Inglis inspires Wolves to win and half-century on debut

Pictures Eddie Whitham

GREG Inglis marked his long-awaited Warrington Wolves debut with a 56-26 victory over Hull KR.

They didn’t have it all their own way through, trailing 18-12 at half time to former coach Tony Smith’s Robins.

In a game that was only available to watch for season ticket holders via the RFL’s Our League app, amidst a backdrop of the social media blackout to protest against abuse, the Wolves were once again without Blake Austin, with Stefan Ratchford preferred at stand-off and Matty Ashton at full-back.

The first half swung both ways, with Shaun Kenny-Dowall opening the scoring for Hull KR before Toby King and Ben Currie gave the Wolves a 12-6 lead.

The first of Ryan Hall’s two tries got Hull KR back on terms and Jordan Abdull nudged them in front with a penalty on the half hour, and scored a try of his own to give them the six-point lead at the break.

Currie’s second three minutes in to the second half got Warrington within touching distance and then former Australia international Inglis gave them the lead on his first rugby league game in more than two years.

Hull KR weren’t done though, and Hall’s second levelled things up at 22-all.

Daryl Clark restored the home side’s lead on the hour mark but it was only when Jake Mamo crossed on 67 minutes that they finally had some breathing space.

They cut loose in the closing stages, with Josh Charnley (2) and Danny Walker scoring tries while Hull KR finished with 12 men after former Wire Luis Johnson was shown a yellow card.

Pre-match former Wolves’ boss Tony Smith, who described Inglis as one of the greatest players he had seen, said he hoped he would “run out of steam!” As it was, it was the Robins who were the ones to run out of steam in the closing stages.

After the game Head Coach Steve Price praised Inglish saying :” For his first hit-out for us I think he did a really good job for us!”

Price went on to say he thought Inglish brought a “calmness” to the team.

“He did the basics well and then unfortunately Matty Ashton went down with his ankle and he switched to full-back and created a high level of calmness among the group which was really pleasing.”

Warrington: Ashton, Mamo, Inglis, King, Charnley, Ratchford, Widdop, Hill, Clark, Cooper, Currie, Hughes, Davis. Subs: Clark, Philbin, Akauola, Walker

Hull KR: Quinlan, Ryan, Takairangi, Kenny-Dowall, Hall, Milnes, Abdull, Lawler, Parcell, King, Linnett, Johnson, Hadley. Subs: Sims, Litten, Storton, Mustapha.