Australian rugby league ace Jai Field bagged his first-ever hat-trick in his career to help his Super League side Wigan Warriors to a 34-12 win over Leeds Rhinos.
It was the Warriors’ second win in as many games to start the Super League season, as the former Dragons and Eels man played a starring role in the victory.
It was Rhinos debutant and fellow NRL alumnus Blake Austin who opened the scoring after 11 minutes with a try converted by Aidan Sezer.
Leeds would have expected to be 12-0 up not long after, as Liam Tindall made a big break from his own 20.
Just as it looked like he would race away to score and further dampen the spirits inside DW Stadium, Field produced a crucial try-saving tackle that sent Tindall across the sideline.
That moment sparked the crowd and Field into life, as the Wollongong native scored his first try of the night in the 24th minute after picking up a ball that appeared to have been knocked on by teammate Jake Bibby before going on to convert his own four-pointer.
Field then went on to weave his magic wand for his second of the night, dancing his way through the Rhinos who struggled to lay so much as a finger on him as the 24-year-old again converted his own try to hand the Warriors a 12-6 lead at the break.
With the game delicately poised, it would seem that whoever landed the first blow in the second half would be crucial.
Thankfully for Wigan, they crossed over first with Sam Powell scoring the first of his two tries.
And from the restart, it was the Warriors again who scored as Field scored what is undoubtedly a serious contender for try of the season.
He caught an offload from a teammate around his own 20-metre mark, before a cheeky sidestep turned a Leeds defender inside out as Field began to hit the gas.
Another Leeds player hoped to stop him with an ankle tap but to little avail, as Field ran into open air to score a try and secure a stunning hat-trick to send Super League fans into a frenzy.
Powell got his second of the game only five minutes later as Wigan chalked up 16 points in just seven minutes to all but put the game to bed.
Leeds managed to hit back in the 61st minute via Matt Prior, although it was nothing more than a consolation try.
But the Warriors would have the last laugh in the 73rd minute as Liam Farrell scored a try from just one metre out.
