Wigan’s nightmare 24 hours was completed as they went down 22-12 to arch rivals St Helens in the opening match of the 2019 Super League season.
The reigning champions under new coach Adrian Lam battled bravely to win back the two points they were deducted for a salary cap breach on Wednesday, but came up short against the Saints at Totally Wicked Stadium.
If St Helens fans were concerned over the departure of Ben Barba, his replacement Lachlan Coote quickly allayed their fears with an accomplished display on debut while fellow newcomers from the NRL in Kevin Naiqama and Joseph Paulo also caught the eye.
It took the former Wests Tigers’ Naiqama under two minutes to show his class as he went between new Wigan addition Zak Hardaker and Dan Sarginson for the first try of the season.
Saints doubled their lead when second-rower Dom Peyroux cut through the heart of the Wigan defence and Jonny Lomax was in support to grab their second.
Mark Percival converted both to make it 12-0 but the champions served notice that this would be no one-sided contest with prop Ben Flower charging over from close to the line and Hardaker converted to halve the deficit.
Five minutes before the interval, Wigan winger Liam Marshall intercepted a Coote pass meant for Naiqama and showed a clean pair of heels to race 85 metres for his side’s second try.
Hardaker’s second goal levelled the scores but nine minutes after the break, Welsh international winger Regan Grace restored Saints’ advantage.
It was a narrow lead which they defended with enthusiasm as Wigan, with Marshall particularly dangerous, pressed for the winner.
It took a trademark piece of opportunism from Saints skipper James Roby to finally see off the champions as he burrowed his way over for the match-sealing try seven minutes from the end.