THE returning Lee Briers has inspired a simply outstanding first-half performance from Wolves at Odsal.

Tony Smith’s rejuvenated side lead 34-10 at the break after running six tries passed the shell-shocked Bulls.

Back in the team after an enforced absence, Briers wasted no time in showing Wolves what they have been missing.

The long-serving half back is so vital to everything Warrington do on attack and, with the ball running through him, Bradford simply could not defend the threat.

His variety of passing, use of dummy runners and field kicking provided all the tools the visitors needed to build an early lead.

Strong defence was needed before Wolves could even think about attack though.

Chris Riley spilled an early Ben Jeffries kick on his own line to give Bulls a superb platform but the rearguard held firm.

The opening try came only a few minutes later, Briers linking well with Michael Monaghan before Ben Harrison’s decoy run allowed Louis Anderson to slip through a gap. Hicks goaled to provide a perfect start.

Errors were prevalent in the hosts’ game and when the ball was lost in contact, a scrum on halfway provided the platform for Warrington to strike again on 11 minutes.

Briers’ flat pass opened up the space and Chris Bridge offloaded for Chris Hicks to score on the overlap, the Australian hitting the post with his conversion.

Wolves’ explosive spell continued as, just five minutes later, Briers again the creator before Hicks took a pass from Ben Westwood, cut in off his wing and stepped through a couple of tackles to score before adding the goal.

An unbelievable four-try first quarter blast was completed when Briers sent a high, hanging kick to Matt King and the centre calmly plucked the ball out of the air to touch down. Hicks converted again.

Something of a response came from Bradford when David Solomona produced a neat sidestep to score from close range.

But that was only a brief interlude in the Wolves onslaught, a piece of magic from Riley stunning the home team.

Paul Johnson claimed a Ben Jeffries kick on his own 10-metre line and beat one tackle before offloading to Riley.

The full back did the rest, stepping on the gas and kicking over the head of the turning Rikki Sheriffe before collecting to run in a spectacular 80-metre try. Hicks converted.

Bradford were stunned and Wolves sliced them open again three minutes later, the half backs again combining extremely well before King sent in Johnson on the overlap, Hicks adding the extras.

Bulls did end the half strongly though.

A stunning tackle from Louis Anderson denied Sheriffe what looked an almost certain try as the hosts piled on the pressure.

But Wolves could not hold out and the last action of the half saw Michael Platt finish a passing move in the left corner, Paul Sykes converting to leave his side 34-10 down.