HEAD coach Ryan O’Brien was happy with how Warrington Wolves’ reserves responded to his half-time challenge to pick up their first victory of the campaign.

The Wire ran out 42-20 winners over Wakefield Trinity at a blustery Victoria Park on Saturday to bounce back from their defeat at Hull KR in the league opener earlier this month.

Livewire full-back Cai Taylor-Wray scored two of Warrington’s eight tries, with Joe Hickey converting five of those despite the windy conditions.

Noah High and Joe Bajer joined Taylor-Wray on the scoresheet as the hosts led 16-4 at the break, when O’Brien and his coaching staff challenged the players to “grab hold of the game.”

They certainly did so as Taylor-Wray doubled his tally to go with further efforts from Bobby Shingler Zac Bardsley-Rowe, Frank Sergent and Adam Whalley.

O’Brien still insists the team need to “take their game up a few levels” in the weeks and months ahead but declared himself happy with how his instructions were taken onboard.

“The first half was very stop-start and lacked intensity,” he said.

“At half time, we challenged the lads to grab hold of the game and up their physicality on both sides of the ball and there were certainly improvements in the second half.

“Sometimes you just have to put your focus and energy into winning the collision and good things will happen off the back of that.

“We still need to take our game up a few levels and we will be working hard to do so as the season progresses.”

The reserves’ next outing is on Saturday, April 6, when they visit Leeds Rhinos.

Wolves: Cai Taylor-Wray; Frank Sergent, Zac Bardsley-Rowe, Arron Lindop, Jake Thewlis; Joe Hickey, Adam Whalley; Max Wood, Ben Hartill, Noah High, Peter Scott, Nolan Tupaea, Tom Whitehead. Subs: Lewis Barratt, Joe Bajer, Bobby Shingler, Jamie Reddecliff, Logan Raughter (18th man)