FOR too long now, Warrington Wolves have been accused of not being clinical enough when opportunities present themselves.

It is a brush they have been tarred with for much of the past two seasons and it has undermined their push for honours.

Are we seeing signs now that things are starting to change?

Scoring 50 points is a sign of a well-functioning attack on any particular week and it is definitely not to be sniffed at.

> Intent, directness and Inglis – what Steve Price made of the victory

Picture by Mike Boden

Picture by Mike Boden

Indeed, one has to wonder what number they would have reached if it had not taken until after half time to get their act together.

Much of the credit for that has to go to Hull KR, who were determined to spoil the party on Greg Inglis’ debut.

They moved the ball around with enterprise and fully deserved the half-time lead they worked their way into, but they were aided by some Warrington defence that can best be described as soft.

Having been moved over to the right edge to accommodate Inglis, Toby King looked uncomfortable at first as he allowed Shaun Kenny-Dowall to outmuscle him before Jordan Abdull caught him asleep at marker for a walk-in score.

With those two plus Kane Linnett and Ryan Hall, the Robins’ left edge is a potent weapon that will cause teams plenty of issues. The last thing they needed was a helping hand.

With the ball, though, King showed his aim to outshine Inglis is a serious one as once again, he was all class.

Picture by Mike Boden

Picture by Mike Boden

Off contract at season’s end and with rumours of NRL interest and rivals throwing big money his way starting to swirl, he is one player Warrington must move heaven and earth to keep hold of.

Going route one improved things immeasurably for The Wire as they capitalised on the good work the forwards were doing.

As ever, Chris Hill and Mike Cooper laid some impressive groundwork while Sitaleki Akauola certainly took the chance given to him by Robbie Mulhern’s injury. If it’s direct and purposeful you want, do not look further than the Tongan.

Picture by Mike Boden

Picture by Mike Boden

And so to the man of the hour.

It would have been naïve to expect the all-conquering Greg Inglis in this game – it was always going to be an eye-opener for him.

> What Greg Inglis had to say about his Warrington Wolves debut

Indeed as centres go, you would have to say King, Kenny-Dowall and direct opposite Brad Takairangi caught the eye more.

However, a try and 80 minutes in the tank means the long-awaited ‘GI Day’ went about as to plan as could be expected – he even slipped seamlessly into full-back when Matty Ashton went off injured.

He will get better in time and both individually and collectively, progress is the buzzword.

Picture by Mike Boden

Picture by Mike Boden

INTERESTING NOTES:

. Greg Inglis becomes The Wire’s oldest debutant in the Super League era (34 years 104 days)

. Inglis’ try was the 200th of his career

. Warrington score 50 points in a game for the first time since beating Huddersfield 50-19 in April 2019

MATCH FACTS:

Super League, Round Five

Saturday, May 1, 2021

Warrington Wolves...50 Hull KR...26

Wolves: Matty Ashton; Jake Mamo, Greg Inglis, Toby King, Josh Charnley; Stefan Ratchford, Gareth Widdop; Chris Hill, Daryl Clark, Mike Cooper, Jack Hughes, Ben Currie, Matt Davis. Subs: Joe Philbin, Jason Clark, Danny Walker, Sitaleki Akauola

Rovers: Adam Quinlan; Ethan Ryan, Brad Takairangi, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Ryan Hall; Rowan Milnes, Jordan Abdull; George Lawler, Matt Parcell, George King, Kane Linnett, Luis Johnson, Dean Hadley. Subs: Korbin Sims, Jez Litten, Matthew Storton, Muizz Mustapha

Scoring: Kenny-Dowall try, 4mins, Abdull goal, 0-6; T King try, 10mins, Ratchford goal, 6-6; Currie try, 16mins, Ratchford goal, 12-6; Hall try, 24mins, Abdull goal, 12-12; Abdull penalty, 31mins, 12-14; Abdull try, 38mins, 12-18; Currie try, 44mins, 16-18; Inglis try, 51mins, Ratchford goal, 22-18; Hall try, 57mins, 22-22; D Clark try, 60mins Ratchford goal, 28-22; Mamo try, 66mins, Ratchford goal, 34-22; Charnley try, 69mins, Ratchford goal, 40-22; Linnett try, 72mins, 40-26; Walker try, 77mins, Ratchford goal, 46-26; Charnley try, 80mins, 50-26

Penalties: Wolves 4 Rovers 2

Sin bin: Johnson (Hull KR, 75mins, professional foul)

Referee: Scott Mikalauskas

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