WITH Warrington Wolves’ 2024 season now at an end, it is time to reflect on how things broke down over the course of the year.
As such, we’ll be conducting a month-by-month review of The Wire’s first campaign under the charge of head coach Sam Burgess over the coming weeks.
READ MORE > Check our reviews of February and March, April, May and June
Today, we look at July as Burgess’ boys looked to rebuild having been knocked off course by their Challenge Cup Final defeat…
WITH the Challenge Cup and the international break now in the rear-view mirror, it was now a straight run to the finish line in Super League.
And while they remained in a good position among the leading group, Warrington Wolves had to make sure the wobble they had before the break did not extend after it.
After scraping by Hull FC at the end of June, home games against beleaguered opponents in the shape of Huddersfield and Leeds presented a chance to build momentum ahead of trips to St Helens and Wigan to end the month.
They could not have started any better in terms of result at least, with Huddersfield hammered 48-0 in a game that proved to be Ian Watson’s last in charge of the Giants.
Further inspection saw them shorn of the services of Toby King and Lachlan Fitzgibbon for several weeks and Connor Wrench for what remained of the season, forcing Burgess to count the bodies.
Ashton at least returned for Leeds’ visit the following week, and it took him just two minutes to get on the scoresheet as Wire swept into a 12-0 lead inside the opening five minutes to break the game open.
There was a response of sorts from Leeds, particularly in the second half as Wire’s lead was halved from 20 points to 10 either side of George Williams’ sin-binning, but they were able to keep the visitors at arms’ length.
The first of them looked set to be something of a stroll, with Warrington again flying out of the traps to move into a 12-0 lead at St Helens and looking like they could slice their hosts open at will.
Then, however, came a red card for James Harrison and while they had a good cushion, they faced the daunting prospect of protecting it for an hour with 12 men.
They did so manfully despite being reduced to 11 men at one stage thanks to Matty Nicholson’s yellow card, and were never behind at any stage despite Saints closing the gap to two points.
Just as it looked as though their exertions may catch up with them, however, they found a glorious second wind and struck twice late on to seal a 24-10 triumph and a win for the ages.
With confidence high, news emerged of a shock move to bring England international John Bateman to the club for the remainder of the year and while he did not arrive in time to feature against former club Wigan Warriors, he will have been delighted with what he saw.
Starting for the first time in a Warrington shirt, Yates set the tone with a bone-crunching hit on Liam Byrne with the game’s very first tackle to force a knock-on. Wire scored from the resulting set and never looked back.
Youngster Arron Lindop enjoyed a memorable night, scoring twice as Burgess’ side ran out 40-4 victors at a stunned Brick Community Stadium.
Wire started the month at something of a crossroads but ended it on top of the Super League table.
Warrington Wolves results, July 2024
Friday 5…Huddersfield Giants (H) - won 48-0
Thursday 11…Leeds Rhinos (H) - won 30-18
Friday 19…St Helens (A) - won 24-10
Friday 26…Wigan Warriors (A) - won 40-4
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