Wigan battle back to end Catalan Dragons' winning start to the season

There was no deja vu for the Catalans on their second trip to the heartlands of what used to be Lancashire in the space of nine days, as Wigan's dominant second-half performance snuffed out any chance of a Dragons fightback to match their remarkable win at St Helens the previous weekend. The French club, who came from 26-8 down with five tries in the last 22 minutes at Langtree Park, led 12-10 at half-time here in a far tighter and more bruising game than the final scoreline suggests. But Wigan's forwards gained the ascendancy after that – no mean feat given the size of the Catalans' pack – to lay the foundations for a fourth consecutive win secured by four unanswered tries. Josh Charnley scored two of them on the right wing, both simple finishes which take his tally for the season to nine from only five matches, pressing a strong claim for inclusion in the England training squad that will be announced this week. Whereas Sam Tomkins was the only Wigan player to appear in last autumn's Four Nations series, they seem likely to be more heavily represented this year. Wigan's captain Sean O'Loughlin and hooker Michael McIlorum are certain inclusions, and both were highly influential here, McIlorum capping another busy performance with a break to send O'Loughlin over for the fifth try. Lee Mossop has been one of the most consistent and dominant props in the Super League this season and must also be in line for promotion from the England Knights squad, but it is the second-row Gareth Hock whose selection would be the most eye-catching. Hock tested positive for cocaine shortly after winning his eighth cap in June 2009, and soon after his return from the ensuing two-year suspension he was banned for another five matches for gouging. But he is still only 28 and retains the combination of aggression and skill that has troubled Australia in the past. "If I was Steve McNamara [the England coach] I'd certainly be looking at him," said Wigan's coach Shaun Wane. "He's big, he's strong, he's skilful, and the good thing is he's far from the finished article. He played well today but he had a few errors as well, and he'll be in my office at eight o'clock tomorrow morning wanting to get better — that's why I love him so much." Hock also showed his toughness by returning to the field for the closing stages with a badly twisted neck that may well rule him out of next week's trip to Widnes. The Catalans, having lost their Australian veteran Steve Menzies and dropped Leon Pryce to the bench after both picked up injuries at St Helens, were further disrupted when their hooker Ian Henderson was forced off with ankle-ligament damage in the 14th minute and fell 6-2 behind to Thomas Leuluai's close-range try shortly afterwards, but then hit back with the try of the match from Scott Dureau after a dazzling blind-side move. Pat Richards scored Wigan's second try from Tomkins' long pass after Jean Philippe Baile had been penalised in possession, but Greg Mounis struggled over from acting half in first-half stoppage time to put the Catalans ahead. But Jack Hughes, a young centre who had squandered a glorious early chance, clung on to a more difficult pass from Chris Tuson for a third Wigan try which regained the lead in the 50th minute, before Tomkins laid on Charnley's first. Even for the Catalans, there was no way back from that. Wigan Warriors Tomkins; Charnley, Goulding, Hughes, Richards; Finch, Leuluai; Mossop, McIlorum, Lauaki, Hansen, Hock, O'Loughlin (capt). Interchange Lima, Farrell, Tuson, Flower. Tries Leuluai, Richards, Hughes, Charnley 2, O'Loughlin. Goals : Richards 6. Catalan Dragons Greenshields; Blanch, Baile, Duport, Millard; Bosc, Dureau; Paea, Henderson, Casty (capt), Sa, Anderson, Baitieri. Interchange Pryce, Ferriol, Mounis, Fakir. Tries Dureau, Mounis. Goals Dureau 2. Referee R Silverwood (Dewsbury). Att 14,464.