Wigan Warriors' hopes of rescuing another tumultuous season by securing a play-off spot were boosted by a comfortable engage Super League win over a carefree Hull KR at Craven Park.

Brian Noble’s men have now leapfrogged Warrington into the top six but know that with the Wolves, Wakefield and Huddersfield all breathing down their necks, they still need to win at bitter rivals St Helens on Friday to hold on.

Despite posting seven tries to see off the Robins, the Cherry and Whites must perform considerably better if they are to defeat the league leaders in five days’ time.

For spells, especially in the second half, their composure left a lot to be desired and should be of concern to Noble, especially against under-cooked opponents.

Despite being well off the pace in defence, Rovers, who secured their survival last Sunday, were able to notch five tries of their own as they aimed to win their first home game since March. Had Paul Cooke not failed with three conversions, they may well have done so.

Having no doubt spent part of the last seven days toasting their successes, Rovers began in a sluggish manner, falling off tackles at will and were soon two scores behind.

The scoreboard was called into action as early as the second minute when Liam Colbon was sent in at the corner by Pat Richards, before Darrell Goulding barged his way through some static Rovers defenders for a further try just four minutes later. Richards converted on each occasion.

The early shock seemed to wake the home side up though, and they could have been back in the game almost instantly had captain James Webster not spilt the ball after Rhys Lovegrove made the best of Cooke’s cut-out pass to send him clear.

A close-range charge from Scott Murrell got Rovers off the mark with 21 minutes gone before three further Wigan tries before the break ended the contest.

The first of the trio came from David Vaealiki, who went over after a neat Sean O’Loughlin pass, with Richards again slotting the extras.

Andreas Bauer then pinched one back for Rovers, before a second from Colbon and a Paul Prescott score extended the Wigan lead.

Prescott’s try came as he exploited Rovers’ weak defence down the middle, although an apparent block from referee Ian Smith on the covering Ian Hardman did little to assist. Richards’ fourth goal set up an interval lead of 28-8.

Iain Morrison crept in from Webster’s pass four minutes into the second period to revive the home side a little, but Cooke’s third failed conversion – this time a wild effort that flew hopelessly wide – left them three scores in arrears.

The difference between the home side defensively and offensively was again underlined as Thomas Leuluai hurdled three tacklers to reach over the line.

A combination of goalline drop-outs and penalties then forced Wigan to defend five straight sets, which they did with considerable ease, although a debut try for youngster Kris Welham with 10 minutes remaining was due reward for the home side’s second-half efforts.

With Cooke opting out of converting, Mark Lennon duly obliged.

Had Lennon been handed the kicking tee earlier, Wigan could have had a much harder time of it too, with a Rhys Lovegrove try and Lennon goal three minutes from the hooter reducing the deficit further, only for Mark Calderwood to cross for Wigan right at the end.