THERE seems to be plenty for Wolves’ prophets of doom to get their teeth into at the moment.

Another lacklustre performance, leading to a third defeat in five games, gives the pessimists ammunition.

An underperforming youth policy, a lack of effort from the players and coaches, and the over-dependence on Wolves’ more senior generals have all been held up by some as examples of why Warrington are not meeting their own sky-high expectations.

To put the recent run of games into perspective, after the Vikings loss Wolves sat only one point worse off than in 2011, the year they broke their own scoring and defensive records on their way to lifting the League Leaders’ Shield.

Considering the injuries Wolves have already had to cope with in the 2013 campaign, a return of 11 points from nine games may not be enough to get fans jumping for joy, but neither is it time to break into full scale panic.

Fans have a right to be concerned though.

The defeat to Widnes, who have only lost once at home this season, smacked of a team selection and performance that underestimated just how far Denis Betts’ side have improved since last year.

Changes at 1, 6 and 9 may well explain how a side that defeated Super League’s form team Huddersfield so convincingly can be defeated by a Vikings outfit that were hammered 62-4 by Wigan in the same week, but poor handling and rustiness in attacking positions also played their part as leaderless Wolves stuttered in positions they would normally flourish in.

Wolves should never have lost from the position of dominance they enjoyed at the start of the second half, but star turns from Rhys Hanbury and former Wolf Jon Clarke helped the hosts fight back against a side far from their best with or without the ball.

And it is not often that Ben Westwood is made to look second best by an opposite number, but Gareth Hock’s influence against ‘Super’ Bennie made it look like the loanee from Wigan had some kryptonite in his back pocket.

 

 


 

INTERESTING NOTES

Wolves’ first defeat to Widnes Vikings since 2004.

Gareth O’Brien’s first start of the season for Wolves.

First time Stefan Ratchford has started a game at full back this season.

Brett Hodgson was rested for the first time this year.

One more try is needed for Ben Westwood to clock up his 100th in primrose and blue.

Widnes Vikings’ highest attendance of the season, beating the 8,322 against St Helens

 


 

Super League Round 9
Friday, March 29, 2013

Widnes Vikings...38
Warrington Wolves...22

Vikings: Shaun Briscoe; Paddy Flynn, Chris Dean, Willie Isa, Patrick Ah Van; Rhys Hanbury, Joe Mellor; Ben Cross, Jon Clarke, Eamon O’Carroll, Dave Allen, Gareth Hock, Hep Cahill. Subs: Steve Pickersgill, Alex Gerrard, Lloyd White, Frank Winterstein.

Wolves: Stefan Ratchford; Joel Monaghan, Rhys Evans, Ryan Atkins, Chris Riley; Gareth O’Brien, Richie Myler; Garreth Carvell, Micky Higham, Chris Hill, Simon Grix, Ben Westwood, Mike Cooper. Subs: Trent Waterhouse, Ben Harrison, Paul Wood, Ben Currie.

Scoring: Ah Van try, 17mins, Ah Van goal, 6-0; Riley try, 24mins, O’Brien goal, 6-6; Hanbury try, 35mins, Ah Van goal, 12-6; Evans try, 43mins, O’Brien goal, 12-12; Myler try, 46mins, O’Brien goal, 18-12; Flynn try, 50mins, Ah Van goal, 18-18; Ah Van penalty goal, 61mins, 20-18; Hanbury try, 65mins, Ah Van goal, 26-18; White try, 74mins, Ah Van goal, 32-18; Riley try, 77mins, 32-22; Flynn try, 80mins, Ah Van goal, 38-22.

Pens: Vikings 4 Wolves 6

Referee: James Child

Attendance: 9,271

Top man: Stefan Ratchford