Wigan Warriors survived a major scare from newly promoted York Knights to maintain their position as Super League’s only unbeaten side at the start of the new season.

The Warriors, undoubtedly the standard-bearers in the opening month of 2026, were considered huge favourites against a York side making their first trip to Wigan in decades following promotion to Super League for the first time.

But Mark Applegarth’s side, a part-time outfit just six months ago, pushed the Warriors to their very limit in a way no side have so far this year. York led 14-0 midway through the first half and had they not been reduced to 12 men following Ata Hingano’s first-half yellow card, the outcome could have been very different.

However, the class and quality of Wigan just about shone through in the final quarter as they narrow avoided a monumental upset to make it five wins from five in Super League. They look to be the favourites at this early stage and with 11 of their 17 academy graduates, the Warriors continue to set the standard for the British game, with several homegrown products starring.

Given the Warriors’ start to 2026 there was perhaps an expectation they would cut loose from the newly promoted Knights early on but instead, it was York who began superbly. They enjoyed the early moments in possession and with Wigan’s energy nowhere near the levels it was throughout the opening month, York were able to dominate the opening quarter.

And by the end of the first 20 minutes, they had forged a commanding lead at the home of the league leaders. The Knights took a deserved lead when the winger David Nofoaluma claimed a Paul McShane kick to open the scoring before, four minutes later, the prop Paul Vaughan caught the Warriors defence cold to touch down under the posts.

A penalty from the boot of Danny Richardson then made it 14-0 and with a three-score lead in their favour, York were in complete control: and on merit, too. But the momentum of the half swung when the Knights’ half-back, Hingano, was sent to the sin-bin for a ruck infringement and while he was off the field, Wigan finally came to life.

Within seconds of Hingano’s exit, the Warriors used the man advantage to perfection to craft space for Liam Marshall to cross on the left and three minutes later, a sublime break from Junior Nsemba was finished by Marshall once again to narrow the gap to just four. But York dug in magnificently in the final moments to head into the break with a narrow, but deserved, lead.

But Wigan returned after the break with the greater purpose and it felt like a matter of time before they scored the try that would move them ahead for the first time. That moment duly arrived 10 minutes into the half, as Wigan’s latest academy star, Noah Hodkinson, scored a magnificent individual effort to put the hosts in front.

York levelled it up again with another Richardson penalty but it was clear their energy levels were beginning to wane and when Adam Keighran broke through before Harry Smith kicked a drop goal to make it 23-16, the Knights’ race finally looked run. Hingano’s superb try with five minutes left set up a grandstand finale but in the end, Wigan just about had enough to hold on.