Report: Hull KR 6-54 Warrington

Warrington made up for their Good Friday disaster with an Easter Monday showing that any team would be proud of, to defeat Tim Sheens' Hull KR side by 54 points to 6, running in nine tries in the process. 


Steve Price made a lot of changes to the squad that were so poor against Salford a few days ago, the most notable being Sitaleki Akauola being named in the squad for the first time this season, coming on from the bench for two stints. Lama Tasi started at prop in place of Mike Cooper, who was ill, while there was a return to the side for Tom Lineham, meaning that Bryson Goodwin moved to centre, replacing Ryan Atkins, who was dropped. Ben Westwood also failed to make the team, with Matt Davis starting at loose forward. Ben Currie was rested, meaning that Ben Murdoch-Masila started a game for the first time this season. Toby King had recovered from the muscular issue which had kept him out of the Salford game and started at centre. 

It was actually a poor start for Wire. After Lineham had fumbled an early kick, it took a great tackle from Josh Charnley to prevent KR from taking the lead, though the East Yorkshire team did go in front after some really good work from Josh Drinkwater. The former Catalans man moved horizontally through our defence, creating space for Ben Crooks to cross over. A Craig Hall conversion made it 6-0 after ten minutes, but the response from Warrington was very good.

Nine minutes after KR's try, which would prove to be their only score, Wire drew level. Blake Austin was once again the hero, waltzing through some poor KR defending to score under the posts, handing Stefan Ratchford the simplest of tasks to level the scores, which he did. There was a nervy moment soon after when Austin's pass was intercepted by Hall, who ran virtually the length of the field before being stopped by an incredible Daryl Clark tackle, which saved a certain try. Clark's heroic moment proved to be crucial as shortly afterwards, Wire were in front for the first time. An excellent looping pass from Austin found the arms of Tom Lineham, who forced his way over in the corner. Ratchford nailed a very tough conversion for a 6-12 lead. Just before the break, a grubber kick from Declan Patton caused all sorts of confusion when it bounced awkwardly. Joe Philbin took control of the ball and managed to score by lifting the ball over his head backwards. Ratchford's third goal made it 6-18 at half-time, though Austin missed an attempt at a drop goal which would've extended the lead to 13 points.

Just two minutes into the second 40 minutes, Austin breezed through some poor defence and set Charnley away, who scored in the corner - tying him at the top of the league's scoring charts with Austin. Another superb kick from Ratchford followed and the lead increased again. Moments later, a flat pass from Patton found Bryson Goodwin, who took advantage of some flimsy tackling from Hull KR to score under the sticks, handing Ratchford an easy conversion. With the score now 6-30, the result was looking pretty safe. Philbin's try in the first-half was his maiden try of 2019, but he doubled his tally when he curved through KR marking from ten metres to score in the most central of areas. Ratchford's sixth successful goal stretched the lead to 30 points.

Two minutes later, it was try number seven for Warrington. Daryl Clark offloaded to his namesake Jason, before the Aussie started a chain of passing that included Austin, Murdoch-Masila and Jack Hughes, who fought off two defenders before finding Toby King. King did brilliantly to hold on to the ball and scored in the corner with an outstretched arm for his second try of the season. Ratchford made no mistake with another hard kick. A crucial moment earlier in the game was Clark preventing Hall from scoring after an interception breakaway, and the tables were turned for the former Wakefield man, when his pass was intercepted by Tom Lineham, who ran 80 metres unattended to bag his second of the afternoon. Ratchford's easy conversion made it 6-48 but there was still time for one more try. Matt Davis found Sitaleki Akauola, making his first appearance of 2019. Akauola fought past one challenge and got up quickly before grounding the ball on the line to score under the posts. Ratchford's ninth kick made it a perfect day from the kicking tee, and secured a 6-54 win for the Wire.

Well, that was much better. The players who came in did well, that was easily the best we've seen from Tasi this season, and King's influence cannot be underestimated. Ratchford was superb too, after two horrific games, which is good, and the effort was faultless from Murdoch-Masila today after criticisms of his commitment on Friday. The bench had a good impact too, with Jason Clark, Akauola and Philbin all doing well - the latter two both scoring their first tries of the season. The errors had been completely cut out as well and there was good shape to our attacks. Clark and Austin were impeccable as always and the former's tackle in the first half proved to be a big moment in the match. The back line were spot on all day actually, the defensive effort of Lineham and Charnley particularly impressive, while Goodwin put in one of his best Warrington performances. 

The key now is to keep that kind of performance level up. We go into a big few weeks now with Huddersfield at home followed by Castleford away before Wigan in the Challenge Cup. If we play like that, we'll have a chance of being in the conversation at the end of the season. Check out my player rankings from today's match and have a look at the blog this week for my build-up to the Huddersfield fixture. With Ben Currie, Mike Cooper and Jake Mamo all likely to be available again, Steve Price will have selection headaches. Well done Wire, keep it up.

It's always our year.

Daniel (@aloosewire)