Wolves...20

Hull FC...32

EVEN though the season is at such an early stage it is understandable why most people's optimism for the Wolves is waivering.

Whether events leading up to the game affected the players' performances on the pitch is undetermined but whatever the reasons the display was worse than the dire one against Villeneuve a week earlier.

Despite coach Darryl Van de Velde stating that his side is stronger this year than last the fact remains that they have reached the semi-finals of the Silk Cut Challenge Cup more by fortune of the draw than by merit and they have lost their opening two Super League fixtures.

At this stage last season Warrington were at least deservedly in the semi-finals, in which they were unfortunate to be beaten by Bradford, and had opened their Super League campaign in scintillating style at home to London Broncos.

In short, Warrington have completed five games this season and not looked impressive in any.

There were a number of factors that were particularly disappointing about the loss against Hull.

Firstly, Hull are likely to be Warrington's biggest obstacle to overcome to reach the all-important fifth position in Super League. It makes losing to the Humbersiders in the first home game of the season all the more disheartening.

Secondly, the defeat was comprehensive. The scoreline, assisted by two late tries by Alan Hunte and the swapping of Rob Smyth for Lee Briers in the goalkicking department, flattered the Wolves and Hull did not even play as well as they did against Leeds in their previous game.

The one positive that came from the Villeneuve game was an unbreached defence but that memory was eradicated, and in fact the strong defence which has been evident in Warrington's opening games completely disappeared.

This and the Salford match were targeted as the time to get everything right in preparation for the

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semi-final against Bradford. It was a step back in terms of progress and the players now have only one game for things to click before the crucial date at the McAlpine Stadium.

Whereas Bradford will enter that game with their season in full swing and on the back of a string of consecutively outstanding performances Warrington are in a position where their season has not even got out of the starting blocks and confidence is low.

To beat Bradford will need a performance even more miraculous than the one which saw the Wolves become the first team in Super League to turn over the Bulls last season.

It was a pity for the strong army of support that turned up at Wilderspool that they were let down so badly by a performance that lacked any creativity or zest and it is only a matter of time before the fans' patience runs out.

If there was an encouraging sign from the game it was that all the players looked enormously despondent with their efforts after the final whistle.

Van de Velde surprisingly stuck to his plan to play Briers at full back. This ploy may work if an adequate stand off is found to play alongside the tireless Alfie Langer but so far this season he has been carrying both half-back positions.

It was the turn of Steve Georgallis to fill the No.6 berth against Hull and whether it was simply 'a bad day at the office' for the Greek-Australian nicknamed 'Stavros' remains to be seen but his performance left a lot to be desired.

Langer still created all of Warrington's tries in some way or another and for all his efforts limped off with five minutes remaining after paving the way for Hunte's second try.

Hunte was a determined performer and showed the kind of spirit which a few others should have tried to emulate. His first try came in the 67th minute, after he drifted into the middle from the wing and was unstoppable, coming from an angled run on to a beautifully held-up Langer pass to split the Hull defence.

Sadly that was the only run of its kind for the entire match after it had demonstrated what could be achieved from running off Alf.

Andrew Gee plugged away and because of the lack of a ball player up in the line he often had to take on the mantle himself and subsequently off-loaded quite well.

Tawera Nikau, too, tried his hardest to spark some movement from the middle of the field and he had his best game this season with good running and a more productive display of controlled aggression.

Briers got Warrington's first try in a similar vein to the three he scored against Villeneuve, coming into the line inside the centre and throwing two dummies before diving over the line.

This came after slow defence allowed Hull to take a first minute lead through Deon Bird and they added to it six minutes later courtesy of winger Matt Crowther.

Hull's Tony Smith, signed from Wigan, pounced on a Lee Jackson grubber to score before Georgallis gave Warrington hope going into half-time with an easy walk over the line after Langer had squeezed the ball out to him while being tackled.

A defence which failed to move up in a line then proceeded to leak three further tries in the second half to Steve Prescott, Chris Smith and impressive youngster Richard Horne.

Hunte's two tries in the space of seven minutes were the last of the game and they gave the scoreline a look of respectability.