WHILE Warrington’s spirit was admirable, Friday served as a valuable lesson in how to mix it with the world’s best.

Tony Smith knows his side could have beaten St George Illawarra, had they hit their potential.

An error-ridden game from the hosts contributed to their undoing in the World Club Series opener.

Ashton Sims’ knock on inside the opening 90 seconds set the tone, with the NRL outfit taking full advantage through Tyson Frizell.

Many will argue, and argue correctly, that Dragons should have been a man down – for at least 10 minutes – when Eto Nabuli spectacularly floored Kevin Penny.

A different decision from Ben Thaler would no doubt have influenced the outcome, but a Dragons side at full strength slowed the life out of Warrington.

Wolves, as ever, wanted to play on the front foot, but St George were allowed to delay the play-the-ball – typical of the weekend’s fixtures – stifling Daryl Clark, who found the opposition defence set.

The hosts matched the Australian visitors down the middle, on par in the pack with Sims, Chris Hill, Ben Westwood and Anthony England. But errors relieved any pressure building on the line.

Wolves handed possession back to St George early in the tackle count on several occasions; Ryan Atkins’ offload, Gary Wheeler and Richie Myler both guilty of wasting kicks.

In response, St George hardly wasted a kick. Half backs Gareth Widdop and Benji Marshall consistently found the right length and created threatening situations.

Paul McGregor’s side backed it up with very few errors of their own.

But The Halliwell Jones crowd left with some special memories, not least Gareth O’Brien’s superb individual try after dummying State of Origin full back Josh Dugan.

Atkins also showed what he does best when finishing with power and determination in the first half.

Tries for Joel Thompson and Dugan kept the visitors in front, though, and Wolves’ evening ended in similar vein to how it started.

It was a case of ‘so close, but so far’ as the club’s most prolific try-scorer and skipper, Joel Monaghan, spilled in the corner when he seemed odds on to touch down.

But, as Smith predicted, this experience will no doubt prove invaluable to his side’s future endeavours.

MATCH FACTS

Warrington Wolves...12 St George Illawarra Dragons...18

Wolves: Kevin Penny; Joel Monaghan,Gary Wheeler; Ryan Atkins, Rhys Evans; Gareth O’Brien, Richie Myler; Chris Hill, Daryl Clark, Ashton Sims, Ben Currie, James Laithwaite, Ben Westwood. Subs: Chris Bridge, Ben Harrison, Micky Higham, Anthony England.

Dragons: Josh Dugan; Jason Nightingale, Dane Nielsen, Dylan Farrell, Eto Nabuli; Gareth Widdop, Benji Marshall; Rory O’Brien, Mitch Rein, Leeson Ah Mau, Tyson Frizell, Joel Thompson, Ben Creagh. Subs: Trent Merrin, Jack De Belin, Jake Marketo, George Rose.

Scoring: Frizell try, 75secs, Widdop conversion, 0-6; O’Brien try, 12mins, O’Brien conversion, 6-6; Thompson try, 18mins, Widdop conversion, 6-12; Atkins try, 30mins, 10-12; O’Brien penalty, 57mins, 12-12; Dugan try, 62mins, Widdop conversion, 12-18.

Referee: Ben Thaler

Sin binned: None

Penalties: Wolves 6 Dragons 1

Attendance: 13,080

Top Man: Ben Westwood

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