WHEN a team wins in circumstances such as this, one cannot help but wonder if the stars are aligning.

In terms of preparation, Warrington Wolves could not have had it much worse this week.

Steve Price was shorn of six players in one fell swoop due to enforced self-isolations, with two already absent.

Then came the worst news of all – a positive Covid-19 test. Despite the guidelines and protocols put in place, the virus found its way into the camp.

Still, The Wire insisted they would do the job – and what a job they did.

> VIDEO: Price 'super proud' of players

With a fixture schedule so crowded, the fringe players who came in so effectively would surely have got their chance at some point.

However, they probably would have done so with more preparation than a single captain’s run – even less than that in Declan Patton’s case.

The fact he and the likes of Leilani Latu, Luis Johnson and the two Ellises – Longstaff and Robson – were able to perform at such a level when called up can give Price so much encouragement for the weeks ahead.

Warrington Guardian:

Leilani Latu celebrates a debut try. Picture by SWPix.com

They will be needed again, but have some of them played their way into a more permanent spot in the Wire 17?

Latu has gone full circle since arriving – not deemed fit enough at first but doing nothing wrong when called upon. He carried strong and tackled hard, not much more could be expected from a prop.

> 'These are the moments you coach for'

For the complete front-rower’s performance, though, you only had to look along the Wire line for while Latu was solid, Mike Cooper was simply phenomenal.

With a pack so depleted, the senior players needed to put up their hand. Cooper did, and some.

Warrington Guardian:

Mike Cooper scores. Picture by SWPix.com

Stefan Ratchford – skipper for the night – was asked to play at loose forward and did it like the seasoned pro he is and while playing in the second row is not alien to Toby King, he too performed solidly.

We could talk for hours about the players that deserve credit because in truth, they all do.

Not many called such an emphatic victory before kick off and while it has to be said that Hull FC had their problems with injuries and unavailability too, they can have few excuses.

A lot is made of the resilience within this group and on this occasion, it was there in abundance. A win for togetherness in the face of adversity

A real head of steam is building and on this evidence, it is going to take a lot to derail it.

INTERESTING NOTES:

. Wire record their sixth victory in a row

. Stefan Ratchford passes 1,000 points in a Warrington shirt

. Ben Currie makes 150th Super League appearance, Toby King his 100th career appearance

. Leilani Latu, Ellis Robson and Ellis Longstaff make their Wire debuts

MATCH FACTS:

Super League, Round 11

Friday, September 4, 2020

Warrington Wolves...37 Hull FC...12

Wolves: Matty Ashton; Josh Charnley, Anthony Gelling, Jake Mamo, Tom Lineham; Blake Austin, Declan Patton; Leilani Latu, Daryl Clark, Mike Cooper, Toby King, Ben Currie, Stefan Ratchford. Subs: Danny Walker, Luis Johnson, Ellis Robson, Ellis Longstaff

Hull: Jamie Shaul; Adam Swift, Carlos Tuimavave, Josh Griffin, Bureta Faraimo; Albert Kelly, Jake Connor; Ligi Sao, Jordan Johnstone, Jack Brown, Manu Ma'u, Jordan Lane, Brad Fash. Subs: Josh Bowden, Kieran Buchanan, Mahe Fonua, Danny Houghton

Scoring: Griffin try, 2mins, Connor goal, 0-6; Cooper try, 12mins, Ratchford goal, 6-6; Ashton try, 20mins, Ratchford goal, 12-6; Tuimavave try, 31mins, Connor goal, 12-12; Mamo try, 36mins, Ratchford goal, 18-12; Austin drop goal, 39mins, 19-12; Mamo try, 46mins, Ratchford goal, 25-12; Latu try, 60mins, Ratchford goal, 31-12; Austin try, 78mins, Patton goal, 37-12

Penalties: Wolves 4 Hull 5

Referee: Ben Thaler

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