Pictures Eddie Whitham
WARRINGTON Wolves crashed out of the Super League play-offs at the first hurdle for the third successive season as they were beaten 19-0 at home by Hull KR.
Man of Steel nominee Jordan Abdull tormented the Wolves, who were nilled by the under-strength Robins missing the likes of Matt Parcell, Ryan Hall and Korbin Sims from their line-up.
Trailing 6-0 at half-time, Warrington simply didn’t come out second half as Steve Price’s reign ended with a whimper and boos rang out at the Halliwell Jones Stadium at the final hooter.
After losing at this stage against Hull FC last season and Castleford the year before, Warrington would have wanted to avoid a repeat and they started at a fast tempo and made easy metres early doors against a weakened Hull KR pack.
But for all their territory and possession, they couldn’t break the Robins line and the visitors grew in confidence.
They scored on their first real foray in to the Warrington half, Abdull taking the ball to the line on the last tackle and touching down from close range, before adding a superb touchline conversion for 6-0.
That’s how the score remained at the break, despite Hull KR losing prop Albert Vete to a soft sin-binning on the half hour for a late hit on Gareth Widdop.
The game was still very much in the balance as the second half started, but Warrington simply didn’t get going.
Former coach Tony Smith watched on as his current troops controlled much of the proceedings – a brilliant individual try from Mikey Lewis, chipping over the top and winning the foot race to score under the posts ahead of Stefan Ratchford, doubling their advantage.
Warrington’s play was panicked and desperate at times, going for a short kick-off even with 25 minutes to play, and even when Abdull missed a penalty, the couldn’t find the momentum to turn things round.
Abdull eventually got a much simpler penalty to give them a three score lead and as time ticked on, he put a try on a plate for Jimmy Keinhorst in the left corner and then added a drop goal to rub salt in to the wounds.
Hull KR go on to face league leaders’ Catalans for a place in the Grand Final at Old Trafford, while for Warrington the season is over – and with it are the Wolves careers for Price and several players ahead of the arrival of Daryl Powell for next season.
Warrington: Ratchford, Lineham, Mamo, King, Thewlis, Williams, Widdop, Hill, Clark, Akauola, Currie, Hughes, Philbin. Subs: Clark, Longstaff, Mulhern, Ashton.
Hull KR: Dagger, Crooks, Takairangi, Kenny-Dowall, Keinhorst, Lewis, Abdull, King, Litten, Maher, Linnett, Johnson, Storton. Subs: Vete, Milnes, Mustapha, Tate.
Sealed with a kiss 💋#SuperLeague #SLWarHKR pic.twitter.com/XgsRjKZTvp
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) September 24, 2021
From bottom of the table in 2020, to 80 minutes from Old Trafford in 2021 👏🔥
Tony Smith, what a job he’s done ❤️#SuperLeague #SLWarHKR pic.twitter.com/ZXJJTJ6iMv
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) September 24, 2021
🏁 FULL TIME with @ResultingIT
Our 2021 journey comes to an end in the play-offs. pic.twitter.com/8bj09GQkVy
— Warrington Wolves (@WarringtonRLFC) September 24, 2021
