STEVE Price said he got the response he wanted from his Warrington Wolves side.

The Wire turned in one of their worst performances for some time against Leeds last week into a 9-8 win against high-flying Castleford Tigers.

Tom Lineham scored Warrington’s only try, while Blake Austin sealed the win with a drop goal 55 seconds before the final hooter.

Four previous field-goal attempts – two from each side – had been put wide in the closing six minutes.

“I thought it was a good old tough game of rugby,” said Price.

“Cas are a quality team, one of the form teams of the early rounds. We had to earn it tonight.

“Defensively I thought we got back to our DNA. To keep them to one try – which I thought was a tough call against us – was pleasing.

“It was end-to-end, old fashioned tough game.

“I thought we came up with some big plays when Danny Richardson was lining up those field goals for Castleford.

“There were big plays by Joe Philbin and Stef Ratchford to get off the line and put some pressure on them in the dying moments.

“I thought we were a bit unfortunate with a couple of line breaks on our left side.

“I felt we did enough to win the game.

“Blake missed a field goal but it just goes to show the type of player he is.

“He never went into his shell, he said give me the ball and I’ll go again – and he nailed it.

 



 

 

“It shows he’s a quality player under pressure and we need more of that.

“I thought our forwards were really solid through the middle third.

“Mike Cooper and Joe Philbin made some big strong inroads through the middle third and we were able to play off the back of that.

“It was a pleasing result.”

And he agreed it was satisfying to come out on top in a tight game in the context of the previous week's mauling.

"It just goes to show we have a group of men who really care about their badge, each other, the town and the supporters.

"That's a performance of the standard that we need to meet every week.

"It's the lev el of consistency we're trying to chase.

"We have a really good opportunity next week to go down to Hull and put in another strong performance like tonight."

But while The Wire remain unbeaten at home - including a 19-0 win over champions St Helens - they have lost eight on the run on their travels going back to last July.

When asked why the home form is greater than the away form, he said: "If I had that magic wand I'd be able to give you the answers.

"Time will tell if we have those answers come next week.

"As a coaching group we're still searching for them.

"But we've got a team that's knocked off a couple of quality rugby league teams ov er the past couple of weeks.

"So it's there, it's about that consistent basis on a continual climb now."

Danny Walker got the nod at hooker this week in place of Daryl Clark, who had been battling an ankle injury suffered against Leeds but was nevertheless named on the bench and featured in the second half.

"I just thought it was the best thing for the team this week," said Price.

Warrington are one of the lowest points scorers in the competition so far this season so he was asked about that situation.

"I'm not concerned about that at the moment," said Price.

"All I'm concerned about is getting our defence right and we did that tonight. We'll build off that."

Price was asked if there is an update on Anthony Gelling, who has been stood down from selection since the St Helens win following an incident away from the club.

"I haven't really got any comment to make regarding Anthony at the present," said Price.

Gelling started the season at right centre and following his absence Price has called on Jake Mamo, Stefan Ratchford and thirdly Keanan Brand to take on the role.

Price was pleased that former Widnes Vikings man Brand, 21, marked his home debut with a win after the tough baptism he had at Leeds.

"He's a terrific young fella who had a tough initiation last week," said Price.

"Those types of performance only make you stronger.

"It just goes to show what sort of character he is as a young kid.

"He's got so much more development in his game.

"He never bottled it, he never carried any divets, he put his hand up and admitted where he went wrong.

"Then he went out there tonight and had to make some decisions around a quality attacking team in Cas, who ask a lot of questions from you from all parts of the field.

"I thought he did a really solid job on that right edge.

"There was no doubt I would go with him again this week.

"If you display the effort and you're doing the right things on a consistent basis then you'll get your chance.

"There was no reason why I shouldn't have gone with him again this weekend. He did really well."