Wigan came out fighting after a week of adversity to record a much-needed 36-28 Super League win over Hull KR at Craven Park on Sunday.
Warriors coach Brian Noble's own position has been under scrutiny while Gareth Hock faces the prospect of a two-year ban after testing positive for cocaine, but his side put all that behind it and came out on top against Rovers.
Having gone in at the interval trailing 16-14 following an early double from Peter Fox, 16 unanswered points after the break for Wigan looked to have put the game beyond doubt.
Late scores from Daniel Fitzhenry and Jake Webster closed the gap to just two points making for a nervy finish - but Wigan held on and Pat Richards' try and conversion two minutes from time sealed it.
Elswehere Hull missed the chance to leapfrog revival club Warrington in seventh spot in the table as it slipped to a 24-12 defeat at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
The sides were level at 6-6 at the break but the Wolves ran in three tries in 10 minutes after the interval through Paul Wood, Matt King and Ben Harrison to make it five wins in their last six league matches.
Australian halfback Michael Monaghan impressed for the hosts after their pack took control. Chris Riley scored their other try.
Jodie Broughton and Kirk Yeaman crossed for the visitors.
In the day's other game, Danny Brough converted Scott Grix's last-minute try to hand Wakefield a 20-18 victory in a thrilling clash against play-off rival Harlequins.
The Londoners looked to have secured victory with second-half scores from Luke Gale and Chad Randall to add to an earlier touchdown from Danny Orr.
Yet the Wildcats refused to surrender and Grix dived over in the right corner to add to first-half tries from Oliver Wilkes and Tony Martin before Brough had the final say with his fourth goal of the game from the touchline.
Catalans recovered from an early 10-point deficit to keep itselfin the play-off picture with a nail-biting 22-20 win at Castleford on Saturday.
The Tigers got off to a superb start with tries from Brett Ferres and Richard Owen but the Dragons were level by the interval after replies from Dimitri Pelo and Jean-Philippe Baile.
Clint Greenshields and Dane Carlaw then completed the fightback in the second half but Owen's second left Catalans clinging on to a two-point lead.
On Friday night, Rob Burrow scored a brilliant late try as Leeds halted a Bradford fightback to win a thrilling derby 33-20.
The defending champion raced into an early 16-2 lead at Headingley Carnegie with two tries from Ryan Hall and another from Jamie Jones-Buchanan.
Bradford remarkably hit back to claim the lead as Semi Tadulala, Paul Deacon and Steve Menzies scored but the Rhinos found another gear in the closing minutes.
Burrow put the hosts back ahead with a fine individual effort and Scott Donald made sure in injury time after a Lee Smith drop goal.
St Helens produced a first-half masterclass against Celtic Crusaders as it secured a 30-0 victory to maintain its place at the top of the table.
Bottom club Crusaders, who were missing several first-choice players through injury but lacked nothing in spirit, began brightly but had no answer to their hosts' superior class.
Leon Pryce was pivotal in the opening two tries, created for Lee Gilmour and Paul Wellens, before hulking prop Tony Puletua