Sydney Roosters-bound winger Joe Burgess has scored his first Super League hat-trick as Wigan trounced hosts Wakefield 40-22.
Burgess, who is joining the Roosters for the 2016 NRL season, helped his side climb above St Helens into second place in the table, at least for 24 hours.
It was a third consecutive win for Shaun Wane's men and a fifth from their past six matches while the Wildcats remain rooted to the foot of table after a ninth straight loss.
The Wildcats made the best possible start, with makeshift centre Matt Ryan breaking clear from his own half to create a try for fullback Craig Hall, who kicked the first of his three goals.
Wigan looked to have gained control, however, when prop Dom Crosby took Michael McIlorum's pass to crash over for his first try for more than two years and halfback Matty Smith skipped through Wildcats' defence for a solo score.
Flying wingers Burgess and Dom Manfredi both produced clinical finishes to double the Warriors' try tally before halftime but the gritty Yorkshiremen would not lie down as the game opened up after Sam Powell (Wigan) and Tim Smith (Wakefield) were despatched to the sin bin following a skirmish.
Daniel Smith got skipper Danny Kirmond through a chink in the visitors' defence for one try and stand-off Pita Godinet added another on the stroke of halftime, darting over from dummy-half.
Burgess scorched over for his second try within two minutes of the re-start following more smart work from his centre partner Dan Sarginson as Wigan established a 12-point lead for the third time.
But Godinet pounced on a stray pass from former Wigan's Wakefield forward Taulima Tautai to get winger Chris Riley over for a fourth Wildcats try to cut the deficit to 30-22.
However, the game always looked to be within Wigan's grasp and they opened up a three-score lead on 57 minutes when prop Lee Mossop proved unstoppable from 10 metres out.
Burgess completed his hat-trick on 63 minutes after accepting Williams' cut-out pass to cross at the corner.
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