THE difference in experience was telling as Warrington Wolves’ reserves started their league season with a defeat on Saturday.

A young Wire side made the trip east to take on Hull KR, who fielded several players with Super League experience in their line-up.

And one of those players – winger Louis Senior – made the key difference in the game by touching down for four tries including a first-half treble as the hosts ran out 30-4 winners.

Warrington’s only points came courtesy of Jake Thewlis as last year’s Reserves Player of the Year got 2024 off to a try-scoring start by reacting quickest to touch down a clever Adam Whalley kick in the right corner.

That came after Senior had scored his first two tries, and he added one more to seal his hat-trick to take his side 14-4 ahead at the break. He then rounded off the scoring late on after Lennie Ellis and Connor Barley had pulled the Robins further clear.

Wire did have a period with a man advantage after Leo Tennison was sin-binned for a late hit on Whalley as he kicked the ball, but they could not take advantage.

Reserves head coach Ryan O’Brien believes the youngsters will take a lot of lessons from the game and while he conceded the physical advantage Hull KR had would have made it difficult for them, he insists his players “did not do themselves any favours.”

“We came up against a fairly experienced Hull KR side who had considerably more Super League appearances under their belt than us,” he said.

“The difference in physicality was evident at times – they dominated the wrestle on both sides of the ball and outdid us for pace on occasions.

“Credit to them – they were a skilful outfit and were very disruptive when we were attacking their goal-line.

“We didn’t do ourselves any favours either – a couple of plays off in key moments as well as poor discipline stopped us from building any sort of pressure.

“There is plenty to work on but I have no doubt our boys will be better for the experience.”

Warrington’s next reserves fixture is on Saturday, March 23, when Wakefield Trinity visit Victoria Park.

Wolves: Cai Taylor-Wray; Frank Sergent, Zac Bardsley-Rowe, Arron Lindop, Jake Thewlis; Pat Irwin, Adam Whalley; Max Wood, Ben Hartill, Lucas Green, Peter Scott, Nolan Tupaea, Tom Whitehead. Subs: Zack Gardner, Joe Bajer, Bobby Shingler, Logan Raughter. 18th man: Noah High