HAVING A BALL

Smith’s loving it as KR stun Warriors

THREE- SY DOES IT: Greg Minikin notched a hat- trick of tries for rampant KR

Coach Smith has committed to a bold approach with the threat of relegation gone, and it paid off properly for the first time as bottom beat top.

Stand- off Abdull and hooker Jez Litten were central to a first Robins win since round one against Wakefield on January 31.

Smith also had big efforts from Elliot Minchella, Dean Hadley and Kane Linnett, who all thrived with the shackles off.

Smith said: “I like the way that we’re playing at the moment – we ask a few questions and it’s a bit different. The boys are excited in the dressing room. They’re excited about the style, buy into it and they’ve got some reward for it.

“If we go five drives and a kick we’re not going to win against these big boys. It’s an attractive way to watch and play rugby league. We’ll continue to do it.”

Rovers’ win was built on a blistering spell of three tries in seven minutes after Sam Powell opened the scoring i for f Wigan. Litten created the first try for the home side by splitting the Warriors’ defence through the middle to send Minchella over, before good hands saw Greg Minikin finish Linnett’s pass.

Abdull then provided a superb ball out of the tackle for Minchella’s second try.

Harry Smith responded with a disputed effort, but Rovers were 22- 12 in front at the break after Minikin scored again from another Abdull assist.

And any thoughts the first half would be a blip for the leaders were gone within ithi first fi six i minutes i t of f th the restart. t t Abdull was again at the heart of it with a brilliant offload for Hadley to score, before smart handling saw Will Dagger send Minikin in for his hat- trick.

Wigan only stirred when Rovers’ Shaun Kenny- Dowall was sin- binned in the closing stages for persistent team offending and Jackson Hastings went over.

But fittingly Abdull put the final seal on victory with a late penalty.

Warriors coach Adrian Lam said: “We’re really disappointed. We looked flat and a lot of the players looked tired.”