Super League: Castleford Tigers 4-32 Wigan Warriors - Reigning champions begin with hard-earned win

Reigning Super League champions Wigan Warriors kicked off their 2024 campaign with victory against a battling 12-man Castleford Tigers.

Patrick Mago crossed first after Cas were reduced to 12 when Liam Watts saw red for his tackle on Tyler Dupree.

Bevan French and Liam Marshall added to the lead either side of the break, while Kruise Leeming marked his debut with a kick-and-chase try.

Marshall added his second late on to round off the Cherry and Whites' win.

In the first half at The Jungle, with rain cascading down, Wigan were first to be depleted when Harry Smith was sent to the bin for upending Luke Hooley in a tackle which saw the Castleford full-back land on his head.

Wigan were forced to battle for their first-half lead having exchanged penalties with a resilient Cas prior to Mago crossing for the game's first try.

His score came as Wigan made their advantage count when the hosts were reduced to 12 after Watts was dismissed by referee Tom Grant for contact with the head of Dupree.

It was a blow for Castleford, who started brightly against the champions and kept them penned back for much of the opening stages, and proved to be the tipping point.

Watts' dismissal was a consequence of new laws introduced for 2024 which dictate that clashes between a defender and ball carrier must not result in contact with the head.

The red was met with some surprise by the hosts and the Castleford supporters, not least because Smith's tackle on Hooley shortly before only resulted in a yellow card.

After the break, Marshall crashed over for Wigan's third while Leeming prospered from a sensational lateral grubber kick from Abbas Miski and chased one of his own to register a try on his debut.

The match was a baptism of fire for Castleford head coach Craig Lingard, who was taking charge of his first game since being appointed on a two-year deal in the off-season.

Following a 2023 season to forget, there was much for Lingard to be pleased about prior to the red card which ultimately quelled whatever chance they had of kicking the campaign off with the Warriors' scalp.

Wigan did not have everything their way, however, as Luke Thompson failed a head injury assessment and Leeming came off with his leg heavily bandaged, which could have repercussions for next week's World Club Challenge against Penrith Panthers.

Castleford Tigers head coach Craig Lingard told BBC Sport:

"I saw a lot of heart. We played really hard, and for the badge, and put loads of effort in.

"There's areas we can be better with ball in hand but I thought we gave away possession cheaply. We have to control the ball in their 20-metre area and we started chasing the game a bit which we didn't need to do.

"Especially with 12 men, you have to keep the ball in hand as long as you possibly can.

"There's loads of lessons to learn but the thing we took away from today was the togetherness we built throughout pre-season."

Wigan Warriors head coach Matt Peet told BBC Sport:

"It had all the makings of a tricky fixture for us and I'm really proud of the performance.

"I was concerned with our own discipline. It was slippy conditions. We'd got one eye on next week so I was nervous about our own players."

[On Luke Thompson's failed HIA] "I'm disappointed. We all understand the way the game is policed and player health has to be the priority but it's disappointing for Luke.

"He's devastated as he's been doing really well for us and it's a shame for him."

[On the World Club Challenge] "We want to do the town justice but we also want to do the British game justice so we have a big responsibility. We just wanted to get through tonight with a full bill of health."

Castleford: Hooley; Qareqare, Broadbent, Wood, Senior; Richardson, Miller; Lawler, Horne, Putt, El-Zakhem, Tasipale, Westerman.

Interchanges: Simm, Watts, Hall, Mustapha.

Red card: Watts (29)

Wigan: Field; Miski, Keighran, Wardle, Marshall; French, Smith; Thompson, O'Neill, Byrne, Isa, Farrell, Ellis.

Interchanges: Cooper, Mago, Leeming, Dupree.

Sin-bin: Smith (21)

Referee: Tom Grant