Warrington Wolves slipped to a seventh consecutive defeat in all competitions last night as they lost against top of the table Catalans Dragons at the Halliwell Jones, the first game since the club had sacked Daryl Powell with the Wire led out by interim head coach Gary Chambers.
Chambers was formerly the Head of Youth Development and he backed young Connor Wrench to start on the wing and that was one of the few shining lights in an otherwise poor performance from the Wolves.
Captain Stefan Ratchford was lost to a brutal head knock, George Williams elbow slamming into his temple in the process of a tackle, leading to “15-20” stiches and an eventual failed HIA for the centre after what Sky Sports’ Jon Wells explained was a “delayed concussion”.
Despite the heavy defeat, 30-10, there was a heavier defeat for Hull KR at the DW Stadium with Wigan Warriors running in twelve tries to beat a young and inexperienced Rovers 64-6, meaning Warrington did actually jump up one place in the Super League ladder back to fifth.
In the post match analysis though Sky’s’ Barrie McDermott claimed that Wire are far off ‘top six standard’, and when considering that their Super League form is three wins in thirteen then were it not for their brilliant start to the season then the Wolves could be in a relegation scrap.
“That team that we watched that are nowhere near top six standard are too easily beat,” McDermott explained.
“They don’t have enough answers and we said about from the key players and those fine players that you need to show leadership, leadership with and without the ball in the week and in the match. They’re just way off.”
Former Warrington player Kevin Brown agreed as he added: “They’re not resilient enough.
“There was a reaction for the first five or ten minutes and they were frantic and full of energy, not much execution, then the balloon popped and it just got worse from there.
“That’s the lack of resilience and the trust and it’s almost a sense of ‘here we go again’, you can sense that from the players and from the crowd and that’s where you need hard work and effort.”
Warrington benefit from a week off to regroup given the Challenge Cup Final but they will then face Leeds Rhinos at Headingley, knowing that a loss could see the Rhinos leapfrog them if Leeds can also beat Leigh Leopards tomorrow.
