DESPITE the heartbreaking defeat to St Helens, Warrington Wolves head coach Steve Price said the performance was just what was needed going into next weekend’s Challenge Cup semi final against Leeds Rhinos.

The only time The Wire trailed in an absorbing and high intensity 14-12 loss away to the Super League leaders was when Danny Richardson kicked a 55-metre penalty goal after the final hooter had sounded.

“We’ll take a lot of confidence out of that,” said Price.

“It was a hard-nosed performance. I know I’ve got a quality football team. We’ve got a tough bunch of footy players.

“We have to dust ourselves off, we’ve got a 10-day turnaround and then a really important game against Leeds.”

Wolves led 8-0 at half-time courtesy of Daryl Clark’s converted try and a penalty from Tyrone Roberts, who kicked two more to give The Wire a 12-6 cushion with 53 minutes played.

Jonny Lomax crossed on 65 minutes and Richardson’s conversion squared things up.

Roberts, twice, Stef Ratchford and Richardson all missed drop-goal attempts in a frantic finish before Ben Murdoch-Masila’s high tackle on Luke Thompson with four seconds remaining led to the dramatic winning penalty shot that sent the home crowd bananas.

Drop goal misses also cost Wire points in the home draw with Catalans Dragons a fortnight ago and in the one-point loss at Wigan a week earlier.

“When you miss them, you can always do better,” said Price.

“We had three or four goes. When we kicked it dead the ball did get in play pretty quickly to get that set prior to full time.

“But that’s not the reason why we lost the game.

“I’m proud of the guys because I thought the effort was outstanding.

“I thought it was a good old tough game of football, with two quality teams going hard at it and in the end there wasn’t too much between the sides.

“Defensively throughout the first half I thought we were really tremendous, working really hard for each other.

“The try just after half time I wasn’t too pleased about, but to stay in the fight and give ourselves a chance at the end I was really pleased with the playing group.

“But credit to St Helens. That’s why they are where they are because they’re a quality football team.

“I’m really pleased with all 17 of our boys, they all contributed.

“I thought Mike Cooper was outstanding and we had a lot of good performers.”

Ben Murdoch-Masila, playing his first game in six weeks after a leg injury, limped off midway through the second half but returned to finish the game.

Price said: “Ben’s fine. He got about 8 to 10 stitches in a cut in his knee from a stud but he’ll be fine.

“Everyone’s pulled up quite well. We haven’t got any concerns.”