Wigan are earning rave reviews for their try-scoring exploits in the Super League this season but ex-Melbourne prop Jeff Lima insists that it is their defence which has made the difference.
The 29-year-old, who played almost 100 NRL games with the Storm, has been a key part of the Warriors side that are the top points scorers in Super League with 374 from their first 11 games.
The current Challenge Cup holders and 2010 Super League winners made an inconsistent start to life under new head coach Shaun Wane this campaign.
But four victories on the bounce have pushed the Warriors up into second in the table ahead of their clash with fourth placed Hull on Sunday.
And Lima, who was rested for Wigan’s 98-6 Challenge Cup thumping of North Wales Crusaders last weekend, is adamant it is his side’s focus on the defence that has unlocked their attacking potential.
“We’ve been scoring a lot, but it’s not really been worked on, what we have focused on recently is shoring up our defence and stopping others from scoring,” Lima said.
“I think that has made a real difference, the hard work that goes in to the defence is paying off.
“We can’t stop working on that, there are some tough games coming up and Hull will be very difficult.
“They are a very different team to last year, they have a much better structure and a very good coach, so we’ll have to do our homework.”
A win against Hull would mean Wigan take top spot on the ladder – provided Huddersfield slip up against Bradford.
Meanwhile, fullback Luke Patten has announced this will be his final season with the Salford Reds before the 32-year-old retires from the game.
Patten, who won the 2004 NRL grand final with Canterbury, said his body made the decision to hang up his boots all too easy for him.
“The team has played better this year in patches and I have enjoyed that but I’m still not at where I want myself to be,” he explained.
“I’ve always got confidence from training hard, but these days it takes me all week to recover from a game so I can’t do that as well I want to.
“I don’t want to embarrass myself as the guy who had one season too many.”
