Warrington Wolves 30 Huddersfield Giants 26, talking points

As Daryl Powell said in his post-match press conference, their win over Huddersfield Giants was one from which to "pack up the two points, move on and get better" as they bid to remain in the upper echelons of the Super League table.

Here, our Wire reporter Matt Turner picks out five key talking points to emerge from the game...

A win is a win – but more questions than answers?

First and foremost, Warrington Wolves got what they most wanted out of this game – two competition points and a return to winning ways?

But they cannot look back at this game and be completely satisfied with how it was achieved. Far from it.

Yes, they can point to a few things going against them (more on that later) but the fact they let Huddersfield stay far too close for comfort brings about more concerning signs.

Anyone wanting to feel a little more assured about the direction the team are heading in will have more questions than answers from the performance and for them, this victory will feel quite hollow.

We can only hope that getting back on the winning trail – however it is achieved – will boost confidence enough to help them back to their best, although their followers can be forgiven for feeling more than a little sceptical about that.

Danny Walker touches down for his second-half try (Image: Mike Boden)

Alarming defensive struggles continue

Pre-match, Daryl Powell says he was looking at two areas in particular for improvement following back-to-back defeats – better “detail” in attack and a step forward in try-line defence.

30 points scored – should it have been more? Again, more on that later – suggests a step forward in the former, but there was no sign of improvement without the ball.

Huddersfield scored from both their entries into Wire’s 20-metre zone in the first half and some of the defending for the tries that followed bordered on comical.

The fact is it is way too easy to score points against Warrington at the moment and until that is fixed, they cannot make tangible progress.

Their average number of points conceded per game has gone from just under 12 to well above 20 and clearly, more time needs to be spent in getting to the bottom of why that is.

George Williams and Stefan Ratchford allow Kevin Naiqama to slip from their grasp to score (Image: SWPix.com)

Video ref woes

Warrington scored 30 points in a variety of ways, from nice moves involving good, honest back-row lines from both James Harrison and Ben Currie to superb individual play, specifically a 90-metre solo effort from Josh Thewlis.

However, they were on the wrong end of a few calls from video referee Ben Thaler that could be described as marginal at best.

In total, they had three tries chalked off following Thaler’s intervention – one of them from Matt Dufty was more clear-cut but ruling out efforts from Matty Ashton and in particular Ben Currie stretched the remit of finding clear evidence to overturn the on-field call to the limit.

Those non-tries came at critical times too – Ashton’s gallop clear to score right on the half-time hooter would have sent Wire in 14 points ahead had Thaler not decided Chris McQueen’s pass had brushed Stefan Ratchford’s fingers before hitting terra firma.

The ruling-out of Currie’s effort was even more frustrating given on-field official Liam Moore had actually signalled for a try before changing his mind and consulting Thaler, who ruled the back rower had knocked on when it looked as though the hosts were about to go 18 – and more than likely 20 – points into the lead.

The only saving grace for Wire is that, in the end, they did not prove costly.

This 'try' from Matty Ashton was one of three Wire had chalked off by referee Ben Thaler (Image: Mike Boden)

A word for the maligned props

Paul Vaughan has been Warrington’s best-performing prop by far and since his early-season front-row partner Thomas Mikaele left, Wire have been increasingly reliant on the Australian.

While he was quietly effective once again, this time he had much better support from some of his much-maligned teammates.

Gil Dudson’s contributions have seen him criticised by some sections of the fanbase but this was by far his best game in a Warrington shirt as he performed the role Daryl Powell signed him to do – be solid from the start and set the tone.

Joe Bullock too put in an admirable stint off the bench alongside youngster Lucas Green, who showed he could more than handle the step-up to senior level.

The need for Sam Kasiano to start showed the dearth of options in the loose forward/back row area but he too put in two strong stints after opening the scoring with a typically rumbustious try.

Gil Dudson and Sam Kasiano celebrate the latter's try (Image: Mike Boden)

Youngsters show the way

Finally, Wire fans got what they have been wanting to see – Connor Wrench in the centres with Josh Thewlis outside of him.

At the very least, both showed enough to keep their spots and perhaps provide some much-needed continuity on the right edge.

Wrench’s speed makes him a point of difference in the three-quarter line while Thewlis lit the game up with a sparkling individual try just as Wire were starting to creak in the first half.

Add Green’s encouraging display to that as well as Danny Walker’s stellar performance and you have four men who will play a huge part in this club’s future stepping up to the task.

Josh Thewlis races clear to score (Image: Mike Boden)