WOLVES head coach Tony Smith has praised the “electric” performance of Ben Currie after Wire’s 70-10 Challenge Cup drubbing of Oldham on Saturday.

The back-rower score two tries and was influential as Wolves recovered from a nightmare start to secure safe passage to the quarter-finals.

Wolves ran in thirteen tries in all to get themselves in the hat for tomorrow’s draw, but Smith was full of praise for former Ireland international Currie’s display.

“He’s still got some things he can work on but he’s maturing and he’s something special,” he said.

“We had some guys come back into form but Ben was outstanding today, he was electric in the second half and at the end of the first half as well.

“He’s a pleasure to watch, he’s got all the skills. You can compare him to other players but he’s Ben Currie and he’s making a name for himself.

“What’s his position? I often get asked that but I’m still not sure. I’m sure if I asked him to play dummy-half he would throw some pretty good passes from there. “ Currie has been touted for international selection as new England coach Wayne Bennett ponders his squad for the season-ending Four Nations, but Smith says he is putting his hand up in the only way he knows how.

“He’s in great form, he’s putting his hand up in the best way, I’m not big on pushing players but he’s pushing himself,” he said.

“I think it’s up to others to recognise what he’s doing and what he’s done but he’s doing a great job, he’s screaming out in the right ways.

“I know he’s getting a lot of accolades and headlines at the moment but they are well deserved. He’s turning up each week and he doesn’t have many flat weeks.”

Wolves fell behind through Michael Ward’s early try, but they roared back and George King’s hat-trick helped them to a comfortable scoreline.

Benjamin Jullien and Currie got braces, while Chris Hill, Rhys Evans, Tom Lineham and debutant Morgan Smith also got on the scoresheet before Gareth Owen’s late consolation.

However, despite the scoreline, Smith was full of praise for their game opponents.

“It was comfortable in the end but Oldham showed how they've been playing recently,” he said.

“They really challenged us in that first half and it took us a while until we clicked into gear.

“For the efforts they put in in the first half it was a bit of a harsh scoreline but we deserved those points in the end.

“They knocked off Hull KR and we've watched them against Featherstone and Sheffield, they are a good team and I wish them well for the future.”