TONY Smith’s new look Warrington Wolves were given a baptism of fire in
their Super League opener as they were completely outclassed by St
Helens going down 8-38 to their derby rivals at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
With the Wolves celebrating the 10th anniversary of their move to the Halliwell Jones Stadium, St Helens gate crashed the party and turned into party poopers as they ran their hosts ragged.
Warrington were given a dream start inside two minutes as Joel Monaghan went in at the corner after brother Michael and centre Chris Bridge opened up the gap. But Stefan Ratchford couldn’t land the extra from the touchline.
But Saints hit back on 12 minutes after Ryan Atkins knocked on. From the resulting attack slick handling saw Jordan Turner send Tom Makinson in at the corner with new Aussie signing Luke Walsh adding the extra from out wide.
Three minutes later Saints were awarded as James Roby forced his way over with Walsh adding the two to make it 4-12.
Man of the match Walsh, who made a dream debut the landed a stunning 40-20 to put the Wolves on the back foot and from the resulting set Kyle Amor managed to get the ball on the line despite the attentions on Trent Waterhouse and Roy Asotasi. Walsh was again on target to make it 4-18.
Saints were fortunate to retain a full compliment of players on 32 minutes after a high shot from Samoan Sia Soliola on Michael Monaghan and two minutes later another high shot, this time Jon Wilkin on Chris Riley again resulted in little more than a penalty.
But Warrington failed to make any head way from the resultant penalties as the Saints defence held firm and then just before the break Ratchford and Riley went for the same high ball resulting in an accidental off-side, with Walsh gratefully taking the two points to make it 4-20 at the break.
To stand any chance of getting back in the game after the break Warrington needed to score first, but it was the visitors who struck after a charge down resulted in Anthony Laffrandi touching down, with the Wolves again guilty of poor defending on their own try line.
Some sustained Warrington pressure was eventually rewarded in the 68th minute when Joel Monaghan grabbed his second try after a Gareth O’Brien bomb bounced back off the upright to open up a gap. O’Brien was wide with the conversion attempt to make it 8-26.
But the try was little consolation for the Wolves as St Helens finished the stronger adding further tries through Adam Swift and an interception from Walsh in the closing stages to rub salt in the wounds.
Walsh added both conversions to maintain a 100 per cent kicking record in his Super League debut.
For Warrington and Tony Smith it is back to the drawing board after a hugely disappointing start to the season.
It is still early days but Warrington clearly lacked leadership on the pitch with a poor kicking game – with the retired Lee Briers glumly looking on from the main stand.
Joel Monaghan dives over
Ryan Atkins looks for a way through
Wolves: Stefan Ratchford; Joel Monaghan, Chris Bridge, Ryan Atkins, Chris Riley; Michael Monaghan, Richie Myler; Chris Hill, Micky Higham, Roy Asotasi, Ben Westwood, Trent Waterhouse, Ben Currie. Subs: Ben Evans, James Laithwaite, Gareth O’Brien, Glenn Riley.
Saints: Jonny Lomax; Tommy Makinson, Jordan Turnr, Mark Percival, Adam Swift; Gary Wheeler, Luke Walsh; Alex Walmsley, James Roby, Kyle Amor, Jon Wilkin, Willie Manu, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook. Subs: Anthony Laffranchi, Sia Soliola, Josh Jones, Paul Wellens.
