SKIPPER Lee Briers is maintaining a positive outlook despite Warrington Wolves losing their first home game of engage Super League XII.

Wolves followed up an excellent 16-10 win at Wigan with a 36-20 loss against Bradford Bulls at the weekend and it was a huge disappointment for the 11,000 or so Warrington fans in the close-to-capacity crowd.

Now Wolves are preparing to face another top-six rival, Hull FC, at The Halliwell Jones Stadium on Sunday.

Briers said: "Sunday's loss was disappointing to say the least but it was only the first game at home out of 13.

"It's not all doom and gloom. There were a lot of positives to take from the performance against Bradford.

"We'll be back stronger and better and so the supporters just need to keep following us like I know they will."

Hull reached the Grand Final for the first time last season and are considered certainties for a top-six finish again this year.

However, they drew at home to last season's bottom club Catalans Dragons in the opening round of the campaign and lost at Headingley last weekend.

Briers said: "We know how good they are.

"I saw them play against Leeds on Friday night but we can't read anything into that defeat because of the atrocious conditions at Headingley.

"They've not had a win yet this season and will be determined and focused for a win against us.

"We've got to go out there and perform and the result will come."

Briers pinpointed an area of concern that led to defeat against Bradford.

He said: "We'd laid the platform in the first half but we just gave too much ball away.

"Bradford ground out the win and played sensible rugby.

"They got on top of us and we know that teams can't afford to give Bradford possession like that because they're too big and strong for that.

"We've got to work hard in training again this week."

* Briers' Testimonial year will kick off with a sportsman's dinner at Tetley Walker Club on March 14. Super League referee Karl Kirkpatrick will be the guest speaker, with comedy from Jimmy Bright.

For tickets, contact Rachel on 248887 or call in at Wolfware.



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