John Bateman dedicates Wigan win to Joe Burgess

John Bateman said Wigan’s win over Salford was for Joe Burgess, who last week found out that he wouldn’t play again this year.

The Warriors comfortably beat the Red Devils 30-0 at the DW Stadium on Friday night.

Burgess was unable to play against Salford picking up an anterior cruciate ligament injury, which will rule him out for the rest of 2018.

And Bateman dedicated Wigan’s thrilling victory to good friend Burgess.

He told wiganwarriors.com: “It’s sad for Joe and it’s sad for the lads.

“He’d started to really come into form in the last few weeks so to pick up an injury like that is gutting.

“Being a mate of his you just want to put an arm around him and reassure him that everyone is going to be there for him, and obviously he knows that.

“A win’s a win but it makes it even more special with after what happened last week to Budgie, and that’s what we wanted for him (to get the win).”

Next up for Wigan is a trip to KCOM Craven Park to face Hull Kingston Rovers in the sixth round of the Challenge Cup on Sunday, 3pm kick-off.