MIKE Cooper says the 30-14 win against Salford Red Devils will provide Warrington Wolves with momentum going into the Wigan Warriors game despite the scratchy display.

“It was a bit of a scrappy performance from us," said the prop, reflecting on Friday night's two points achievement that moves Wire up to third place on the back of Castleford Tigers losing 44-16 at Catalans Dragons.

"We need to be a lot better than that moving forward but I think we were good in patches and just had enough to get over the line."

He added: "We probably could have scored six or seven more tries.

"I think the pace of the game didn’t help us. They were doing everything they could to slow it down – scrums, penalties and things like that, but it’s two points and we’ve got a tough week now leading into Wigan on Friday."

Cooper played the full 80 minutes in hot conditions, resulting from two pack men collecting injuries on the night.

RECAP: Everything that happened, Wolves v Salford

But the 29-year-old former Latchford Albion junior says he does not mind training and playing in warmer temperatures.

“We’ve not really changed anything around in training for the hot weather," he said.

"I think all the lads prefer this more than all the rain we had at Padgate in pre-season.

"It’s nice to get a bit of sunshine and a bit of time on the field.

Warrington Guardian:

Mike Cooper takes a hit against Salford. Pictures by Mike Boden

“I think that’s the first or only the second time I’ve done 80 minutes in a Warrington shirt. I did it once in Australia.

"Once you get your second wind it’s not too bad. Sometimes it’s easier to just keep going rather than having a break."

Wolves' line-up has been similar week to week in 2018, but Steve Price made four changes for this contest - with Mitch Brown starting at full-back for the first time for Wire, Ben Pomeroy having his first start of the year for the club as well as Toby King and Joe Philbin returning from injuries.

Warrington Guardian:

Mitch Brown takes on the Salford line. Pictures by Mike Boden

Skipper Chris Hill and England teammate Stefan Ratchford were rested after playing their parts in the international success against New Zealand in America last weekend, while Ryan Atkins and Harvey Livett have joined Ben Currie and Jack Johnson on the treatment table.

Cooper was not of the opinion though that it was the changes that led to The Wire not delivering the kind of performance they wanted to.

“I thought the lads who came in did a really good job," he said.

"We lost Murds (Ben Murdoch-Masila) in the warm-up with an injury and Ben Pomeroy got injured early into the game, so we had to swap around.

"Of the lads who weren’t in, Hilly and Stef had a great performance in Denver at high altitude so they needed a rest.

"And we lost Ryan Atkins and Harvey with injuries this week as well so I think all the lads who came in did a fantastic job."

“I think we’ve got a hard four or five weeks now, every week is hard in fact because we had a tough game the other week against Wakey and then got another win against Salford so we go into the Wigan game full of confidence.

"Hopefully we get a result there and then take each week as it comes, but we’ve also got a lot to work on.”

He added: “Playing Wigan is always a great game. We’ve had a couple of tough encounters with them already this year.

"It doesn’t get any better than Warrington versus Wigan. They’ll be fired up, we’ll be fired up, and it should be a great spectacle."