THE fans wanted it, the players wanted it and they got it - Wolves' revenge over Widnes Vikings.

It clearly hurt on and off the field when Vikings completed a Super League double over Wolves last year, sealing the accomplishment with a 16-6 success at The Halliwell Jones Stadium with 12 men after Hep Cahill had been sent off for a high tackle on full back Brett Hodgson.

"We needed a performance agaiinst them," said Wolves' head of coaching and rugby Tony Smith.

"They had a couple against us last year and some of our players do remember that, while there are also some fresh faces in our team from those games too.

"There were some boys who suffered heavy defeat to Widnes last year so they were pretty determined to get a little back.

"It won't ever change the result of last year, but it's a much better feeling in our changing room today than last year."

Wolves' supporters can now hold bragging rights until the teams meet for part two on July 18.

Despite a poor run of home form this year, Wolves' supporters were with them from the start today - with chants echoing around three sides of the ground even before a ball was kicked.

That has not always been the case this year and showed what the performance meant to the supporters and the loyal backing that there is for the team.

Smith differentiates between 'fans' and 'supporters'.

"I think we've got great supporters here," said Smith.

"We've got support through good and bad, through thick and thin.

"Fans are different - they like you when you win.

"We've got a great support base and the supporters here are what every cllub want. They want people to support them through thick and thin.

"And the players need to know that they're supported.

"When things aren't so good, they need support - sometimes from the coach and sometimes from the people of the area and the people around the place.

"They need to know 'we are with you' whether it's good or bad. I'm certainly with that crew whether it's good or bad and I'm a big supporter of them."