Bevan has the role of Wigan extending the record and destroying Warrington’s Challenge Cup final dream

Many expected Sam Walters to be brought into the team in the second row, but he had to cope with the duties of the 18th man. When Cooper was booked after just two minutes, Peet must have feared he had made a mistake. The former Warrington striker hit Josh Thewlis with a swinging arm and could have few complaints with Chris Kendall’s decision.

But just 60 seconds later, Wolves were down to 12 men. Australian defender Matt Dufty collared Liam Marshall up top, prompting a melee near the touchline. Television cameras filmed Peet in the trainer’s box, which was also visibly incandescent. Kendall brandished his yellow card again but once things settled down it was Warrington who took the lead in the 11th minute through Thewlis’ penalty.

That was about all they managed in an error-filled innings. Wigan were off the mark when Zach Eckersley latched on to Bevan French’s flick-on in the 17th minute. The 20-year-old academy product was only playing because Australian center Adam Keighran was also suspended earlier in the week with Dupree . Indeed, it was only his fifth appearance for the club, but what a way to score.

Harry Smith improved and when Matty Ashton spilled his high shot, Wigan were in again on 23 minutes. Slick stand-off French was too elusive for the Warrington defense from a scrum 10m out, easily stepping inside the onrushing Toby King to accelerate. Smith converted again and a catalog of mistakes from Wolves saw them out of the game.

Lachlan Fitzgibbon fumbled, Dufty vomited playing the ball, Nicholson gave up trying an offload and even England captain George Williams went into touch near his own line. French almost scored again after that latest error, stretching from the scrum, but video referee Liam Moore ruled the 28-year-old was out of control. It was a huge setback for Burgess’s team. But they didn’t make the most of it. They improved slightly in the second half but never enough to really trouble Wigan.

Williams presented Ashton with a half-chance in the 43rd minute, but Eckersley and French managed to deny the England winger. Their last tackle options were poor and Peet’s side never had to go through the gears. It meant that when Jai Field, the loose-footed Aussie full-back who unnerved Warrington every time he took possession, slipped Liam Farrell through a goal in the 57th minute, it was all but over.

The Wigan second-row, who turns 34 next month and won his first final in 2011, darted across and had the confidence to step into Dufty’s weak tackle attempt to score. Smith added the last of his three field goals for an 18-2 lead his team never seemed to relinquish. Warrington put some passing together to see Dufty cut in on 63 minutes, Thewlis converting.

But they struggled after that and could have no arguments.