It was yet another terrible end to the season for Warrington as the curtain fell on their 2020 campaign with a crushing loss at home to Hull FC in the first round of the playoffs.
I now have the task of picking the bones of that shocking defeat and coming up with six major talking points.
1) Deja Hull?
It’s happened again! For the second year in a row, Warrington have been knocked out of the playoffs at home in the first round by a team that didn’t even make the top four. It’s truly embarrassing and a pathetic tale of underachievement once again.
2) Fond farewells?
That’s the last time we’ll see Ben Murdoch-Masila play for Warrington. He’s largely been a disappointing signing who hasn’t hit the heights that he has for Tonga and Salford. Admittedly, Steve Price has never used him correctly - he is a starting second rower, not a battering ram from the bench. It wouldn’t surprise me if we don’t see Gareth Widdop, Jake Mamo or Anthony Gelling play for the club again either.
3) Price-less
There’s no getting away from it now, Warrington simply have to make a change in the coaching department. Steve Price has shown himself not to be good enough in his three seasons at the club and tonight’s debacle has to be the final straw. He has a team with plenty of talent at his disposal and one that is very expensively-assembled and yet has not managed to get it performing anywhere near the level it should, in terms of style or results. Time to go.
4) That’s a wrap
And that brings to an end another season. One which started badly, had a good middle and ended terribly. With no trophy and no improved style of play, this has to be considered as a failure of a season.
5) Stage fright
It seemed like Warrington well and truly lost their heads in the most important game of the season. There were errors galore and the defence, something that has improved a lot under Price, was disastrous. Even usually-consistent performers Stefan Ratchford and Ben Currie were having shockers tonight. An appalling team performance.
6) Project restart?
I feel that after three years under Price, now is the time to make a change. However, it is not just the coach. Wire need a complete clean break and that means new coaching staff and playing staff. A major overhaul of the squad would not be a bad thing - there are some good players there and it is about building around them now. Move the deadwood on.
Player ratings
Stefan Ratchford - 4/10 Unusually error-prone with two missed kicks and a knock-on.
Matty Ashton - 6/10 Crossed for two tries in the corner.
Toby King - 5/10 Looked threatening but it never came off for him.
Anthony Gelling - 5/10 Good metres and good try but so error-prone defensively.
Josh Charnley - 4/10 Very poor for the second Hull try, good metres though.
Blake Austin - 3/10 Another stinking performance in a big game.
Gareth Widdop - 7/10 Wire’s best player. Had a hand in all three tries and was always looking to create.
Chris Hill - 5/10 Great work-rate but errors and penalties.
Daryl Clark - 5/10 Good distribution but not much impact on the match.
Joe Philbin - 5/10 We lost the forwards battle without Cooper.
Ben Currie - 2/10 Love him, but that was a stinker.
Jack Hughes - 3/10 The injuries have done him in.
Jason Clark - 4/10 Still waiting to find out what it is he does.
Ben Murdoch-Masila - 3/10 A typically quiet final appearance.
Matt Davis - 4/10 Bench had no impact.
Jake Mamo - N/A Came on very late.
Ellis Robson - N/A Didn't come on at all.
@ALooseWire
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