ALTHOUGH their victory came in somewhat controversial circumstances, Sam Burgess believes his Warrington Wolves side made progress in beating Hull FC on Friday night.

The Wire eventually cantered away from their 12-man visitors to record their first Super League win under their new head coach, taking full advantage of Nu Brown’s highly contentious first-half red card.

The score was 6-6 when the New Zealander was sent off by referee Marcus Griffiths following head-on-head contact with Wire’s Ben Currie but an already-depleted Hull side continued to battle gamely.

When Jack Walker touched down, The Wire were 14-10 up with the hour mark approaching but were then able to go through the gears, scoring 22 points without reply.

Sam Powell and Toby King scored in quick succession to all but end the game as a contest, with James Harrison and Connor Wrench adding late scores.

Having watched his side beaten by a 12-man side in Round One as they were edged out by Catalans Dragons, Burgess was satisfied that lessons had been learned.

“We got the job done so I’m happy with them,” he said.

“I wouldn’t say it was the prettiest game ever but it was just the way the game went.

“It was some tough conditions and some controversy, but I was really happy with the team. I thought we were much better than last week.

“There were a couple of things we worked on that we executed. They are subtle changes but over time, they will make a big difference.

“We stuck at it for longer periods, which I was happy with.

“It sounds ridiculous, but we managed attacking against 12 much better this week so I was pleased with that, but it was a scrappy game.

“I was here to win two points – if we’d have won 13-12 I’d have been happy.

“Everyone’s got to understand that it’s early in the year, I’m a new coach and we’re a new team.

“It’s Round Two – I thought we were good in Round One and got better tonight, but I’ve not shied away from the fact I’m here to try and gradually improve us.

“That’s why I’m happy because I thought we improved on last week.”

The game’s talking point came four minutes before half time, when Currie emerged from a seemingly innocuous tackle with blood pouring from his right eye.

While the second rower was treated, the contact from Brown was examined further but there was astonishment around the ground when Griffiths flashed a red card his way.

Burgess admitted he felt sympathy for Brown but insisted players, coaches and supporters alike had to start accepting the new clampdown on head contacts as “it’s not changing.”

“The rules are the rules, but it’s tough. There’s no two ways about it, it’s a tough red card,” he said.

“There was a lot of controversy in the game, but the red card is head-on-head.

“It’s extremely tough circumstances as it’s on the second collision, but I’m not sure what Nu Brown is supposed to do there.

“Ben Currie is visibly split – I coach my players not to stay down, otherwise he’d have got up and played on and it wouldn’t have been recognised.

“He had a deep cut and needed about eight stitches, and that’s the only reason he probably got a red card. There were probably three or four more that didn’t get picked up and it’s just the way it is.

“We can talk about it as much as we like, but it’s not changing so let’s just get on with it.

“It might happen to us next week, so let’s get on with it.”