SATURDAY night at The Halliwell Jones Stadium was quite surreal.

It was not on the agenda for Hull FC to gain victory and keep their dream alive of a Grand Final and Challenge Cup double.

Warrington Wolves' heaviest home defeat of 2006 was a devastating end to such a high voltage season.

Saturday was supposed to have been part three of Warrington's Andrew Johns story and a successful step towards reaching the Grand Final in the 50th anniversary year of Wolves' last championship success.

Everything was supposedly in place. The home tie had been secured thanks to the fourth-place finish in the table, confidence was high after four successive wins, Wolves had served notice of their intent with the previous week's outstanding league success at the KC Stadium and fans cloaked in primrose and blue were ready for a celebratory party to mark Warrington's achievement of reaching the second stage of the play-offs for the first time.

Unfortunately, Hull had other ideas but it must be rare for a side to lose 40-6 at home and still receive a standing ovation as the players leave the field.

The majority of the 12,243 crowd hung around to applaud the players and coaches' efforts not only for the final 80 minutes of the campaign but for the 2,320 that had preceded them.

That was a special moment. Cheer and jubilation can sometimes be taken for granted when a team wins but to receive such an outstanding reception at the end of such a disappointing night was a massive pointer that the club is continuing to head in the right direction.

The Wolves fans understand all the positives to have come out of the club's best Super League season so far and are displaying patience for success no matter how desperate they are to see shiny silverware in the Halliwell Jones trophy cabinet.

With this year's average turnout of 11,000 fans sticking by the club the good times will not be far away.

And when the first piece of silverware since 1991 is finally decorated with primrose and blue ribbons there will be a party worth waiting for - that is guaranteed with the best fans in Super League.

Mike Parsons