Wolves Giant step towards Wembley!

WARRINGTON Wolves took a giant step towards another Wembley final as they produced a near perfect performance to massacre last year’s finalists Huddersfield 4-60 with a 12 try rout including five tries from man-of-the match Chris Bridge.
Even normally hard to please boss Tony Smith admitted the performance was near perfection as Warrington marched into the quarter-finals with a breathtaking display of attacking rugby.
“It was just one of those days when nearly everything you do comes off,” said Smith who admitted feeling sorry for his good friend, Huddersfield boss Nathan Brown, who clearly looked bewildered by his team’s performance, who have the best defence in Super League, sitting 4th in the table.
Smith added: “We have all had those kind of days and I feel sorry for our opponents because they are a much better team than that.
He also praised Corp. Simon Brown, the face of Help the Heroes, who had spoken to his players in the week, for being inspirational.
“That was probably the most complete performance since I’ve been in charge,” added Smith.
It could have all been so different if Huddersfield had taken an early chance but the Wolves were also superb in defence when Ryan Atkins forced Cudjoe into touch when he looked certain to score in the corner.
Remarkably it took Warrington 15 minutes to score and it was Atkins who broke the deadlock as he used his power to get the ball down as he was being tackled on his back with the try being awarded with the help of the video referee. Ben Westwood added the extra to make it 0-6.
Then on 19 minutes a clever grubber kick by Lee Briers bounced awkwardly over David Hodgson’s head allowing Bridge (pictured) to jump up and catch the ball before touching down for his first try of the afternoon, with Westwood again on target to make it 0-12.
By this time the Giants were becoming their own worst enemy as another fumble allowed Warrington to regain possession as Bridge turned provider sending Richie Myler over twisting through two tackles to score. Westwood again goaled to make it 0-18 after just 22 minutes.
The Giants were then penalised and from the penalty the ball was thrown out wide allowing Chris Hicks to score in the corner. Westwood was wide with the difficult conversion attempt but Warrington were by now well on their way at 0-22.
Another Giants error saw Bridge power his way over near the corner showing great strength to beat two defenders to make it 0-26 with Westwood again being wide.
Just before the break Mathers pulled off a great try saving tackle to ensure the home team remind pointless at the break.
Warrington started the second half where they left off and were again over the whitewash in the opening minute although Paul Wood’s effort was ruled out by the video referee after ruling Myler had been off-side in the build up play.
Three minutes later the Giants got their only points of the day as Martin Aspinwall took advantage of some rare soft defending to touch down although Dany Brough was wide with the conversion.
Warrington’s new signing for next season Brett Hodgson was the next to fumble allowing Briers to pick up the ball and send Bridge over for his hat-trick, leading to chants of “Hodgson is a Wire” from the large travelling support. Weswtood added the extras to make it 4-32.
The Giants continued to help the warrington cause as Briers collected a loose pass to send Bridge scampering away for his 4th try, with Westwood failing to convert the simple conversion attempt.
Bridge then added his 5th try after a clever kick by Myler, with Briers off target this time to make it 4-40.
Substitute Chris Riley entered the fray and scored with his first touch after a great defence splitting pass from mathers, with Briers finding the target to make it 4-46.
Warrington showed no mercy as they continued to play ruthless attacking rugby with a high kick from Briers sending Hicks in at the corner. Briers then landed a fine touchline conversion as Warrington went through the 50 point barrier.
Three minutes later a great break by Matt King saw Monaghan supporting to send Mickey Higham over with Briers again on target.
The final score came in the 71st minute as another sweeping move saw man-of-the-match Bridge send Hicks over in the corner for his hat-trick although Briers could not add the extras it mattered little, with the scoreboard showing Huddersfield Giants 4 Warrington Wolves 60!
On this kind of showing nobody is going to want to meet Warrington in the last eight!

Richie Myler celebrates scoring

Chris Hicks goes over in the corner

For more pictures from the game CLICK HERE

Huddersfield: B Hodgson, Cudjoe, Lolesi, Whaturia, D Hodgson, Brown, Brough, D Griffin, Robinson, Mason, Gilmour, Raleigh, Faiumu.
Replacements: Crabtree, Aspinwall, Grix, Horne.

Warrington: Mathers, Hicks, Bridge, Atkins, King, Briers, Myler, Morley, Monaghan, Harrison, L. Anderson, Westwood, Grix.
Replacements: Higham, Wood, Solomona, Riley.

Referee: Phil Bentham

Attendance: 6,641.