THE sight of Simon Grix being stretchered off in the first half at Langtree Park marred what was otherwise a fantastic 39-12 winning performance in Wolves’ penultimate Super League outing.

Tony Smith’s side responded superbly to going behind to the league leaders in the first half and hardly gave Saints a sniff in the second.

But victory came at the expense of Grix, who has undergone surgery on a double broken leg, after an already injury-ravaged season.

Wolves also lost joint-skipper Ben Westwood to a torn calf in a costly affair but took great satisfaction in, at least for Round 26, stopping Nathan Brown’s side collecting the League Leaders’ Shield.

Despite losing two back rowers with less than half an hour played, Wolves’ attacking play appeared to click in to place – and at an opportune time too, with the play-offs lurking around the corner.

The hosts’ joy at Shannon McDonnell’s opener was short lived, as the versatile Stefan Ratchford jinked over and was shortly followed by a dummy-masterclass from Michael Monaghan.

Richie Myler, with something to prove in his second game back since being dropped, was enjoying a role alongside half-back partner Gareth O’Brien and it was after he was stopped short that Grix suffered his horrendous injury.

Despite the lengthy stoppage, Wolves returned to action with Myler feeding O’Brien to weave his way between the Saints line, before also sending Joel Monaghan over.

The loss of Westwood followed, but Wolves’ pack men stood up to the task and a monumental performance from Ben Harrison saw him driving his side forward through the middle.

Willie Manu capitalised on a momentary lapse in concentration, giving the Saints support a false hope that it may be their night.

But Wolves showed why they are a team yet to be defeated by the hosts at their three-year old home.

For all Wolves’ intensity in the second half, Saints were riddled with errors, gifting tries to Joel Monaghan and Ryan Atkins.

Myler chipped in with a try of his own but the biggest, yet ironic, cheer came from the primrose and blue faithful at the sight of the Shield being boxed up and escorted back down the tunnel.

INTERESTING NOTES

The 39-12 success was Warrington’s biggest win in history away to St Helens, in terms of points scored and margin of victory

Wolves became only the second team to win at Langtree Park this season, Wigan being the other successful outfit against a Saints side with the best home record in Super League

Joel Monaghan’s second try - his 30th of the season - was his 100th Super League try in four seasons since arriving from Australia

MATCH FACTS

Super League Round 26, Thursday, September 4, 2014

St Helens...12 Warrington Wolves...39

St Helens: Shannon McDonnell; Tommy Makinson, Matty Dawson, Josh Jones, Adam Swift; Lance Hohaia, Paul Wellens; Kyle Amor, James Roby, Alex Walmsley, Anthony Laffranchi, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Jordan Turner. Subs: Mose Masoe, Sia Soliola, Willie Manu, Mark Flanagan.

Wolves: Matty Russell; Joel Monaghan, Stefan Ratchford, Ryan Atkins, Rhys Evans; Gareth O’Brien, Richie Myler; Chris Hill, Michael Monaghan, Ben Harrison, Ben Westwood, James Laithwaite, Simon Grix. Subs: Micky Higham, Roy Asotasi, Trent Waterhouse, Ben Currie.

Scoring: McDonnell try, 3mins, Makinson goal, 6-0; Ratchford try, 8mins, 6-4; M Monaghan try, 19mins, Ratchford goal, 6-10; O’Brien try, 22mins, Ratchford goal, 6-16; J Monaghan try, 25mins, Ratchford goal, 6-22; Manu try, 34mins, Makinson goal, 12-22; Myler drop goal, 12-23, 40mins; Myler try, 46mins, 12-27; J Monaghan try, 53mins, Ratchford goal, 12-33; Atkins try, 63mins, O’Brien goal, 12-39.

Referee: James Child

Penalties: Saints 3 Wolves 4

Attendance: 12,854

Top Man: Harrison