ADVENTURE, flair and when things went against them, togetherness and undeniable spirit.

All of that was on display at The Halliwell Jones Stadium in this game – from Salford Red Devils.

Indeed, it can be said they are the embodiment of what Warrington Wolves supporters wish their team could – and perhaps should – be.

They threatened whenever they had the ball, they weren’t afraid to take risks and ultimately, it paid off as they rode off with a deserved two points.

Paul Rowley’s side are a team greater than the sum of its parts and by the end of the game, they made the much more expensively-assembled collective across the field look desperately below-par yet again.

Warrington Guardian:

Picture by SWPix.com

It should have been so much different, though.

While they may have been aided by Kallum Watkins’ sin-binning before the break, the Wire side that came flying out of the traps in the second half was the one we’ve been desperately wanting to see.

The bench of Joe Bullock, James Harrison and Thomas Mikaele were once again making an impact, they created three good tries and they got themselves into a winning position.

Warrington Guardian:

James Harrison put in a lengthy stint off the bench. Picture by Mike Boden

If anything, it made what followed arguably even more infuriating than what has gone before. Here, they had created a platform that should have been enough for victory.

If the likes of St Helens, Wigan and Catalans go into a 16-point lead, they sit behind their jab and as the opposition opens up to force the issue, they capitalise on the chances it brings for them going the other way.

Good teams do not surrender that kind of advantage, but the long and short of it is Warrington Wolves are simply not a good team at the moment.

Warrington Guardian:

Josh Thewlis' try put Wire into a 24-8 lead. Picture by Mike Boden

In the end, the story became an achingly familiar one – it did not take much to knock Wire off their stride, they collapsed into a heap and surely now their top-six hopes are in a similar state.

Having escaped much of the blame for this dismal campaign, more and more supporters are now starting to called Daryl Powell into question.

Yes, there remains a hefty chunk of mitigation in his favour as he goes through the usual process of a head coach finding his way at a new club.

However, he has to take his fair share of accountability for results. Ultimately, the buck stops with him.

The current revolving door of recruitment shows the club are backing their man and will continue to do so, but patience on the terraces is wearing thin.