Warrington Wolves talking points after Hull KR semi loss

Warrington Wolves’ wait to be called champions of England will extend into a 70th year after they were beaten by Hull KR on Friday night in the Super League semi-finals.

The Robins march onto Old Trafford for the very first time but for The Wire, they are left to reflect upon what might have been.

Our Wire reporter Matt Turner brings us his reflections on the game here in “The Morning After”…

The most agonising end

It was always going to be tight, but it being as tight it was makes it even more heartbreaking.

Two tries each, but one made goal to nil proves to be the difference in a classic game of two halves.

Wire were deservedly behind at the break but admirably fought back after the interval to come close to storming the Craven Park fortress for a second time this year.

Pride will be the overriding emotion when the dust settles but now, the credit they can take will not mean much.

They will look back and wonder what might have been, in particular Josh Thewlis who was the man who missed those two goals.

He has kicked superbly all season and he will feel particularly annoyed at the makeable first kick he dragged wide. He is still young, and it is important that those within the dressing room get around him and others.

A dejected John Bateman contemplates defeat (Image: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com)

Time to bin the “on-field call?”

A few weeks ago, there were warnings from Sam Burgess that we would be talking about a refereeing decision in the aftermath of a key, end-of-season game.

And so it proved – although not in the way he may have anticipated when he said that.

This time, the on-field call came under fire when, despite there not seeming to be much evidence to suggest as much, referee Liam Moore sent Joe Burgess’ effort to video referee Jack Smith as a try.

Smith then had to find conclusive evidence to overturn the call – and there was none either way, so the call had to stand.

Burgess’ sheepish look when the word “try” flashed up on the big screen - and his response to questions about it post-match - told you all you needed to know.

Moore had to make a decision either way. He and Smith were only following the rules, but it is the rule that is the issue.

After this, calls to rid that kind of influence on video referee decisions will only intensity.

Matt Dufty and Josh Drinkwater remonstrate with referee Liam Moore after he sent Joe Burgess' effort to the video referee as a try (Image: Richard Sellers/PA Wire)

Wire can’t make it click

In the main, Warrington defended absolutely superbly throughout, coming up with a number of try-saving interventions to keep themselves in the game.

At the other end, however, they were not as sharp as they could have been and ultimately, it proved costly.

The post-match debate about the calls that went against them will rumble – there was also a disallowed Matt Dufty try for obstruction with the score at 4-0 – but when the analysis starts, they will realise the game was there for the taking in the second half.

Having dragged themselves back from the abyss thanks to a double from the superb Matty Ashton, they had Hull KR teetering on the cliff edge.

All they had to do was push them off, but they could not quite find a way to do so.

George Williams was unable to have much of an influence over proceedings (Image: SWPix.com)

Big calls in the middle unit

While his impact against St Helens last week may have been minimal, Zane Musgrove’s omission from the 17 was a big call from Burgess.

The big Samoan has played whenever he has been available this year and given he was named as 18th man, there appeared to be no injury involved in the decision.

Another big decision was keeping Paul Vaughan out of the action until well into the second half – James Harrison was the man selected alongside Luke Yates from the start, but his first stint ended early.

Burgess had a lot to juggle in terms of his pack options, but it cannot really be said that the decisions he made came up trumps.

Led by Sauaso Sue and Jai Whitbread, Hull KR had the more dominant middle early and while Wire did well to wrestle some of that back, they did not set the tone as they usually would.

Joe Philbin is hunted down by the Rovers defence (Image: SWPix.com)

A year to be proud of

Twelve months ago, Warrington Wolves looked as far away from competing for a Grand Final place as they ever had.

Words like “reset” and “overhaul” were being thrown around, but Sam Burgess insisted he had seen the foundations of a good team from afar that just needed some direction.

Since then, the journey the club has been on with him at the helm has been nothing short of transformational. They are back to where they feel like they belong in terms of competing at the right end of the table and being a part of big games such as this one.

They have accomplished so much this year and that cannot simply be discarded because they came out on the wrong side of a tight semi-final against a very good Hull KR side.

What has to happen now, though, is continued growth on the superb foundations this year has laid down.

After a few years in the darkness, brighter times are back at The Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Matty Ashton celebrates his second try (Image: SWPix.com)