The Big One 2, the battle of the top two lived up to its top billing as Wigan and Warrington served up a thriller at the DW Stadium in front of 22,701 spectators on Friday night.
A great effort but it was the visitors who grabbed the win by 16-23 to narrow the gap at the top of the table to just two points.
Michael Maguire's men started the brighter and dominated the early exchanges crossing for a Riddell try. Warrington hit back through Hicks and Myler to take a narrow 6-10 half time lead. An Atkins try increased the visitors advantage before Wigan stormed back with touchdowns from Tuson and Richards. But it was Tony Smith's men with their fourth try of the night through Westwood who edged ahead to hold on. A late Briers drop goal sealed it for the Wolves.
Wigan selected the same seventeen that defeated Salford last week but made a couple of positional changes, Roberts to full back and Sam Tomkins to stand off. Harrison Hansen moved off the bench with Chris Tuson swapping places. Andy Coley missed out as he completed his two game suspension.
The Wolves with the exception of Chris Bridge were at full strength with Lee Briers returning at stand off. Paul Wood who picked up an injury last week against Castleford passed a fitness test.
A huge game and it was Wigan who settled better in the big match atmosphere. In fact for the first 20 minutes it was all Wigan.
A big hit from Paul Prescott on Adrian Morley straight from the kick off saw the visitors spill possession in the first set of the game and that set the standard for what was to follow. Soon after Carvell was penalised for a challenge on Sam Tomkins and Richards hit over a 2nd minute penalty, 2-0.
Warrington spilled the ball again on five minutes, this time the Warriors were unable to capitalise.
Wigan were denied the games opening try on 8 minutes, a Sam Tomkins kick out wide was taken by Richards who looked to score, denied by the video referee for not grounding. Within seconds Warrington had lost possession again and a quick play the ball and dummy from Mark Riddell after O'Loughlin had been tackled and the hooker found a gap and dived over. Richards missed the conversion, 6-0.
On 12 minutes Louis Anderson was penalised for a late challenge on Leuluai but as Wigan pressed they were caught offside and this time the Wolves had survived.
On 15 minutes Wigan thought they may have scored their second try from a loose ball but referee Silverwood said Wigan had knocked the ball on before Richards had gathered.
Wigan continued to press; a quarter of the game gone and the Wolves hadn't had possession once inside the Wigan half. It was 24 minutes before the Wolves were able to threaten and they grabbed a try after winning a goal line drop out. The Wolves keeping the ball alive and King sending Hicks in at the right hand corner. Westwood missed a difficult goal, 6-4.
On 30 minutes, Warrington grabbed the lead for the first time, a brilliant Briers kick to the try line and Richie Myler reacted to dive over, the kick weighted just ahead of Wigan full back Amos Roberts. Westwood added the goal, 6-10.
On 35 minutes the Wolves came close again, another Briers kick, Myler thought he touched the ball, the replay showed not. Within a minute it was the same move, again a video referee decision but this time from the grubber kick Myler knocked on. The hooter sounded after a rough, tough, brutal 40 minutes with a narrow advantage to the Wolves.
Within four minutes of the re-start Warrington edged further ahead, Riley doing well in limited space to kick on and Atkins gathered and twisted to dive over, that after Martin Gleeson had lost the ball in a big tackle. The try was converted by Westwood, 6-16.
Wigan needed the next try and they got it, a great pass by Sam Tomkins under pressure found Chris Tuson who did well to shake off the tackles for Wigan's second try of the night on 49 minutes. Richards added the goal, 12-16.
Wigan lost the services of Lee Mossop on 59 with a hand injury. The Wolves thought they had scored but a forward pass from King to Hicks saw the move brought back by the referee.
Wigan drew level just after the hour mark, with an interception try from inside in own half from Pat Richards. Hicks tried to catch from the other wing but Richards had the pace to score his 23rd try of the season in the corner. Richards couldn't add the goal, the game level at 16 all.
A mistake by Mathers almost let Wigan in on 65 minutes, under pressure from Joel Tomkins from a kick through, he spilled the ball, Liam Farrell looked to take advantage but couldn't get the vital touch.
Warrington were not yet done and a Myler pass sent Ben Westwood through a gap to score under the post on 70 minutes. Westwood added the goal, 16-22.
With four minutes left a Briers drop goal made it 16-23 and a vital seven point gap for the Wolves.
Wigan looked for a try but were denied as Carmont had his foot in touch.
So it was Warrington who held on for the win, disappointment for the home fans in what was an end to end thriller.