Warrington Wolves boss Sam Burgess believes there is still plenty of work to be done, despite his side sitting top of the table after a win over St Helens.
Burgess, who remains undefeated as a head coach against Saints, extending his run to 9-0, has reflected on his side’s 18-6 win.
A try from Albert Hopoate on the hooter pulled Wire back to 6-6 at the break, before tries from Josh Smith and Ewan Irwin won the game for the Primrose and Blue outfit.
The England legend was pleased with the result and the performance given the circumstances, but admitted there is still more levels the side can reach in 2026.
Speaking to Sky Sports post-match, he said: “We’ve had a really good couple of weeks training. I knew at some point we’d get a better performance on the field.
“I still think there’s a lot of areas that we can improve on. I think we were a little bit clunky in attack. But we’re finding our way as a group.
“There’s been a lot of change. We’ve got two very young halfbacks that have not played a lot together. We’re missing a couple of key guys.
“I’m expecting a bit of clunkiness. I liked our spirit in defence tonight. I thought we turned up for each other.”
Wire had squad numbers one, six and seven all missing this evening, leaving the playmaking responsibility down to young halves pair Leon Hayes and try scorer Irwin.
It would be just the second time the pair have played alongside each other at the senior level, and the boss was left pretty pleased with their contribution.
“We’ve got to see them at some point,” said the Wire boss. “I’m not afraid to play them when they’re ready.
“I don’t want to overexpose them. I feel like they’re both doing a good job and they’re handling things very well. Ewan is a great kid, and Leon, they really complement each other well.
“Their egos are in line, they’re together, they work together, and they really complement each other very well.”
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Overseas man hailed by Warrington Wolves boss after sensational try in St Helens win
One player who has gone vastly under the radar this season in terms of top-tier signings is Josh Smith.
The Warrington centre scored his fourth try in as many games, and continues to impress when given the opportunity.
His try tonight against the Saints will go down as one of his best, after catching a bouncing ball missed by Jack Welsby, he broke free from a Daryl Clark tackle before racing 80 metres to score under the posts.
He was brought in to play a fringe role, but injuries across the back line have made him a near ever-present, and he has featured in 13 games this season.
Burgess was full of praise for the 25-year-old, who joined the club from the Queensland Cup. The boss said: “We took a chance on Josh.
“He had a great year over there in the Queensland Cup. We knew about him. He’s a great guy. He’s a big family man.
“His family actually all flew over for his debut in round one. He’s a wonderful athlete. I think the longer he spends in a full-time environment, playing at this level, he’s only going to get better.
“He has a great knack to find himself in good areas. He’s a wonderful kid. He’s always willing to learn. He’s fitting really well with the players at Warrington.”
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