The wrestling from the Penrith players pushed Wardle closer to the line than he initially was when he got tackled and the ball swivelled in his arm, and ended up at a 45-degree angle close/ or on the line. In the end, it was hard to see exactly where it was, especially as the ref sent it up as a try.
All game Penrith were making on average 50 meters from their 5 carries, really dominating where they finished their sets and Wigan were around half that and struggled to put long kicks in that were easily picked up by the FB who then made a quick 20 meters on the 1st tackle.
To say they lost the meter game massively and also field position, the fact Wigan led all game and won was some task tbh.
I wouldn't be surprised if Penrith made nearly double the meters in the game. Wigan always seemed to have to kick from their own half and for most of the sets were on the back foot. I can't remember them kicking into their corners all match, or setting up a move in Penrith's 20 as we are so accustomed to them doing.
Also Wigan's defensive line didn't seem as quick as it usually is, they sat back letting the Penrith players come on to them usually at full speed, conversely, Penrith was all over Wigan as soon as they got the ball.
Wigan lacked some middle forwards who could make dents in Penrith's defensive line and get a few tackle breaks, tiring them out imo. Mago seemed to do well in his first stint, then disappeared as the game went on. At one point he got replaced and I can't even remember him taking a drive in, or for that matter seeing him on the pitch.
On the whole, Penrith had all the chances to win, probably by a couple of scores tbf, but they weren't clinical enough when it mattered, while the opposite can be said about Wigan.
People will go on about that last call, but looking at the game as a whole they should have won with the chances they had. Wigan scored off just about every chance they got, which was the key difference in the end.
Plus when Wigan needed to make key tackles they managed to pull them out of their hat. Field's try-saving tackle was superb and saved the game for them.
It's a pity French didn't hold his run for a meter or so, to put him onside because his speed got him to the ball well in front of the defence and would have been a class try and put them 22-12 in front if the kick had been converted, game over no controversy.
