SAM Burgess admits his Warrington Wolves side “didn’t get going” in their Round Nine defeat at Salford Red Devils on Saturday.

The Wire’s four-game winning streak came to an end at the Salford Community Stadium as a late penalty try – awarded after Danny Walker was adjudged to have hindered Ryan Brierley’s pursuit of Nene Macdonald’s kick illegally – proved pivotal.

Warrington had led 12-11 after Stefan Ratchford’s penalty looked set to edge a nervy game that had been marred by a serious ankle injury to Leon Hayes, who was stretchered off in the second half.

> A full update on Leon Hayes' injury can be found here

Penalty try aside, there were no tries scored in the second half with the sides scoring twice each before the break.

Burgess admits the “stop-start” nature of the game did not help his side but admitted they were comfortably below their best.

“The game really didn’t have much flow,” he said.

“It was a stop-start game and that really doesn’t suit us. We didn’t get into our rhythm or the way we play.

“I loved our effort and the spirit was there as always, but it just wasn’t our day.

“We didn’t get going – we needed someone to break the game open but it just didn’t happen for us.

“We’re still going to take a lot out of it and I’m not too “doom and gloom” about it.

“They came with plenty of energy and spirit, but we’ll take some things out of it.

“We’ve got to be better in those moments, dust ourselves down and get back on the horse.”

The winning penalty try, which was awarded by video referee Tom Grant despite a “no try” signal being flashed up on the big screen, has divided opinion on social media, with Stefan Ratchford looking set to beat Brierley to the ball despite Walker’s intervention.

Marc Sneyd’s goal from in front of the posts meant The Wire needed a converted try in the seven minutes that remained to snatch the game, but they could not respond.

When asked for his thoughts on the decisive decision, however, Burgess was coy.

“I don’t know – I’m don’t suppose it matters now,” he said.

“I’m not sure on the rules so I don’t know what they’re looking for.

“There was quite a few calls out there that I wasn’t sure about, but it was the same for both sides.”