TITLES are won by digging deep when you have nothing left to get over the line, a quality Wolves showed in spades in Perpignan.

What was more impressive about The Wire’s victory was that their side was missing six first-team regulars, including both regular half-backs.

When Ben Currie provided a perfect role reversal from the previous week by diving over for a late winner, it proved if it was ever in doubt that Wolves are made of the right stuff.

Chris Hill commented on Twitter that this was his side’s best win of the season. It’s hard to argue with that.

They were put under severe pressure by the hosts but somehow found themselves 18-0 up at the break. The young side were showing a ruthless edge.

Toby King was instrumental in the centres, breaking the line early on to set up Dec Patton’s first try before Stefan Ratchford set Kevin Penny scorching away from deep inside his own half to double the lead.

Tony Smith’s men continued to defend with gusto, Jack Johnson in particular stood out with a try-saving ball strip on Remi Casty as the Dragons skipper looked destined to rumble over.

That seemed to lift Wolves and provide the impetus to score what will almost certainly be a try of the season contender.

On the last tackle and under the shadow of their own posts, they stayed calm and set Penny away down the left. He found Ratchford, who in turn offloaded for King to loop a pass and allow Patton to score his second.

It was probably the most satisfying half of rugby Wolves had produced this season, but what followed tested their character almost to breaking point.

Once Vincent Duport had finally breached the visiting defence, Catalans were on a roll only disrupted by Patton’s penalty goal.

Richie Myler dummied his way past Morgan Smith to score against his former club to narrow the gap further before Benjamin Garcia pounced on a rare Ryan Atkins error to score.

Then followed an even bigger moment as video referee Phil Bentham took an age to deliberate whether Myler had grounded the ball for a second time before eventually ruling he hadn’t, but Tony Gigot’s penalty plus a further kick four minutes later put Catalans in front.

It looked like a terminal blow, but when the chips were down Currie rode to the rescue, staying calm to cut back inside and win the game.

Top of the league with three games to go. A perfect response to their Wembley heartache!

INTERESTING FACTS:

. Wolves’ fifth win in six trips to Catalans.

. The Wire go to the top of the Super League table.

MATCH FACTS:

Super 8s Round Four, Saturday, September 3, 2016

Catalans Dragons...22

Warrington Wolves...26

Dragons: Tony Gigot; Jodie Broughton, Benjamin Garcia, Vincent Duport, Fouad Yaha; Glenn Stewart, Richie Myler; Julien Bousquet, Paul Aiton, Olivier Elima, Remi Casty, Justin Horo, Jason Baitieri. Subs: Louis Anderson, Eloi Pelissier, Greg Mounis, Romain Navarette.

Wolves: Jack Johnson; Matty Russell, Toby King, Ryan Atkins, Kevin Penny; Stefan Ratchford, Dec Patton; Chris Hill, Brad Dwyer, Ashton Sims, Jack Hughes, Ben Currie, George King. Subs: Sam Wilde, Morgan Smith, Jordan Cox, Ryan Bailey.

Scoring: Patton try, 6mins, Patton goal, 0-6; Penny try, 19mins, Patton goal, 0-12; Patton try, 38mins, Patton goal, 0-18; Duport try, 44mins, Gigot goal, 6-18; Myler try, 50mins, Gigot goal, 12-18; Patton penalty, 55mins, 12-20; Garcia try, 67mins, Gigot goal, 18-20; Gigot penalty, 71mins, 20-20; Gigot penalty, 75mins, 22-20; Currie try, 77mins, Patton goal, 22-26.

Penalties: Dragons 10 Wolves 5.

Referee: Jack Smith.

Attendance: 7,108.

Top man: Toby King.