THIS story is becoming an achingly familiar one.

Basic errors, an unbalanced penalty count and a glut of points given away in a short period that ultimately decided the game. They all add up to another chastening evening for Wolves and Tony Smith.

The Wire arrived at the Totally Wicked Stadium looking to avoid their worst ever start to a league campaign. Sadly, they never looked like making that happen.

They were on the back foot pretty much from the off as Saints dominated territory but to their credit, Wolves muscled up in defence.

That was, however, until the out-of-form Matty Russell failed to deal with a grubber kick and Zeb Taia touched down.

The floodgates were open and two more tries, one for Jack Owens from a clever kick and an Adam Swift effort straight from the restart, saw Wolves go from being well in the game to well out of it in just six minutes.

In a second half that was already the biggest of their season, Wolves came out firing and Kevin Brown came up with an intelligent short ball to send Kurt Gidley over for his first try of the campaign.

When Saints were called offside from the kick-off, hopes of a season-defining comeback were raised still, but another handling error put an end to that particular spell of pressure.

The Wire fans remained vocal in the hope their team would come again, but it proved to be yet another false dawn.

The hosts were able to keep them pinned inside their own half, with Mark Percival adding a penalty before Swift got his second to end Wolves’ hopes once and for all.

That try came from a penalty given away by Jack Hughes for dissent. That will wind Smith up more than most things.

Matty Smith’s drop-goal added insult to injury, while Alex Walmsley’s late try was painfully similar to two they had conceded to Leigh’s Gareth Hock the week before.

He was able to barge through a defence that knew the game was up. A surefire sign of a side in complete disarray.

Chairman Steven Broomhead was public in his backing of Smith before the game. One wonders how he and his colleagues will feel now.

Whatever comes of this campaign, this Wire side have already made history for all the wrong reasons.

INTERESTING NOTES:

  •  Six defeats from six makes this Warrington’s worst ever start to a league season.
  • Chris Hill’s 150th Super League appearance for Wolves.
  • Stefan Ratchford’s first appearance of the season.

MATCH FACTS:

Super League Round Six

Friday, March 24, 2017

St Helens…31 Warrington Wolves…6

Saints: Tommy Makinson; Jack Owens, Ryan Morgan, Mark Percival, Adam Swift; Theo Fages, Matty Smith; Alex Walmsley, Tommy Lee, Luke Douglas, Zeb Taia, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Jon Wilkin. Subs: James Roby, Kyle Amor, Adam Walker, Dominique Peyroux.

Wolves: Stefan Ratchford; Matty Russell, Rhys Evans, Toby King, Jack Johnson; Kevin Brown, Kurt Gidley; Chris Hill, Daryl Clark, Mike Cooper, Ben Westwood, Jack Hughes, Joe Westerman. Subs: Ashton Sims, Brad Dwyer, Dom Crosby, Harvey Livett.

Scoring: Taia try, 31mins, Percival goal, 6-0; Owens try, 34mins, Percival goal, 12-0; Swift try, 37mins, Percival goal, 18-0; Gidley try, 43mins, Ratchford goal, 18-6; Percival penalty, 54mins, 20-6; Swift try, 63mins, 24-6; Smith drop goal, 73mins, 25-6; Walmsley try, 78mins, Percival goal, 31-6.

Penalties: Saints 9 Wolves 8.

Referee: James Child.

Attendance: 11,598.

Man of the match (live blog fan’s poll): Stefan Ratchford.