THE long wait was worth it!

A supporter’s anticipation peaks for the first game of a new season and it was fantastic to see Warrington Wolves’ players giving their all for the shirt to kick off Super League 2016 on a winning note at the home of last year’s treble winners Leeds Rhinos.

That first win makes a huge difference and the feelgood factor should carry into Sunday’s visit by Hull KR.

Admittedly Wolves did it the hard way at Headingley, producing an heroic backs-to-the-wall effort.

In the interest of saving fuel, they will not want to make it so tough for themselves too often – with the possession percentage, territorial dominance and penalty count all against them, but in the face of such circumstances the performance was both inspirational and encouraging at the start of this new marathon.

It was pleasing all the new signings on show contributed significantly, while Rhys Evans’ defensive showing proved to me that the club’s bosses were correct to claim that Chris Bridge’s long-term replacement is within the existing group rather than having to recruit.

On the other flank Ben Currie displayed talent to indicate his already high standards will reach even higher levels this year, while any question marks over whether the new half-back combination of Kurt Gidley and Chris Sandow can fire were surely answered too.

Jordan who? That was the first response from most fans when Cox was plucked from Hull KR but the big man with an even bigger personality followed up his promising appearances in the friendlies with another good shift up front off the bench.

Then there’s the quiet achiever, the man who has gone completely under the radar but opened a few eyes on Thursday night.

Benjamin Jullien, in becoming only the second Frenchman to play first-team rugby for Wolves, took the wind out of the sails of pounding prop Brad Singleton with one bone-crunching hit and left England centre Kallum Watkins shaky on his legs after another.

The former North Wales Crusaders man’s ability to shore up the defence was exactly what Wolves needed in the final 20 minutes of a tight contest He had looked nervous in his short spell off the bench in the friendly win against Leigh but showed that the no mean feat of pulling off a try-saving tackle on Tongan powerhouse Fuifui Moimoi was an indication of more to come.

The scene is set beautifully for Wolves to dish out some payback for that painful Challenge Cup semi-final loss to Hull KR last August and to send out a message that The HJ will be a true fortress in 2016.