IN time to come Warrington Wolves’ defeat of London Broncos on Saturday will be remembered for two things.

Firstly, Luther Burrell’s debut; and then there is the fact that The Wire scored almost a point per minute in the first half but somehow failed to add to the tally in the second period.

Former England rugby union international Burrell, six weeks after his last 15-man game with Northampton Saints, got a fresh taste of a sport he last played regularly as a student over 10 years ago.

Warrington Guardian:

Luther Burrell chasing a kick to the try line. Picture: Mike Boden

He came on to the field for injured Blake Austin halfway through the second half, taking up position in the right-centre slot with the game already won at 36-6.

Everyone with even the slightest interest in seeing how his switch to rugby league transpires knows he is a big human being.

> What Burrell said about his Wire debut

But the physical presence this hulk is going to offer The Wire in the weeks, months and years to come was jaw-dropping even after he lined up in defence alongside fellow six-footers Josh Charnley and Ben Currie at the Trailfinders Sports Club.

He let everybody know he had arrived with two thumping big hits moments after entering the field, the first with his bulging long arms open wide saying ‘Come to daddy’.

Warrington Guardian:

Here I come, says Luther Burrell as he makes his first contribution in a Wire match. Picture: Mike Boden



 

Beyond that, it was a quiet start for the 31-year-old who needs time to bed in. Only then will we see all the other skills he will bring to the team along with his physical threat.

It is no wonder he was itching to get out on the field after The Wire piled six converted tries past a kamikaze London outfit in the first period.

> Wire head coach Price highlights his top performers

Danny Ward’s side had problems completing their sets under the pressure of Warrington’s uncompromising defence.

And the extra defence and additional errors by London with the ball gave The Wire plenty of opportunity to make them pay in a patient and methodical manner, with Tom Lineham, Mike Cooper, Bryson Goodwin, Jake Mamo, Toby King and Jack Hughes finishing off some great approach work.

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Warrington Guardian:

Warrington Guardian:

Warrington Guardian:

Warrington Guardian:

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The six Warrington tries captured by Mike Boden

The second half was a different story, as both sides racked up the errors.

Three Warrington ‘tries’ were disallowed and London, who scored the only points in the second-half with a dummy-half charge that would have disappointed head coach Steve Price, had a couple of near misses.

Price shuffled his cards in the second-half too, taking off Daryl Clark, Mike Cooper and Austin – who had an arm injury – which probably upset The Wire’s rhythm in attack but the team defended well.

Warrington Guardian:

Warrington Guardian:

Afterwards it was good to hear Price praising England back-rower Currie, who had taken over at stand-off following Austin’s exit.

Currie made a nice break and offload for Goodwin’s try and it chopped down London flyer Keiran Dixon when he had open field at a time when a London try could have changed the first-half momentum.

But more than that, Currie looked more like the player he was before his two ACL operations with all-round fine efforts on and off the ball.

> Skipper pleased that Wolves put 'disruption' behind them

INTERESTING NOTES:

. Luther Burrell’s Wire debut

. Dec Patton’s 100th career game

. Wolves are unbeaten against London since 2012

MATCH FACTS:

Super League Round 21, Saturday, July 6, 2019

London Broncos…6 Warrington Wolves…36

Broncos: Alex Walker; Kieran Dixon, Ben Hellewell, Elliot Kear, Rhys Williams; Jordan Abdull, Morgan Smith; Greg Richards, James Cunningham, Rob Butler, Sadiq Adebiyi, Matt Gee, Luke Yates. Subs: Matty Fozzard, Eddie Battye, Matt Fleming, Mark Ioane

Wolves: Jake Mamo; Josh Charnley, Toby King, Bryson Goodwin, Tom Lineham; Blake Austin, Dec Patton; Lama Tasi, Daryl Clark, Mike Cooper, Jack Hughes, Ben Currie, Matt Davis. Subs: Jason Clark, Joe Philbin, Danny Walker, Luther Burrell

Scoring: Lineham try, 4mins, Patton goal, 0-6; Cooper try, 13mins, Patton goal, 0-12; Goodwin try, 18mins, Patton goal, 0-18; Mamo try, 24mins, Patton goal, 0-24; Hughes try, 35mins, Patton goal, 0-30; King try, 38mins, Patton goal, 0-36; Fozard try, 42, Dixon goal, 6-36.

Penalties: Broncos 5 Wolves 5

Referee: Greg Dolan

Attendance: 2,357

Top man (readers’ vote): Daryl Clark