IT should never have been this close, but the fact it was speaks real volumes.

When the teamsheets dropped in just over an hour before kick off, Warrington Wolves fans could have been forgiven for turning round and heading for home or changing the channel to find alternative Saturday afternoon viewing.

If they did, however, they would have missed out on a display that affirmed what people within the club believe so fervently – that the future is very bright indeed.

Four senior debutants, another five academy graduates with only a handful of first-team games between them and players like Max Wood, Rodrick Tai and even Matty Nicholson to an extent who are still finding their way in the senior game. Many of the team who turned out in this much-changed line-up do not even train full-time.

As the action unfolded, however, you would not have known it.

Predictions of a hammering proved grossly misplaced as with the likes of Josh Drinkwater, Stefan Ratchford and Sam Powell guiding them round, this young and inexperienced side took the game to their more illustrious neighbours.

Indeed, they were arguably the better side throughout barring the 15-minute purple patch at the end of the first half that ultimately won Wigan the game.

That was the only point at which they looked slightly overawed, but half time came at a good time for them to regroup and have the lion share of things after the break.

While they were only a missed goal away from victory, a little more cohesion with the ball would have seen them comfortably home although that is to be expected of a side that was somewhat thrown together with limited training time.

It seems unfair to single people out, but in Cai Taylor-Wray and Arron Lindop, Wire have two outside backs that will surely light up The Halliwell Jones Stadium surface for years to come.

Playing in his more natural centre position after two games on the wing, Lindop again looked at home on the big stage while Taylor-Wray produced a nerveless display at full-back.

In the pack, Adam Holroyd enjoyed perhaps his best game in the senior side including two highlight-reel hits to force knock-ons from much bigger men in Tyler Dupree and Patrick Mago.

Yes, Wigan made changes too but their line-up was much, much closer to the one that will face The Wire at Wembley next week and it should have been strong enough to record a comfortable victory.

In the end, they snuck home by a point having been pushed much harder than many expected by an enthusiastic, tenacious Warrington team who showed their renewed attitude and spirit goes way beyond the first team.

The almost sheepish nature of Matt Peet’s post-match interview told you everything you needed to know – he acknowledged his side had got away with one and the two points were probably the only thing he could be happy about, with the disciplinary worries picked up showing why electing to go with such a strong side the week before a cup final is laced with risk.

By contrast, Sam Burgess could leave the game with renewed belief about how things sit for his side in both the short and long-term future.

While most of Wigan’s stars were forced into a more taxing game than they had planned and others running the risk of ruling themselves out of a Wembley date through their own ill-discipline, Wire’s were sat with their feet up in the stands.

We will only know for sure who took the right approach after next week’s game, but Burgess and Warrington cannot be blamed for being satisfied with how things sit going into “Wembley Week.”

They may have lost the game, but Wire certainly won the day.