Another win for Steve Price’s Warrington team as they made it five victories in a row in the league, despite being heavily depleted in numbers. Here are my six talking points…
1) Pray for Gareth’s ankle
A great win but one which has come at a cost, with both half-backs, Blake Austin and Gareth Widdop leaving the field with injuries. Widdop in particular was tremendous, once again dominating proceedings with ball in hand and the boot, kicking for metres and territory so well. He also got his trademark try, arriving onto the end of a breakaway to brilliantly score. With Wigan away in five days time, fingers crossed that the injury that forced him off in the 79th minute isn't serious.
2) An internal replacement?
Daryl Clark has arguably been Warrington's best player in the last five years but the Wire are in danger of losing him due to a number of NRL clubs looking at him. In Danny Walker, do Wire have Clark's natural long-term successor? Walker improves with every game he plays and this was probably his best game for Warrington so far. Not only did he score a try, but the pace and speed he brought to distribution from dummy-half, as well as his break which helped set up Widdop's try, was Clark-esque.
Rumours this week amongst rugby league journalists suggest that Tom Lineham won't be offered a new contract by Warrington and will therefore leave the club at the end of this season. For me, this game showed exactly why I'd be keeping him. There are very few wingers who are as good at carrying the ball from their own line as he is - his yardage carries early on in sets are absolutely superb and make such a difference to the territory. A lovely interception try to cap of an excellent performance. He's not the quickest in the world but he's no slouch either and you'd do well to find a winger that has the size to be so dominant in yardage but also threatening near the line.
4) Five in a row
Wire are in very good Super League form, winning five games in a row and the eighth win in eleven matches this season. The team appear to be getting some consistency now, performing pretty well, especially in attack, and improving in defence. With St Helens struggling to score too many points and Wigan faltering, on a run of three straight losses, Wire and Catalans are looking the most impressive outfits at the minute.
5) Rejuvenated Hill
The change in performance level from 2020 to 2021 in Chris Hill has been major. This is probably the best he's played since the famous 2016 season. His yardage carries are absolutely superb at the minute and is helping Wire win the forwards battle week after week. Another one who is linked away, with Huddersfield reported to have offered him a two-year-deal, but the way he's played this season, I would consider offering Hill a new deal, although we do have two new props coming in in James Harrison and Joe Bullock.
6) Youngsters
Credit to the youngsters who came in to replace the England and injured players, with Ellis Longstaff and Rob Butler particularly impressive. Wire clearly have some talented individuals in the academy and Daryl Powell will be pleased to see the likes of Josh Thewlis and Danny Walker getting more game time and developing this year.
Player Ratings
Josh Thewlis - 7/10
Didn't really get into the game in an attacking sense as Leigh cut off his running but was solid defensively and looked to use the ball well early in sets.
Tom Lineham - 8/10
Very good performance. Made a mountain of metres every time he took the ball from his own line, was absolutely fine defensively and came up with an intercept try late on.
Connor Wrench - 7/10
A decent showing. Didn't really make any defensive errors and promoted the ball when he had it in his hands.
Jake Mamo - 7/10
Another really good display from the Australian. Ran the ball well and really helped to make yardage early in the tackle count. Seems to have found his home at centre.
Josh Charnley - 8/10
Picked up his eighth try of the campaign with a walk-in, carried the ball well from his own line and didn't do anything wrong defensively.
Blake Austin - 8/10
Best performance in a while. Ran so close to the opposition line and it worked brilliantly, getting a try and a couple of assists. Was a constant threat in the first half.
Gareth Widdop - 9/10
Best player on the pitch yet again. Made tries with his handling and passing, helped us gain considerable yardage with his long kicking game and scored his tenth try of the year, using the conditions of the pitch to his advantage.
Chris Hill - 9/10
This was a beast of a performance - every time he got the ball early on he made metre after metre, and this was key to Wire getting on top in the forwards battle.
Danny Walker - 9/10
Outstanding display. Passed the ball really well from dummy half, bringing pace and energy to the distribution, set up the Widdop try with a great break and got one of his own, scooting out of acting half.
Sitaleki Akauola - 7/10
A few huge hits early on - one of which left former Warrington man Tyrone McCarthy in pieces. If you could get a longer stint out of him, he'd be one of the most destructive forwards in the league.
Ellis Longstaff - 8/10
Brilliant showing from the young second rower. Ran some great lines with the ball in hand but his offensive effort consistently helped create gaps in the Leigh defence.
Jack Hughes - 6/10
A bit of an anonymous performance from Hughes, he didn't run many good lines and made a few errors with the ball in hand.
Matt Davis - 8/10
Such a good, industrious player. Scored a neat try from his good running game. I think he brings a lot to the team.
Rob Butler - 8/10
Did really well from the bench. Ran the ball so well and made up plenty of metres.
Eribe Doro - 7/10
Got his first try in Warrington colours in the second half, though did give away two cheap penalties in succession with high tackles.
Ellis Robson - 6/10
Didn't seem to have much influence on the game but has put on a fair bit of size, which is a good thing. Going well at Bradford so far.
Riley Dean - 6/10
Was a strange choice to have on the bench, but given the injury to Blake Austin during the game, it's a good job he was.
@ALooseWire
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