NOW maybe Adam Doyle will receive some praise from Warrington Wolves supporters!

His early season performances in the primrose and blue shirt won the Australian few friends on the terraces but then it was revealed he had been playing with a groin injury.

On Sunday he started his first game for 10 weeks against Salford and his renewed half-back partnership with Lee Briers was the key to Warrington's success.

Afterwards coach Darryl Van de Velde said: "I shouldn't have played Adam really. It was a gamble but we needed some width in our play.

"We had been playing too much one man rugby and the only way I thought we would get some width was by putting Doyley out there and I was really pleased with his effort.

"Adam went into the match with no fitness training behind him on the back of his operation. He hung in well and played the full 80 minutes.

"At some stage people will have to realise that he can play this game. I have brought him over here for a reason. He can play better though. He's got to work hard now on playing better."

Doyle, who joined Warrington in the close season from Western Suburbs, was limited to substitute appearances during May because of his groin trouble and after the defeat at Huddersfield the club sent him for an operation.

The 22-year-old former Australian under 16 Rugby Union international missed four games in June before making his surprise return on Sunday.

Van de Velde was planning to use Mike Wainwright at stand off against the Reds but changed his mind on Friday.

He said: "I asked Adam after training on Friday if he would feel comfortable about playing and he said he would see how he was overnight and decide on Saturday. He came back to me on Saturday and said he was right so he played.

"You have to take gambles at this level. But it was a positive move bringing him back and it worked well for us because he came up with the two tries."

Doyle and Briers had failed to click together earlier in the campaign.

Even though Doyle returned, scrum half Briers remained as chief organiser and playmaker and he revelled in the freedom - pleasing for both his Warrington and Wales coaches.

Briers' solo effort try in the 50th minute, just as Salford were threatening a second half fight back, was the work of great vision, clever dummies, side-stepping and speed off the mark.

In this kind of form Wales squad man Briers will give England plenty of food for thought in the international at Widnes on July 19.

One man who can count himself unlucky not to be involved in that confrontation is Warrington's full back Lee Penny, who helped to set up the first try at Salford and was generally outstanding.

Van de Velde said: "Leee has been our most consistent player of the season. He had a great game. He is really bubbling at present and we've just got to make sure we keep him up for it."

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