed with a hat-trick for the Wildcats, Isaac John converting one of his scores, but it was never going to be enough as they fell to defeat.
The triumph for Widnes came a day after fellow early strugglers London Broncos also opened their account as David Howell bagged a double in the 42-16 win over Castleford.
The former Canberra Raiders centre scored the Broncos’ first and last tries, with former Australia international Craig Gower and compatriot Chris Bailey among the seven players to touch down.
Michael Witt slotted five goals, while Nick Youngquest’s 12th-minute score was one of just three tries the Tigers managed in response.
Elsewhere, Scott Dureau bagged a try and kicked four goals as Catalan Dragons bounced back from last weekend’s defeat against Wigan to see off Salford 40-18.
Bradford Bulls beat Hull KR 36-24 on the road, with Jason Crookes’s hat-trick making him the man of the match as four Hull KR tries — including one from Tonga international Mickey Paea — proved in vain.
Meanwhile, Danny McGuire, Zak Hardaker, Kallum Watkins and Liam Hood all crossed as reigning champions Leeds beat Warrington 26-18.
Wade McKinnon bagged two tries as Hull FC sent St Helens, last year’s Grand Final runners-up, crashing to a third successive defeat.
Hull ran out 22-10 winners as Jordan Turner also scored and Danny Tickle kicked five goals, while St Helens hit back with tries from Ade Gardner and Tony Puletua.
