Wigan Warriors See Off Toulouse in 11-Try Thriller at The Brick
Wigan Warriors ran in eight tries to beat Toulouse Olympique in a lively Super League clash at The Brick Community Stadium on Saturday, shrugging off early pressure and a second-half sin-bin to secure a result that keeps them hot on the heels of league leaders Leeds Rhinos.
The match was Round 22 of the 2026 Betfred Super League, kicking off at 17:30 on 8 August 2026. Wigan sat second in the table on 34 points, two behind the Rhinos, while Toulouse occupied ninth with just seven wins from 22 outings (Super League).
Toulouse, who had lost all four previous Super League meetings with Wigan — including a couple of heavy defeats on the road — started brightly. They opened the scoring after just four minutes when Ulberg cut inside from the right wing to touch down (BBC Sport).
The lead did not last long. Eckersley hit back for Wigan in the 10th minute, and the momentum built quickly. French, scoring in his fourth consecutive game, took his Wigan points tally to 501 — a milestone for the prolific full-back. Marshall then crossed on the left to put Wigan firmly in control.
A grubber kick — a low, deliberately kicked ball along the ground that chases can reach before the defence — is one of rugby league's sharpest weapons, and Toulouse hooker Brendan Hands used it to perfection on 29 minutes. His kick through allowed Tropis to score and cut Wigan's lead to six. Four minutes later, Rouge's speculative kick ricocheted off a Wigan defender and straight back into his own hands for Toulouse's third try. Suddenly it was a contest again.
Hodkinson settled Wigan's nerves two minutes before half-time, crashing over for his 15th Super League try of the season. Eckersley then grabbed his second shortly after, collecting Hodkinson's inside pass to restore daylight.
Eseh, on from the bench, powered through three tackles to score under the posts on 51 minutes. But moments later, Wigan lost Brad O'Neill to the sin-bin for a dangerous tackle — ten minutes off the field, a significant blow for any side. Rugby league teams attacking against 12 defenders have a numerical advantage that usually translates into points.
Not this time. Even with a man short, Wigan struck again. French broke the line and kicked ahead for Field to score — a beautifully worked try that showcased the creativity head coach Matt Peet's side has become known for. It was the kind of moment that turns a tight afternoon into a comfortable one.
Marshall crossed for his second on 78 minutes to round off the scoring and complete the victory. Referee Tom Grant had a busy afternoon keeping order in a match that featured 11 tries in total.
For Wigan, this was a welcome return to winning ways at home. The Warriors had suffered shock defeats at The Brick to Castleford Tigers and Huddersfield Giants earlier in the 2026 season, results that raised questions about their title credentials. A free-scoring performance against Toulouse, even allowing for the visitors' lowly league position, offers reassurance that those stumbles were bumps rather than a pattern.
For Toulouse, the defensive frailties that have seen them concede 592 points in 22 games — the worst record in the competition — remain the story of their season. They scored three tries and threatened in patches, but the gap in class told once Wigan found their rhythm.
