Hull FC 16

Warrington Wolves 30

WHAT better time to hit top form than a week before the start of the play-offs?

Wolves' more fancied rivals for the Super League crown must have been clinging on to the hope that their scintillating display against Leeds a week previously had been a one-off, but that notion was dispelled at Hull.

And make no mistake - this was not the Andrew Johns show.

That is no slight on the Australian, who, although quieter than on his debut against Leeds, still had an important influence on the side as well as a hand in three tries.

But it was the performances of several others that caught the eye and gave real cause for belief that this was a side that maybe, just maybe, could cause a genuine upset in the coming weeks.

Few gave Wolves a prayer of competing for the main honours before Johns' arrival, but the way they blitzed Hull in a devastating opening 20 minutes at the KC Stadium gave further reason for a rethink.

Paul Cullen's men well and truly rained on their hosts' Challenge Cup parade as they raced into what proved to be an unassailable 16-0 lead, with the formidable Logan Swann putting the finishing touches to two moves to grab a brace on his 50th appearance in England.

Brent Grose, who did not put a foot wrong all night, swerved inside and out for another try, and there seemed to be no stopping the Wolves juggernaut.

The home crowd had been silenced but the introduction of props Jamie Thackray and Paul King made life more difficult.

Their arrival allowed Hull to use muscle to test the primrose and blue troops' defensive qualities to the limit, but Wolves were equal to the challenge with the likes of Jon Clarke and Chris Leikvoll in no mood to budge.

Hull coach John Kear, who lost Danny Brough and Sione Faumuina to injury during the game, pointed to Grose's alleged trip on Nathan Blacklock, which allowed the lively Lee Briers to scamper back and thwart Chris Chester, as a bone of contention but Wolves were always a step ahead.

That was despite seeing Chris Bridge, who mixed several flashes of brilliance in attack with some hesitant moments in defence, sent to the sin bin for holding down Graeme Horne in the 54th minute.

He returned to leave Blacklock for dead and set up Toa Kohe-Love's second try on the centre's first return to his old club, thus confirming Wolves' return to The Halliwell Jones Stadium for the first play-off match.

Nathan Wood had better get another farewell speech ready.

Match Facts

Engage Super League X

Round 28, September 16, 2005

Hull FC 16

Warrington Wolves 30

Hull: Tom Saxton; Nathan Blacklock, Sione Faumuina, Gareth Raynor, Richie Barnett; Richard Whiting, Danny Brough; Ewan Dowes, Richard Swain, Garreth Carvell, Shayne McMenemy, Stephen Kearney, Paul Cooke. Subs used: Jamie Thackray, Paul King, Chris Chester, Graeme Horne.

Wolves: Brent Grose; Henry Fa'afili, Martin Gleeson, Toa Kohe-Love, Chris Bridge; Lee Briers, Andrew Johns; Chris Leikvoll, Nathan Wood, Paul Wood, Logan Swann, Paul Noone, Jon Clarke. Subs used: Mark Hilton, Danny Lima, Mark Gleeson, Andy Bracek.

Referee: Steve Ganson

Scoring: Swann rides a tackle and stretches over after being fed by Briers, 5mins, 0-4; Briers steals the ball from Kearney and Grose receives Johns' pass before offloading for Swann to walk in his second, 12mins, Johns converts, 0-10; Grose is fed by Johns before swerving inside Swain and darting over, 20mins, Johns adds the extras, 0-16; Bridge fumbles Cooke's kick and Kearney ploughs over after being supplied by Swain, 38mins, Cooke goals, 6-16; Johns kicks 10m penalty after being felled by King's high tackle, 49mins, 6-18; Cooke exploits the space vacated by the sin-binned Bridge to put Blacklock over in the corner, 55mins, 10-18; Kohe-Love collects the bouncing ball to touch down after Johns' bomb had flummoxed Whiting, 70mins, Johns lands goal, 10-24; Bridge skins Blacklock on the outside and lays on a try for the supporting Kohe-Love, 77mins, Johns converts, 10-30; Blacklock goes over for his second from King's offload, 80+mins, Cooke converts, 16-30.

Penalties: Hull 6 Wolves 4

Scrums: Hull 5 Wolves 7

Attendance: 15,763

Warrington Guardian top men: Brent Grose 3pts, Lee Briers 2pts, Logan Swann 1pt.

Interesting note: Wolves' victory was their biggest win at Hull since 1992.