WOLVES’ season has not just petered out, but driven full throttle into the wilderness over the past three weeks.

Heading into the Super 8s on the back of a convincing win at Castleford and with a Challenge Cup final outing looking a real possibility, the speed at which their trophy hopes evaporated is the only time Tony Smith’s side have hit top gear since.

There may have only been one point in it at The Mend-A-Hose Jungle last Thursday, but Smith admitted The Wire did not deserve to win.

Liam Finn’s late drop goal leaves Warrington needing a six-point swing and some serious points if they are to overturn what looks to most an unattainable deficit.

To their credit, the visitors fought back to level late on, having dominated the first half, and with several players going 80 minutes on the back of lengthy recent absences.

Wolves have faced weeks blighted by injuries and fallen foul of the video referee, notably on Thursday, but they have also lacked creativity and imagination when needed this season.

George King’s quick-thinking kick off aside, that was evident again on Thursday at the Jungle.

Far from the expansive, flowing attack that tore the Tigers apart three weeks previous, Wolves struggled to open up a resolute defence enough to keep top four hopes alive.

Richie Myler cut a nice line for Wolves’ first score when he took Ashton Sims’ pass, but tries for Justin Carney and Michael Shenton had already given Cas a 10-0 lead.

A second from Carney immediately after the break set the tone, and Wolves did not enjoy their purple patch until 11 minutes from time.

It looked then that they might steal it, Myler having been gifted an opportunity – which he took superbly – by Finn’s poor kick and Stefan Ratchford showing the impact he can have with a fine long pass for Kevin Penny to score in the corner.

When Chris Sandow, ruing hitting a post earlier, converted from wide out the momentum looked theirs.

But that was only until Finn’s heroics in the 79th minute.

Vice skipper Chris Hill, Sims and Ben Westwood continuously tried to lift their side throughout, but when Gary Wheeler dropped a pass under little pressure with 10 seconds remaining it summed up Wolves’ night – if not their season.

Smith's boys need to muster a miracle comeback now – albeit one that is mainly out of their hands.

Interesting notes

Chris Hill needs one appearance to reach 300 for his career. Hill has played 127 games for Warrington since 2012, and was previously with Leigh - making 160 appearances for the Centurions (2005-2011). He has also represented England 12 times since 2012.

Kevin Penny needs one try to reach a career century of touchdowns. His total of 99 includes 45 for Warrington between 2006 to 2009 and 2014 to 2015, 3 for North Wales Crusaders (2015), 31 for Swinton (2012-2014), 16 for Widnes (2009 & 2011), 1 for Wakefield (2011) and 3 for Harlequins (2010).

Match facts

Super 8s Round Two, Thursday, August 13, 2015

Castleford Tigers...17 Warrington Wolves...16

Tigers: Ben Roberts; Ashley Gibson, Jake Webster, Michael Shenton, Justin Carney; Liam Finn, Luke Gale; Andy Lynch, Adam Milner, Grant Millington, Oliver Holmes, Mike McMeeken, Nathan Massey. Subs: Luke Dorn, Matt Cook, Junior Moors, Gadwin Springer.

Wolves: Stefan Ratchford; Joel Monaghan, Rhys Evans, Ryan Atkins, Kevin Penny; Chris Sandow, Richie Myler; Chris Hill, Daryl Clark, Ashton Sims, Ben Westwood, Ben Currie, Ben Harrison. Subs: Roy Asotasi, Gary Wheeler, Brad Dwyer, George King.

Scoring: Carney try, 17mins, Gale goal, 6-0; Shenton try, 28mins, 10-0; Myler try, 32mins, Sandow goal, 10-6; Gale penalty, 39mins, 12-6; Carney try, 43mins, 16-6; Myler try, 69mins, 16-10; Penny try, 75mins, Sandow goal, 16-16; Finn drop goal, 78mins, 17-16.

Penalties: Tigers 8 Wolves 7

Referee: Ben Thaler

Attendance: 5,212

Top man: Richie Myler