WARRINGTON Wolves Academy team ended their tour of Australia with a defeat against the New South Wales under 17s representative team at the HE Laybutt Sporting Complex in Blacktown, west of Sydney.

Young Wire gave their all but were outclassed 52-10 on the day.

Wolves head of youth Ryan O’Brien said: “I don’t think we gave a particularly good account of ourselves, but sometimes you just have to hold your hands up and admit the opposition was far better than us.

“We were outclassed in all areas against one of the best teams in the world at that age group.

“This game, and the tour in general, has taught our players some humble lessons but hopefully inspired them to work harder on and off the pitch to become the best version of themselves.”

The home side featured familiar names from the game at the top level Down Under, including the sons of Brad Fittler, Brett Rodwell and Jason Williams along with the nephew of Jason Croker.

While they were being coached by Geoff Toovey and assisted in camp by fellow former Australia Test stars Steve Menzies, Nathan Hindmarsh and Boyd Cordner.

The match, which was played in 35-minute halves, was a real eye-opener to the skill that the NSW side possesses but the Wolves lads refused to buckle and if they had made a few less handling errors in good positions then the scoreline could have been a little closer.

New South Wales opened the scoring in the second minute when a set restart put them on the front foot and a quick play the ball close to the line saw hooker Mitchell Brophy put second row Jacob Halangahu over at the side of the posts.

Stand off Mitchell Woods converted and then six minutes later NSW sent the ball out wide to winger Harry Wald and he raced clear down the right wing on a fifty metre run, evading two attempted tackles, to score at the side of the posts. Woods added the conversion.

Wolves responded shortly afterwards when a great high kick to the corner on the last tackle by scrum half Adam Whalley saw winger Frank Sergent jump higher than his much taller opposite number to collect the ball superbly and score in the right corner.

Midway through the half NSW ran the ball on the last tackle and a fine cross-field run by Woods saw him find full back Jaxen Edgar who crossed wide out on the right. Woods landed the conversion.

Five minutes later Wolves were rewarded for some pressure on the NSW line when Whalley was held just short but a quick play the ball saw centre Arron Lindop go on his own from dummy half and force his way over wide out on the left. Winger Noah Booth added a fine conversion.

NSW then enjoyed a period of territorial domination and a great chip over the defence by scrum half Toby Rodwell was collected by Edgar and he put substitute Zane Harrison over at the side of the posts.

Woods converted and then straight from the restart the impressive Woods broke clear before finding Rodwell in support to race between the posts. Woods added the conversion to give his side a 30-10 half time advantage.

Seven minutes into the second half Wolves made a handling error before conceding a penalty straight after and NSW punished them when substitute Zane Harrison found fellow substitute Lleyton Moore and he went over at the left of the posts.

Woods converted but then Wolves managed to make inroads into the NSW half without being able to take the chances and just before the hour NSW centre Nikora Williams broke away down the left and used his strength to score wide out on the left.

As the game entered the final five minutes the hosts added two more tries.

Firstly prop forward Cody Hopwood managed to ground the ball over the line from close range.

Woods converted and then a fine 45 metre break from centre Casey McLean saw him tackled five metres short but a quick play the ball saw Edgar go over from dummy half to bring up the NSW half century. Woods added the conversion to complete the scoring.

NSW: Jaxen Edgar, Dominic Farrugia, Casey McLean, Nikora Williams, Harry Wald, Mitchell Woods, Toby Rodwell, Hokafonu Lemoto, Mitchell Brophy, Cody Hopwood, Jezaiah Funa-Iuta, Jacob Halangahu, Zacharia Fittler. Subs: Zane Harrison, Lleyton Moore, Simione Laiafi, Jack Hilliar, James Crocker.

Tries: Halangahu (2 mins), Wald (8), Edgar (17, 68), Harrison (28), Rodwell (30), Moore (42), Williams (59), Hopwood (66).

Goals: Woods 8 from 9.

WOLVES: Cai Taylor-Wray, Frank Sergent, Zack Gardner, Arron Lindop, Noah Booth, Pat Irwin, Adam Whalley, Noah High, Ben Hartill, Joe Bajer, Ben Metcalfe, Nolan Tupaea, Sam Marshall. Subs: Lewis Barratt, Alfie Mather, Peter Scott, Logan Raughter, Joe Hickey.

Tries: Sargent (13 mins), Lindop (22).

Goals: Booth 1 from 2.