Smith hails confidence boost for Warrington Wolves

Wolves' biggest win of the year, albeit against the bottom side, still leaves Wolves three points behind the top eight with two games remaining before the split into the Super 8s and Middle 8s.

But only the second win in nine outings, which included a full debut for Ben Pomeroy and a first home appearance for Peta Hiku as well as four tries for the returning Tom Lineham, provides a platform ahead of Thursday's trip to Wigan Warriors and the Round 23 home clash with Widnes Vikings.

"We've got two tough games to go and we want to play well," said Wolves' head of coaching and rugby.

"And it was important that we played well against Leigh.

"Despite whatever happens after two weeks' time, we've got a number of rugby league games to go this year and we want to be playing well.

"We had to start playing well at some point.

"I'm not suggesting a couple of weeks ago we didn't play alright (in the win against Catalans), and even at times last week (in the loss at Wakefield) we played alright.

"But this was a good performance for most of the 80 minutes and that's important for us.

"Regardless of whether its Super 8s or Middle 8s, it's important to get back that feeling of 'we can play good rugby league'.

"That's the confidence thing that people talk about. When you try really hard and sometimes try too hard and things just don't work out, that's when you lose confidence.

"It was important for us to get our confidence back in this game. It was a good job.

"We've got heaps of rugby league left to play this season and we want to play well during that period, so it was important for us to get a performance where we look back and say this worked because of this, this and this. That's important for us."

Smith felt improvements came throughout his team, which featured 11 changes - including positional – to the loss at Wakefield.

"Improvements came across the board from us. It was a good performance," he said.

"Our defence was good and we had to do a bit, particularly early in each half which was crucial for us defensively.

"Leigh had some field position and attacked our line and we withstood that attack.

"The other crucial part was when Bennie Westwood had that 10 minutes in the sin bin. It was a big pressure time for us and fortunately we didn't crack.

"We only had that one slip-up at the end of the first half where Stefan (Ratchford) put his hand up about handling that kick a little bit better."

He added: "The pleasing part was that mostly our attack was much improved.

"We asked some questions and came up with some good answers too.

"I thought some of our offloads were good. We were a bit creative in the first half.

"We got a little bit conservative in the second half, slowing down a little bit coming out of our own half but I can understand a bit of that mentality from our players because it was wet and because of the scoreline.

"There was a bit more rugby league played by us and it was refreshing for all of us to see and I'm delighted for the players."

Ratchford, playing at full-back again after time spent in the halves and centre, had a hand in all four of Lineham's tries on the left edge that also featured Ryan Atkins and the returning Dec Patton.

"Ratchford and Lineham did some nice stuff, Ryan was strong and Dec came up with a good couple of plays particular in the first half on the left as well," said Smith.

"Stef come up with a nice couple of plays.

"Tommy had some work to do on each of those finishes but he came up with four quality finishes at the back end of plays, after some good work on the inside too."

And he was pleased with how Australian newcomer Pomeroy and New Zealand international Hiku linked on the right edge on their first outing together.

"I thought the two new boys did a good job on the other side, one on the wing and one in centre and they swapped around depending on whether it was defence or offense," he said.

"They combined well and were good for us. They made us look good out there and are both full of enthusiasm and really happy to be playing rugby league. That's a real enthusiasm blast for us that's been good for us."

The work out wide came on the back of the pack getting on top though.

"I thought the forwards were good, with a couple of real stand-outs," said Smith.

"Hilly (Chris Hill) was terrific and back to some of his best, and Super Bennie Westwood was back to being Super again.

"He was outstanding, really good, considering he hasn't played for a month or so with a broken hand and to play 70 minutes as he did.

"There were good contributions from all the forwards."