ALL with a primrose and blue heart would have left The Halliwell Jones Stadium highly encouraged on Sunday.

Despite six home debutants in the 21-man squad, Wolves looked organised, balanced, well-drilled and in control of the Simon Grix Testimonial match from early on.

Credit can be given to chief organisers Kurt Gidley and Chris Sandow for laying the platform, and it was pleasing to see the two former NRL stars hit it off on their first outing together in the halves.

There were times when both were rewarded for playing what they see rather than sticking to structure.

Ex-Newcastle Knights skipper Gidley bagged his first try for the club after calling a switch in play that saw the Leigh defence caught for numbers and he strolled through.

And one particular drilled long pass from Sandow was exquisite as he sent the powerful Gene Ormsby over for the second of his hat-trick of tries.

Just as uplifting was the way both had turns in standing up to the menace of strong running ex-England back rower Gareth Hock, who lost his rag several times when his attempts at ‘bullying’ little guys backfired.

However, it was two homegrown talents that really caught the eye.

It is all change on the right flank with Joel Monaghan and Chris Bridge now departed, but that edge looks to be in safe hands.

Welsh international Rhys Evans, sidelined with injury for much of last year, produced classic centre play to accelerate away for a wonderful try and he judged the situation perfectly when faced with three defenders to suck them all in and send Tom Lineham away on an unopposed score.

Wolves were deadly on the left too, where the 2015 top try scorer Ben Currie was working his magic on the inside of Ormsby.

Currie, looking like he has bulked up considerably in pre-season, had his hand in three tries. A clever inside pass for Kevin Penny’s try was a pearler, and he used his pace to cross for a long-range try himself.

Super League dreamers Leigh were missing Rangi Chase and Harrison Hansen, and suffered two injuries in their three-quarter line early on, so there is plenty of reason for Wolves not to get carried away.

But with this following up a 40-0 win at Widnes on December 27, the signs of promise are clear to see.

Wolves: Kevin Penny; Tom Lineham, Rhys Evans, Ryan Atkins, Gene Ormsby; Kurt Gidley, Chris Sandow; Chris Hill, Daryl Clark, Ashton Sims, Ben Currie, Jack Hughes, Ben Westwood. Subs: Joe Westerman, Brad Dwyer, George King, Gary Wheeler, Declan Patton, Benjamin Jullien, Jordan Cox, Joe Philbin.