Wolves up and running
Warrington's opened their new Super League account with a 32-20 victory over Hull FC.
By Phil Jackson
Last Updated: 09/02/08 1:16pm
Warrington's new imports starred as the Wolves opened their new Super League account with a 32-20 victory over Hull FC on Friday night.
The Wolves overcame a spirited effort from Peter Sharp's injury-hit Hull side with Manly half-back Michael Monaghan pulling the strings.
New winger Chris Hicks (20) and former Melbourne Storm centre Matt King (29) crossed the line as Warrington ran in six tries against the Airlie Birds.
Chris Bridge (14, 74), Vinnie Anderson (26) and Ben Westwood (46) scored the home side's other tries with former skipper Lee Briers kicking eight points.
Craig Hall (24, 37) and Graeme Horne (78) ran in the consolation scores for Hull FC, but despite an unbelievable effort from the visitors - missing seven first choice players - they eventually ran out of steam.
Nip and tuck
There is much expected of Warrington this year, but Paul Cullen's side made a sloppy start to the match and were punished through Danny Tickle's early penalty.
But new signing Monaghan and Briers combined to get the Wolves going by sending full-back Bridge in at the right corner with quarter of an hour gone.
Former Manly winger Hicks, who has been brought in to replace last season's top try-scorer Henry Fa'afili, then showed good feet to step in from the right and finish off another pacey flowing move from the home side following a period of sustained pressure. Briers again missed the angled conversion, but Warrington had an 8-2 lead.
But prolific 19-year-old centre Hall nicked in for a converted score for Hull, against the run of play, after Bridge failed to catch the kick-off 24 minutes into the match.
And, despite converted tries for Anderson and debutant King, Hall struck again to take the visitors into half-time just 20-14 down.
One-sided
Monaghan showed his class after the interval though, feeding Westwood for the half's first try after Hicks had been denied a second by the video referee. Briers kicked the conversion and Wolves had a 26-14 advantage.
Replacement Steve Pickersgill was put on report for a clear swinging arm into Motu Tony's nose with 20 minutes remaining at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
But Briers kicked Wolves into a 12-point lead with quarter of an hour remaining and Paul Rauhihi and Bridge combined for Warrington's sixth try of the night.
Welsh international Briers kicked the extras and despite a late score for Horne, Warrington took the points.
