Noah Hodkinson hat-trick ends Wigan Warriors' four-match losing streak

Noah Hodkinson scored a hat-trick as Wigan Warriors ended a four-match losing streak with a comfortable Super League win over struggling Bradford Bulls. The 20-year-old winger added to two tries from Jai Field and others from Zach Eckersley and Brad O'Neill as Wigan dominated to remain in the play-off places. Bradford have been badly hit by multiple injury problems, and had shipped 100 points in their previous two games, against Hull KR and Wakefield Trinity. George Marsden, making his debut in the halves at the age of 17, was behind much of Wigan's best work, while Zac Fulton and Ethan Ryan (2) replied for Bulls. Wigan had responded to their latest injury issues by including Hodkinson for Liam Marshall, out for three months with a hamstring problem, while Marsden formed a half-back pairing with 20-year-old Jack Farrimond which was their youngest since Shaun Edwards and Mike Ford first teamed up 41 years ago. Marsden made an instant impact, lifting a high ball which created chaos in the Bulls' ranks and led to Eckersley's try, courtesy of a looping pass over the top from O'Neill. Field supported Adam Keighran's break to add another and when Bulls winger Greg Eden missed with an interception attempt, Jake Wardle was free to range down the left flank and feed Hodkinson for his first. Hodkinson then teed up Field for another, before the beleaguered Bulls finally posed a threat and Fulton went over to get them on the scoreboard. Patrick Mago drew in four defenders and released O'Neill to restore the 20-point gap at half-time, and Hodkinson was first to Farrimond's neat kick to claim the first try of the second half. With the game won, Wigan eased off but Bulls continued to fight hard and Ryan grabbed two tries either side of Hodkinson's hat-trick finish.