Wigan raced into a 16-6 lead before half time at The Select Security Stadium, with Widnes also having Patrick Ah Van sent off, before the hosts fought back to snatch a point in the dying embers of the game.

The Warriors came painstakingly close to a fourth Super League crown last term, only to be pipped at the post by local rivals St Helens, and Joel Tomkins was adamant the squad will take it further this season – starting with victory in the World Club Series.

Welsh international Flower received a six-month ban following his sending-off in the Trafford showpiece for a double-punch on St Helens’ Lance Hohaia.

Wigan Warriors’ Matty Smith is set to make his international debut when England take on Samoa in the first of their Four Nations tests

Wigan will make the short trip to Merseyside on Thursday February 5 before they face up against Grand Final victors Saint Helens on April 3 at the DW Stadium

The Warriors were edged out by local rivals St Helens in the Super League Grand Final last weekend

Disgraced Wigan Warriors prop Ben Flower has been hit with a Grade F offence charge for his vicious attack on Lance Hohaia in Saturday’s Grand Final.

Super League holders Wigan go into the game as the favourites despite St Helens claiming the League Leaders shield after they finished top at the end of the regular season

Saturday’s clash is the third time the bitter Wigan-Saints rivalry has been showcased in a Grand Final

The 31-year-old, who made his international debut ten-years-ago, will lead the 24-man squad down-under to face Samoa, Australia and New Zealand later this month.

The Warriors will battle it out with fierce rivals Warrington Wolves at the DW Stadium on Friday evening in a repeat of the 2013 Grand Final