EVERY minute matters in rugby league’s new era, say the game’s bosses.

Wolves and Red Devils players certainly performed under that mantra in Saturday’s highly-charged season opener.

Tony Smith’s 200th game in charge was explosive from the moment Wolves’ new enforcer Ashton Sims clashed with former NRL rival Cory Paterson off the ball in the opening set.

Those two, along with England rivals Ben Westwood and Gareth Hock, ensured it was no place for the faint-hearted.

And, unlike many previous campaign openers, the intensity rarely relaxed despite Wolves seemingly having the game sewn up from the point Ryan Atkins’ second-half try off a Gareth O’Brien kick while down to 12 men stretched his side out to an 18-0 advantage.

Iestyn Harris and his men, under pressure from owner Marwan Koukash to be firing from the start, threw everything at a Warrington 17 that also included debutants Daryl Clark and Gary Wheeler.

For coming out on top, credit Warrington’s outstanding scrambling defence, better discipline and superior finishing prowess.

Impressive Stefan Ratchford twice came to the rescue early on, hacking down Paterson and then steering Josh Griffin over the dead-ball line when tries looked likely.

Ben Currie trailed back to stop another break and Adam Walne was held up over the line in a further close call, while after the break, Kevin Penny met every test with aplomb as Salford tried to beat him with overlaps.

After doing most of the early pressing it must have been a sickening blow for the visitors to see two former Devils combining to put Wolves ahead, Ratchford unlocking the defence and sending Richie Myler home.

When Micky Higham burrowed over five minutes later and Walne was shown a yellow card for a high-tackle offence, Wolves were in control.

Salford came back out fighting and at 18-0 ex-Leeds Rhinos winger Ben Jones-Bishop bagged the first of his brace while Westwood was spending time in the sin bin but the outcome never looked in doubt.

Watch highlights here: