GARY Chambers said the effort put in by the Warrington Wolves players in a narrow loss at Leeds Rhinos has to be the norm.

The Wire were in the mix until the final seconds, leading for large parts of the game and not falling apart after dropping behind.

If full-back Matt Dufty had managed to hold on to the ball with the final play of the game Wolves would have been celebrating victory for the first time in eight matches, but it was not to be as Leeds achieved their first victory in four outings.

“This club demands that sort of standard. That's just the norm, I'm not going to big it up or put it down, that's just what they have to do every week,” said interim head coach Chambers after his second game in charge since Daryl Powell’s exit.

“We go to work and you have to perform when you go to work.

“I thought they worked really hard. We didn't get the result but we've said that's what you need to do each week when you go to work.

“We can’t be defined by one game away at Leeds. We’ve had a go, they’ve gone and done a job, and it hasn’t worked but next week with the same effort and the same application it might.

“That being the norm, that’s non-negotiable in this game – you turn up and work hard, it’s a brutal, brutal game.

“When you invest a lot of energy in something and it doesn’t quite pay off then you do feel down, but part of being a professional sportsman is finding a way to re-energise and go again. That’s what the best do and that’s what this club demands.”

Dufty cut a disconsolate figure on his haunches over the Leeds try line long after the final hooter had sounded, his response to juggling and losing possession from Stefan Ratchford’s grubber kick in the final play of the game.

He had scored The Wire’s first try and made several long-distance breaks while playing more centrally around the ruck area to capitalise on his pace.

“I think he was outstanding. Again he can’t be defined by that one mistake at the end,” said Chambers about Dufty’s display.

“I was made up with what he did generally through the game and how he responded from a week earlier.

“He takes it tough when he doesn’t play well. He’s got to move on from that because that’s part of his development and his progress, and go again.

“I think he benefited from having two points of attack (around the ruck). It works for this team, it’s difficult and it’s tough on them to do but that worked.

“We need to look at what we want to do next week, and how he fits in with our next opposition (Hull FC).”

In what areas did Chambers see improvement from past performances?

“We worked hard,” he said.

“They kept moving for each other, there was nobody knocking off, they kept pushing hard for each other.

“There was plenty of movement in two points of attack around the ruck, so I thought that was good.

“With our kick options we finished where we wanted to finish so they were good.

“We executed for the majority of the time what we wanted to execute so that was pleasing.

“There were a couple of lapses in concentration and you could say a bit of luck maybe here and there, but like I said that’s just the norm and the standard this club expects.”

There were other players who caught his eye.

“I thought Paul Vaughan was outstanding, I thought Pete Mata’utia played his best game and returned hard,” said Chambers.

“I think there was some good performances all around. They ripped in and they had a go and that’s all you can ask – that’s just a standard thing, everybody had a dig.

“That game could have gone either way, and that’s what happens, that’s just how it is, maybe next week it will go our way. It’s just one of those things.

“You look for people turning up each week and that’s what we’ve got to do. We’ve turned up this week and we’ve got to keep turning up and then something will change.”

Fans have queried why Connor Wrench and Joe Bullock missed out on selection in the 17 – although the latter was named as 18th man and wasn’t needed.

Chambers was asked what players like Wrench and Bullock will need to do to force their way in, especially as he felt all the players put the effort in against Leeds.

“We’re in a good position. We’re healthy numbers wise. My aim was, we brought Riley Dean back (from loan), we go 13 against 13 in training and it’s full-on and we try and see who’s going really well,” said Chambers.

“We’re in a position where because of the numbers that we’ve got we can rotate in, so everybody can expend what they need to do and we can keep rotating.

“There’s a few bumps and bruises in the changing rooms, but we’ve got healthy numbers. We’re in a position where Connor’s got to play well and Joe’s got to play well (in the reserves game).

“What I have to do with this team is develop competition, with people pushing each other and not feeling as though they can be comfortable and keep pushing each other on.

“That’s slowly what we’re trying to do.”