Well, well, well. For the third year in a row, Warrington's season comes crashing to an end in the first round of the playoffs at home. Wire were nilled by Hull KR to bring an abrupt end to the Steve Price era.
In the absence of the suspended Mike Cooper and the injured Matt Davis, Price made the surprising decision to start Sitaleki Akauola, while Tom Lineham was also restored to the side in place of Josh Charnley. Daryl Clark and Toby King returned from injury, while Matty Ashton was on the bench, but there was no place in the 17 for Blake Austin or Danny Walker.
Wire reserved their worst performance of the year for the most important game, a match in which they started well but never asserted their early dominance and soon found themselves trailing in. It was an abysmal, desperate performance to round off a disappointing era for the club. Tries from Jordan Abdull, Mikey Lewis and Jimmy Keinhorst earned a thoroughly deserved victory for Tony Smith's team, the former Wire coach eliminating his former employers. Here are my six talking points...
1) It's happened again...
Well, we're getting used to this now. Bombing out of the playoffs at the first hurdle at home has become something of an annual event under Steve Price, who leaves the club with his tail between his legs. This was the third time in a row it's happened now, and it's getting worse and worse to watch every year. A pathetic, embarrassing performance that was nowhere near good enough for the occasion. Hull KR were simply better in every facet and none of our players stood up and were counted. What is happening to us in big games? It's nowhere near acceptable for us to keep exiting the playoffs in such shambolic fashion.
2) The Price of failure
That game brings to an end the disappointing, underwhelming tenure of Steve Price at Warrington. The Australian coach has guided us to these woeful exits, and was very lucky to keep his job after 2019, and even luckier after 2020. The club have paid the price for refusing to sack Price, because even though we have played pretty well this season, we have once again lost our heads when it counts. The coach leaves with a very average record of three finals in four years, only one win, and three first-round playoff exits. His final team selection for the Wire was baffling - Akauola starting blew my mind. Price is a very nice, good man, who has represented the club well, but nowhere near good enough as a coach. He got schooled by Wire's former coach, one who some would argue we shouldn't have got rid of...
3) No safe pairs of hands
Oh my God, have you ever seen so many handling errors? 21 knock-ons is simply remarkable numbers. Wire's lack of ball control was staggering. There was no respect for possession and every time Wire got the ball back from KR, we threw it away, making simple mistake after simple mistake. Jake Mamo was particularly guilty, as was Jack Hughes - knocking the ball on the first tackle multiple times. The likes of Stefan Ratchford and Gareth Widdop conceded clumsy penalties, while Chris Hill had a horrific game. I've watched Warrington a long time but I've not seen a performance as bad as that.
4) Too many passengers
Far too many players put in their worst displays of the year on the biggest night of the season. Hill has been superb all season but his hands were poppadoms. Mamo is our top tryscorer but had a stinking night. Hughes put in a typically dreadful performance. Ratchford was absolutely horrendous. Too many players consistently play badly in the big games - what does that say about our mentality and culture?
5) Pointless
For a team that features two NRL-standard half-backs in Widdop and Williams, to not score a single point against an injury-ravaged Hull KR side, who finished 6th, in the biggest game of the season, is an absolute disgrace and completely down to coaching. Once again, we reverted back to one-man rugby despite impressing with our attacking play this season. Ridiculous.
6) All the best, Daryl
Daryl Powell has got a big job next year. His first job is to address the complacency, attitude, mentality and concentration issues that Wire have when the big games come around. Good luck to him, I do genuinely believe it's a good appointment but he's got plenty to do. This is a good squad, but one that's losing valuable assets who need to be replaced, and upgraded on.
Player Ratings
Stefan Ratchford - 0/10
Once again, Ratchford, who I'm a massive fan of, put in a dreadful performance in a big game. Letting the ball bounce, making shocking defensive reads. He's not a full-back any more, get him at 13.
Tom Lineham - 3/10
He was reasonable. Dealt well with a bouncing ball on one occasion and did well to field a long kick. Made up metres in his last Wire appearance.
Toby King - 1/10
Has gone quiet in the second half of the season after a starry first half and this was another anonymous performance.
Jake Mamo - 0/10
Absolutely atrocious. Dropped the ball more times than Tinie Tempah dropped the 'I've been Southampton but I've never been to Scunthorpe' line. Won't miss him. So overrated.
Josh Thewlis - 1/10
Could've grounded a try right at the end but that was the extent of his contributions.
George Williams - 2/10
On a few occasions needed someone on his shoulder. Very quiet otherwise.
Gareth Widdop - 2/10
Hard to play behind a beaten pack but needed to do better. Did well to juggle the ball and keep it alive before half-time.
Chris Hill - 0/10
His last Warrington performance was one of his worst. Errors and penalties galore. Fucking dreadful.
Daryl Clark - 1/10
Ran from dummy-half a lot and kept trying to speed things up, which perhaps wasn't needed.
Ben Currie - 2/10
Thought he had a few respectable moments in defence, never really got the ball in running areas.
Jack Hughes - 0/10
Honest to God, I don't know what to say any more. Was nowhere near the standard again. Twice knocking on on the first tackle.
Joe Philbin - 2/10
Ran hard early on and helped set the positive tempo in the early stages, perhaps missed him when he was off.
Robbie Mulhern - 1/10
Knocked on near the line in a promising set.
Jason Clark - 1/10
Gets a point for being the most vocal player when we were defending.
Ellis Longstaff - 3/10
Tried hard. Good player.
Matty Ashton - 0/10
Couldn't catch a cold.
Stick with me for post-season content arriving in the coming days and weeks.
@ALooseWire
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