WARRINGTON Wolves will have to perform another second-half comeback if they are to keep their Grand Final dreams alive.

Just like against Widnes two weeks ago, Wolves head into the break behind after Wigan Warriors built an early lead.

Joel Monaghan scored before half time, but it came after Matty Smith put the first points on the board with the boot and then converted a Joel Tomkins try.

The hosts, attacking a sea of primrose and blue in the North Stand, put the early pressure on Wolves’ line after five minutes, but Joel Monaghan rose highest to gather a Matty Smith cross-field kick.

Two minutes later and following a driving run after recovering Richie Myler’s deep kick, Warriors’ full back Matty Bowen gained good ground.

Chris Hill was penalised for offside and Smith took the opportunity to put the first two points on the board from nearly 40 metres.

Joe Burgess was next to make a break from deep, but Stefan Ratchford, retaining his full back spot after a superb display at Cas, hauled down the winger after he had evaded two would-be tacklers.

However, Ratchford’s next involvement was to knock on close to his own line and it took a solid Wolves defence to stop Wigan as they whisked the ball right from the scrum.

Wigan were able to maintain their pressure and with the ball worked back to their left, Liam Farrell thought he had done enough to score the game’s first try 12 minutes in.

But Myler met the second rower head on and was able to hold up over the line, with video referee Richard Silverwood signalling no try.

The first 15 minutes was a constant barrage of Wigan attacks, but as Bowen’s pass fell loose, Trent Waterhouse – playing potentially his last game for the club – was in quickly to dive on it.

Waterhouse, given a difficult pass from Ben Harrison, then knocked on himself, as play changed hands quickly.

Wolves’ defence was continuing to soak up the pressure, as a big hit from Anthony England on Eddy Pettybourne brought to an end another Wigan attack.

It had taken 22 minutes but finally the Wolves fans, in full voice, had a Warrington attack to cheer as within moments of each other first Chris Bridge and then Rhys Evans made ground on opposite flanks.

But that optimism was short lived as on 24 minutes Blake Green broke the Wolves line, drew full back Ratchford and passed on for Tomkins to scoot over the line. Smith added the extras.

Wolves’ first real attack of intent was started by Roy Asotasi approaching the half hour, Myler moved the ball on the Gareth O’Brien, who quickly fed Hill.

The Man of Steel contender sidestepped one tackle, but when he was felled the play was brought back for a Warrington penalty after Bowen’s late tackle on Myler early in the move.

Bridge, like many of the Wolves players in the first half, slipped as he approached the Wigan line and came out limping, before being replaced by Matty Russell.

Wolves were beginning to gain more ground and when Micky Higham and Michael Monaghan combined Myler was able to spot a gap, only to find a lack of primrose and blue in support.

With the half drawing to a close, things began to heat up at the DW as Higham almost came to blows with Tomkins.

But Wolves gained a vital foothold in the game moments later, when Myler’s pass deflected off the head of Ben Currie and Joel Monaghan was able to dive on the loose ball for his 38th try of the season. Ratchford could not convert from wide out.