Toronto’s winless start to their first season in Super League continued – as did their growing injury crisis – after a Bevan French-inspired Wigan inflicted a third consecutive defeat on the Wolfpack. Brian McDermott’s side have shown plenty of effort and endeavour in the opening month of the season but they are already facing a player shortage. They had only 18 available players going into this game, before Jon Wilkin pulled out minutes before kick-off with a knee injury and two more players, Gadwin Springer and James Cunningham, suffered injuries in the game. With Sonny Bill Williams among the big names absent – he is in New Zealand for the birth of his fourth child – Toronto are in desperate need of bodies as soon as possible. Their request for a six-figure salary cap dispensation to boost their squad of just 23 players was rejected by clubs recently, deepening their woes. Nevertheless, after a sustained period of pressure on the Wigan line the Canadian side were first to open the scoring. It was a fine handling move that created space for the former Wigan youngster Matty Russell to cross in the corner: extending Toronto’s record of opening the scoring in each of their three Super League games this season. However, the pattern of the Wolfpack falling behind not long after that continued here. Wigan warmed to the task as the half wore on, led superbly by their teenage half-back Harry Smith. Playing in only his third first-team game, Smith’s kicking game was arguably Wigan’s biggest attacking threat in the opening half-hour, and after he forced Toronto to drop out, the hosts soon levelled the contest when the youngster crossed from close range. Zak Hardaker missed the conversion but he was on target six minutes later when Wigan went ahead. Liam Farrell sent French through a gap with a magnificent reverse pass to make it 10-4 at the break. Hopes of a surprise Toronto victory were raised again at the start of the second half, when the Wolfpack levelled the scores courtesy of Bodene Thompson’s try. Toronto certainly showed plenty of spirit for most of the match – but the greater moments of quality belonged to Wigan and French in particular. With the score at 10-10, a quick restart from French following a poor Toronto kick allowed Jackson Hastings to free Joe Burgess for a superb length-of-the-field try. A few minutes later French was over for his second. This time, the Australian ghosted in from close quarters and then, in the final minutes, a late pair of tries from Farrell secured a comfortable victory for Wigan. Wigan French; Marshall, Hardaker, Bibby, Burgess; Smith, Hastings; Clubb, Leuluai, Partington, Isa, Farrell, O’Loughlin. Interchange Bourouh, Bullock, Clark, Smithies Tries Smith, French 2, Burgess, Farrell 2. Goals Hardaker 4. Toronto O’Brien; Kay, Miloudi, Leutele, Russell; Wallace, McCrone; Singleton, Ackers, Springer, Olbison, Thompson, Cunningham. Interchange Sidlow, Mullally, Dixon, Wheeler. Tries Russell, Thompson. Goal Wallace. Referee Chris Kendall.