Hull KR 28 Warrington Wolves 29.

MICHAEL Monaghan probably could not have scored a more important first point for Warrington Wolves.

The dogged scrum half's 76th-minute drop goal, preceding two Hull Kingston Rovers converted tries, not only sealed a good win but importantly kept supporters onside too.

A team with the full backing of its supporters is far more likely to succeed than one that does not.

And while expectations are high among the barmy army this year, some fans can quickly become frustrated.

Wolves' players and coaches would have been set for an uncomfortable week of criticism if they had gone on to lose a game in which they had led 28-0 after 25 minutes.

And that would even have been the case after accepting that the defending of seven successive penalties for 20 minutes either side of half time had taken its toll on players' energy levels as Rovers fought back with four tries in the final 18 minutes.

Ironically, Monaghan admitted that the all-important drop goal was not planned even though Lee Briers had been short with one attempt three minutes earlier.

The former Manly star said: "I wasn't actually going to go for the field goal.

"We were going to keep playing, but it's pretty tough when there's no clock on the ground to know what stage we're at in the game.

"I just thought of it off the top of my head. I was two passes wide and I just decided to have a crack at it.

"It proved to be the decisive point but the fact that it came to that is pretty disappointing after we played some great footy in the first half."

Monaghan's one-pointer, achieved despite carrying a hamstring injury, was a blessing in disguise and rewarded the team with a win that was richly deserved for a first-half show that featured some outstanding rugby.

Led by the powerhouse running and devastating offloading of Paul Rauhihi and Louis Anderson, Paul Cullen's men ripped apart a side that had defeated St Helens on its previous home appearance.

Some of the ball movement orchestrated by Monaghan and Briers was a joy for centres Vinnie Anderson and Martin Gleeson to work with.

The main benefactor was Chris Hicks, whose two tries in his first start for the club at full back took his tally to four in three games.

Rauhihi's physical presence was missed when he was given a breather in the 30th minute, as was Simon Grix's defensive skill around the ruck after he was stretchered off in the 51st minute.

And Wolves perhaps got carried away with their ball-handling skills for a spell in the second half when more composure may have brought a try that would have eradicated the need for Monaghan's drop goal.

But, if nothing else, Rovers' fightback - bringing back horror memories of the Challenge Cup quarter final defeat of two years ago - will help to keep players' feet on the ground as they pursue more valuable wins.

Match facts

engage Super League Round Three, February 24, 2008

Hull Kingston Rovers 28 Warrington Wolves 29

Rovers: Shaun Briscoe; Peter Fox, Kris Welham (1t), Jake Webster (1t), Jon Steel; Daniel Fitzhenry (1t), James Webster; Michael Vella, Ben Fisher (1t), Makali Aizue, Clint Newton, Ben Galea, Scott Murrell (4g). Subs used: Garret Crossman, David Mills, Stanley Gene, Ben Cockayne (1t).

Wolves: Chris Hicks (2t); Paul Johnson (1t), Martin Gleeson (1t), Vinnie Anderson, Kevin Penny; Lee Briers (4g), Michael Monaghan (1dg); Adrian Morley, Jon Clarke, Paul Rauhihi, Ben Westwood (1t), Louis Anderson, Simon Grix. Subs used: Mark Gleeson, Andy Bracek, Rob Parker, Ben Harrison.

Referee: Ashley Klein

Scoring: Martin Gleeson's momentum takes him over from Grix's pass, 2mins, Briers converted, 0-6; Louis Anderson's superb offload sends Wolves flying down the left with Hicks winning the race to Penny's kick, 10mins, 0-10; Johnson intercepts Fitzhenry pass and scoots 50 metres to score, 19mins, Briers converts, 0-16; Westwood crashes over from short Briers pass, 22mins, Briers converts, 0-22; Martin Gleeson sends Hicks through a hole, 25mins, Briers converts, 0-28; Webster powers over after four successive penalties, 35mins, 4-28; Cockayne scoots round Hicks from Murrell pass, 65mins, Murrell converts, 10-28; Fisher and Fitzhenry split Wolves down the middle with Fisher finishing off, 68mins, Murrell converts, 16-28; Monaghan lands a 25m drop goal, 76mins, 16-29; Gene's break leads to Welham crossing, 77mins, Murrell converts, 22-29; Murrell and Fisher combine down the middle to put Fitzhenry over, 79mins, Murrell converts, 28-29.

Pens: Rovers 13 Wolves 5

Scrums: Rovers 4 Wolves 5

Attendance: 8,704

Warrington Guardian top men: Rauhihi 3pts, Louis Anderson 2pts, Monaghan 1pt.

Interesting note: Grix's only previous start at loose forward for Wolves was also at Craven Park in the Challenge Cup quarter finals in 2006.