Sam Burgess faced a tough challenge as his Warrington Wolves were soundly defeated 42-16 by the Wigan Warriors in the opening match of a rugby league quadruple-header at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Burgess, a South Sydney icon, had arrived in Las Vegas late after being unable to travel with his team the previous Sunday due to visa complications linked to past traffic offences in 2021.
The Wolves initially showed promise in the first 20 minutes of the game but quickly fell behind as Wigan dominated, scoring seven unanswered tries. Warrington’s hopes were dashed early on when their potential first try was disallowed due to a contentious ruling on a tackle prior to the score. Toby King’s effort was overturned after it was determined that the ball had already been deemed down before he could score.
Wigan initially had a try ruled out as well but soon found their rhythm, with Tyler Dupree, Abbas Miski, Bevan French, and Harry Smith all scoring tries to establish a commanding 24-0 lead by halftime. Commentators pointed out that if Warrington had managed to score early, the outcome might have been different, but they struggled to convert early opportunities, and Wigan’s final score just before the break proved to be a significant blow to their morale.
The second half saw Wigan maintain their momentum, scoring three quick tries to further extend their lead. Commentators described Wigan’s performance as compelling and fitting for a spectacular setting like Las Vegas. Although Warrington managed to reduce the deficit late in the game, even scoring three tries in succession, their efforts were not enough to change the outcome. The match concluded with a consolation try for Warrington’s Matty Ashton just before the full-time siren, sealing a challenging day for Burgess and his team.