THIS is about as sweet as they come.

Two points picked up, bragging rights secured and the added bonus of getting one over on a Wolves defector – all in an evening’s work.

Ultimately, it will only count as one more win in a long, hard Super League season but as the home faithful gleefully chanted ‘Gleeson, what’s the score?’ following Michael Monaghan’s decisive try, it felt like so much more.

In his first game back at The Halliwell Jones Stadium since a surprise switch to Wigan in early April, former Wolves star Martin Gleeson and his Warriors teammates were outmuscled and out-thought.

The visitors were battered into submission by the tremendous Wolves pack and eventually succumbed to the prodding and probing of their backs.

And Gleeson’s own face told the tale of a vicious physical battle, blood dripping down his nose and a nasty-looking bruise around his left eye.

Against such a background, it was Warrington’s power players who made their mark.

Vinnie Anderson performed well, brother Louis better still but it was bash brothers Adrian Morley and Garreth Carvell who really stood out.

The pair were simply thrilling to watch, driving their team forward in attack and anchoring them firm in defence, while trampling all over their Wigan counterparts.

Their combined contribution was crucial in leading their team back from the brink.

Warrington did not touch the ball once throughout the first eight minutes and endured six consecutive sets on their own line, as they looked completely overfaced throughout the early stages.

Cameron Phelps touched down Sam Tomkins’ grubber to turn possession into points and Warriors had two more ‘tries’ chalked off by the video referee, one after Richie Mathers superbly held up Joel Tomkins over the line and the other when Pat Richards knocked on Thomas Leuluai’s kick.

Many teams would have been left utterly drained and exhausted by that gruelling spell of pressure but if Wolves were, they certainly did not show it.

Just as they had at Hull a week earlier, Warrington used their outstanding defence as a platform on which to build a recovery.

Inspired by their sterling efforts in keeping Wigan out and dragged forward by Morley and Carvell, they proceeded to dominate much of the remaining 70 minutes.

At first, inaccuracy in the execution let them down.

Ben Westwood threw a wild pass out of bounds as the excellent Chris Bridge begged for a better ball on the overlap, while Lee Briers’ cross-field kick was a touch too high for Matt King, brushing the Australian’s fingertips before sailing into touch.

But, when Briers and King finally did get it right just before the break, the confidence slowly began to seep back into the attacking play.

Patience paid off and Wolves nailed the execution on a smooth attacking move to send Chris Riley in at the left corner.

Bridge’s conversion was a possible game-breaking moment and he stepped up to confidently stroke the touchline kick between the posts and give his side a two-point advantage. Game over.

Monaghan’s stunning solo try made sure of victory and the primrose and blue masses celebrated a sixth consecutive home win against their bitter rivals.

In the circumstances, it would be easy to get carried away and many of the deligghted onlookers in the stands did just that.

But joyous celebration was balanced by a cautious optimism among players and coaches. There is a sense Tony Smith and his players are beginning to get it right.

Match facts

Warrington Wolves 16 Wigan Warriors 8

Wolves: Richie Mathers; Chris Riley (1t), Chris Bridge (2g), Simon Grix, Matt King (1t); Lee Briers, Michael Monaghan; Adrian Morley, Jon Clarke, Garreth Carvell, Ben Westwood, Louis Anderson, Vinnie Anderson. Subs: Mickey Higham, Paul Wood, Paul Rauhihi, Ben Harrison.

Warriors: Pat Richards (2g); Amos Roberts, Martin Gleeson, Cameron Phelps (1t), Shaun Ainscough; Sam Tomkins, Thomas Leuluai; Stuart Fielden, Mike McIlorum, Andy Coley, Gareth Hock, Joel Tomkins, Sean O’Loughlin. Subs: Mark Riddell, Iafeta Paleaasina, Harrison Hansen, Paul Prescott.

Referee: Ben Thaler

Scoring: Phelps touches down after Briers and Mathers fail to deal with Sam Tomkins’ grubber kick, 3mins, Richards tags on the extras, 0-6; A well-rehearsed move sees Briers launch a kick to the right wing and King soar to collect before grounding the ball, 38mins, 4-6; Ben Westwood is penalised and Richards kicks the penalty goal, 51mins, 4-8; Mathers comes into the line and finds Grix who steps past Roberts and sends Riley in on the left, 57mins, Bridge nails the difficult touchline conversion, 10-8; Monaghan spins out of one challenge, breaks the tackle of Richards and dives over the line despite the best efforts of Sam Tomkins to hold him up, 67mins, Bridge converts, 16-8.

Pens: Wolves 11 Warriors 5

Attendance: 10,718

Warrington Guardian top men: Morley 3pts, Carvell 2pts, Bridge 1pt.

Interesting note: Wigan are without a win in seven attempts at The Halliwell Jones Stadium, which includes their Challenge Cup semi-final defeat against Catalans Dragons in 2007.