Hull FC 30 Warrington Wolves 18, key talking points

As they closed the show in Newcastle yesterday, they were dragged back after a strong start to be beaten 30-18 by Hull FC, who scored 24 points in the second half.

Here, our Wire reporter Matt Turner discusses five key talking points and takeaways from the defeat on Tyneside – their first at Magic Weekend since 2018…

What has happened to Wire?

Having been scratchy in terms of performance for a number of weeks, that is now starting to reflect in results.

This was a different kind of disappointment to last week’s loss to Leigh because while Wire were never in any kind of control of that game, they had put themselves in a position to win this one.

But things went very wrong, very quickly – to many, it will have seemed like a haunting throwback to the struggles the team had last year.

They struggled to knit anything together cohesively with the ball and without it, they failed to soak up any pressure as a nightmare start to the second period featuring three Hull tries plus another chalked off by the video referee in eight minutes ultimately proved pivotal.

Earlier in the year, it looked like those ghosts had been well and truly banished. Unfortunately, it looks like they still lurk and are starting to become more prominent.

Contrasting emotions - a glum-looking Paul Vaughan looks on as Chris Satae and Darnell McIntosh celebrate (Image: SWPix.com)

A loss many could see coming at half time

When Warrington got out to a 12-0 lead after a positive start, it looked like they had put last week’s defeat firmly behind them.

Even Danny Houghton’s try did not put them off their stride as they piled the pressure onto the Black and Whites, forcing errors and carving out opportunities.

However, they could not make the most of having 60 per cent of the first-half possession and spending almost all of the opening period in the Hull half.

They have undoubted power up front but they too often tried to simply bash their way through an admirable Hull defence.

The one time they did throw some shape at their opposition, it paid dividends with Connor Wrench's second try after the break, but they opted mainly for the sledgehammer over the scalpel.

It failed to come up with the goods and as a result, they left themselves open to what followed.

Connor Wrench opens the scoring - but should Wire have had more than two tries in the first half? (Image: SWPix.com)

Kick offs cause chaos

At least two of Hull’s six tries were indirect results of wicked, spiralling short kick-offs from Hull’s Jake Clifford.

The first came immediately after Wire had gone 12-0 up, with the Black and Whites immediately regaining possession and scoring later that set through Danny Houghton.

Clifford pulled off a similar trick at the start of the second half and ultimately, it set Hull off on the purple patch that turned the game their way.

No doubt they will have talked up those kick-offs in team meetings through the week, but knowing what is coming and stopping it are two entirely different things.

Danny Houghton's try came from Wire failing to regather Jake Clifford's spiralling kick off (Image: SWPix.com)

Wrench returns well - will he now get a run at centre?

If there was to be a silver lining to this latest cloud, it is surely the successful return of Connor Wrench to the side after an absence of nearly 10 months due to a horrendous ACL injury.

Two well-taken tries scored, he showed exactly why fans have been impatient to see him back in the side.

He was arguably one of only a handful of Warrington players to emerge with credit from this display, although he played his part in a right edge that was badly exposed defensively.

Will he now get a run in his favoured position of centre? If so, at whose expense?

Connor Wrench marked his return to the first team with two tries from the right wing (Image: SWPix.com)

Time to wake up and fast

This defeat means it is back-to-back convincing reverses for Wire now as part of a wider run of four defeats in their past six Super League games.

While they remain in a good position and reaching for the panic button would be premature, they certainly need to rouse themselves from this malaise sharpish if they want to make sure their early promise is fulfilled.

At best, they have plateaued but at worst, they are starting to go backwards in their development when others are making big steps forward.

The cushion they have built for themselves is now gone as the table starts to bunch up – indeed, the top five sides are now separated by just two points.

Catalans Dragons have overtaken them at the top, Wigan, Salford and Leigh are now breathing down their necks and St Helens are now starting to click ominously into gear.

With the Tour de France starting soon, a cycling analogy seems appropriate – Wire shot out of the traps with an early lone breakaway but are showing signs of cracking and the peleton have reeled them in.

Can they find it within themselves to pull clear again?

George Williams has his shirt pulled by Hull's Danny Houghton (Image: PA Wire)