On paper, the league leaders had a home banker as they welcomed a hapless Hull FC to the Halliwell-Jones Stadium for a Saturday lunchtime game broadcast to a rugby hungry audience on Channel 4.
The Wolves are the only side in Super League with a one hundred percent record in 2023 as they look for their seventh consecutive win at the start of the season while FC haven´t managed a win in March as they struggle to find any kind of form under the coaching of new boss Tony Smith.
The Wolves were big favourites to continue their great run with the pundits and bookies heavily tipping them for the win, but the Airlie Birds came into the game knowing that they must turn the corner at some point and why wouldn´t that be today?
The home side opened their account on six minutes thanks to a lethargic Hull defence when Matty Ashton chased down a George Williams kick to the corner from thirty metres out to take the ball on the bounce and ground by the left corner flag. Stefan Ratchford floated his touchline conversion between the sticks for 6-0.
On eleven tremendous upper body strength from Peter Mata´utia saw the big loose forward force his way over the line and stretch to score on his back. Ratchford was unable to find the target on this occasion but it was already clear he´d have more chances throughout the game.
The Wolves should have been in again on sixteen after a great break from Ben Currie saw them to the Hull twenty but after taking the pass, Matt Dufty spilled the ball in the tackle. But on nineteen Currie made no mistakes as he jumped to take a Williams dink over the top and fall to the ground for the third try of the game. Ratchford made no mistake this time for 16-0.
On twenty-nine the Wolves turned defence into attack as they scored a length of the field try, initially after Williams picked up a spilled ball and broke downfield before finding Dufty in support to sprint sixty metres to score under the sticks. Ratchford added the goal for 22-0.
Three minutes out from the interval and the Wolves were in again with Josh Drinkwater throwing a dummy before walking through a pedestrian FC defence to round behind the sticks and ground. Ratchford hit the target again for a 28-0 interval lead.
The first half was all Warrington, and even when FC managed their occasional foray into Wolves territory it was the home side who forced the error or snuffed out any threat. The Airlie Birds could count themselves lucky that the Wolves didn´t exploit every opportunity or it could have been much worse.
Hull FC crossed the whitewash first in the second half, but the referee sent the decision up as a NO TRY and the video referee agreed for an offside in the build-up.
A strong Hull defence kept a clean sheet for the opening and on sixty-one Brad Dwyer threw a dummy and ghosted through the Wolves defence to score while grounded on his back. Jake Clifford added the goal, the visitors winning the second half.
Warrington took thirty second half minutes to add their sixth try of the game when Matty Nicholson reversed over the line from ten metres, taking a couple of Hull tacklers with him, before dropping to the ground to score. Ratchford added the conversion for 34-6.
The Wolves are now four points clear at the top of the table after their best ever start to a Super League season. This could finally be Warrington’s year if they can maintain their early season momentum. Hull FC on the other hand crash to their fifth consecutive win and they are in free-fall towards the bottom of the table with little promise of anything better to come.
Warrington Wolves: Dufty (T), Russell, Minikin, Ratchford (5G), Ashton (T), Williams, Drinkwater (T), Mikaele, Walker, Vaughan, Currie (T), Nicholson (T), Mata´utia (T). Subs: Philbin, Dudson, Thewlis, Thomas. 18th Man: Whitehead.
Hull FC: Hoy, Swift, Tuimavave, Sutcliffe, Litten, Lovodua, Clifford (G), Taylor, Houghton, Satae, Savelio, Griffin, Fash. Subs: Cator, Dwyer (T), Evans, Lane. 18th Man: Staveley.
Half-Time: 28-0.
Full-Time: 34-6.
Score Progression: 4-0, 6-0, 10-0, 14-0, 16-0, 20-0, 22-0, 26-0, 28-0 : HT : 28-4, 28-6, 32-6, 34-6 : FT.
Lead Exchanges: Warrington.
Referee: Aaron Moore.
