AFTER a gritty and much-needed victory against Catalans Dragons, there were a few Warrington Wolves players who stood out in particular.
The Wire bounced back from a Leeds Rhinos thumping to maintain their place on the table in Super League’s top two.
But who shone brightest in the hot and humid conditions at The Halliwell Jones Stadium to keep them on track for a high placing come the end of the regular season?
Sports editor Mike Parsons picks his four Wire stand-outs from the Round 16 victory here…
Albert Hopoate
This was the former NRL three-quarter’s best display yet in primrose and blue.
It was probably needed, after a rough night squaring up to Leeds Rhinos’ Super League leading try scorer Maika Sivo the week before.
His ball-carrying with intent was top class, clearing Warrington’s own half and setting up the platform for attacks, while the aggressive charge for the line for his 47th-minute try not only gave his side a lead they never lost but set a tone for the rest of the half.
He was defensively sound as well up against Catalans’ most dangerous attacking weapon Solomona Faataape.
It was always said that the warmer weather and firmer grounds would bring the best out of Hopoate, so hopefully the 25-year-old can continue where he left off for the tougher tests to come.
Max Wood
Sam Burgess recalled Wood from his loan stint at Hull FC due to needing reinforcements in the middle and the 21-year-old delivered.
Arriving off the bench in the 25th minute following Arron Lindop’s knee injury, he put himself about and produced some trademark strong carries against one of the most notorious packs in the business.
Some of the metres he made came at times when The Wire needed them the most.
He made one terrific break in the second half, cutting the Catalans defence to shreds through its heart.
If he had that time again, he would have passed to the supporting Ewan Irwin for a dead-cert try and it is a moment he can learn from.
It was his defensive efforts that caught the eye the most in a match in which it is understood he played his most minutes to date for the first team.
He kept himself busy in this energy-sapping area of the sport on the steamiest night of the year and that should have pleased his boss.
Ewan Irwin
Let’s be honest, the teenager could feature in this five-player selection most weeks.
But he won’t have many nights like the one he had against Catalans Dragons.
After starting the game at stand-off with a focus on connecting better with fellow young gun Leon Hayes in managing the team on the field, he was thrown into a full-back role he hasn’t practised for in the second half.
With Josh Thewlis withdrawn through injury at the break and centre Arron Lindop already having been sidelined, reshuffling options were limited.
But Sam Burgess describes Irwin as a ‘natural player’ and his confidence in the 18-year-old handling the job was repaid.
With the game in the balance at 18-16 and five minutes remaining, Catalans centre Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet was heading for the corner for a potential match-winning try but Irwin remained composed, positioned himself perfectly and hauled down the galloper with a brilliant diving tackle that any established full-back would have been proud of.
That, plus Irwin’s two touchline conversions, made a big difference to the outcome of a game Warrington needed to win to end Round 16 in Super League’s top two.
Ben Currie
The Wire skipper did what he has become accustomed to doing – leading by example.
To cover for depleted numbers in the second-row, Currie stepped away from loose-forward to start the game wider.
While he offers so much to the team down the middle, being closer to the edge has its benefits too.
He picked out a perfect pass behind Arron Lindop for Matty Ashton’s opening try.
Currie moved back into a central role when Kalepi Tanginoa joined the action in the 24th minute and he went on to top his side’s tackle count while also being instrumental in the James Bentley try that proved to be the matchwinner.
His work ethic constantly stands out and it is a big tick for observers to see him congregating his players in a huddle on the field whenever the opportunity arises as he attempts to keep everyone on the same hymn sheet and working for each other.
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