Pictures Eddie Whitham
WARRINGTON Wolves failed to shake the curse of the Wembley winner as they were soundly beaten 22-6 at Salford.
It’s the third time the Red Devils have got the better of Steve Price’s men this season, and draws them level on points with the Wolves, who could slip to fourth in the Super League table if Hull and Wigan win this weekend.
A tight first half saw just a solitary Krisnan Inu penalty goal separate the sides at half time, with the Red Devils leading 2-0.
But they cut loose in the second half, with winger Ken Sio crossing for a hat-trick, to secure their fifth straight win and consign Warrington to a sixth straight league loss.
Just five days after their triumph over St Helens in the Challenge Cup final, the Wolves shuffled the pack and brought in young hooker Danny Walker for Lance Todd Trophy winner Daryl Clark.
Luther Burrell, Matty Smith, Luis Johnson and Ben Westwood all returned to the 17.
The first try came after Tom Lineham spilled a Tui Lolohea kick, enabling Sio to pick up and cross for his first.
A lovely move to the right created the second try, quick hands from Kris Welham and Niall Evalds enabling Sio to cut inside the two scrambling defenders to score in the corner.
The pick of Salford’s four tries came when Joey Lussick took advantage of some tired Wolves defending to burst through the middle, keeping his cool to find Jake Bibby for a score on the left.
Warrington’s woes continued as they chased the game, Lineham’s desperate kick straight in to the bread basket of Sio enabling him to go 90 metres unopposed.
Needing to win by 24 points to leapfrog the Wolves in the table, Salford couldn’t quite manage it – despite former Wolves forward Tyrone McCarthy having a try ruled out.
Walker scored a late solo try, kicking through and touching down, for his first try for the club.
Warrington have now lost eight of their last 10 Super League games, and their play-off hopes are at risk – ahead of next week’s home game against Wakefield.
Salford: Evalds; Sio, Welham, Bibby, Inu; Lolohea, Hastings; Mossop, Tomkins, Dudson, Jones, McCarthy, Burke. Subs: Lussick, J. Johnson, Walker, Flanagan.
Warrington: Ratchford; Lineham, Goodwin, Burrell, Mamo; Hughes, Smith; Philbin, Walker, Tasi, Livett, Murdoch-Masila, J. Clark. Subs: D. Clark, Akauola, Johnson, Westwood.
