Warrington Wolves 43 Wigan Warriors 24

Cullen has always regarded Warriors as the club's main rivals and this latest 'derby' victory guarantees that Warrington will end a league season with a 100 per cent record against Wigan for the first time since 1986/87, when the Wolves boss scored tries in both fixtures.

It could even be argued that the scoreline flattered Brian Noble's Warriors, with Wolves running in seven tries and having three more ruled out in a highly impressive display that suggested confidence has now reached sky-high levels.

With Andrew Johns clapping along with the home fans in the North Stand, Wolves blew Wigan away in 25 minutes.

The visitors were pressurised into early mistakes, with Chris Ashton's fumble leading to Stuart Reardon's opening try before Kevin Penny again showed why he is fast becoming one of the best wingers in Super League, charging 40 metres and darting outside Ashton.

That try came as a result of a smart Paul Rauhihi offload and Wolves used their second-phase attack to good effect in a display as fluent as any this year.

Wolves had threats all across the field and the orchestrator, Lee Briers, knew when to bring them into play in an accomplished performance that suggested the skipper, who has now scored 94 points in five games, is back to his best.

Forwards Ben Westwood, Adrian Morley and Rauhihi were among those in superb form, while Brent Grose produced a quicksilver performance at full back.

Cullen, who extended his record against Noble to seven wins in eight meetings having come through Wolves' rocky period with dignity, was delighted.

He said: "To play like that in front of a full house at this point in the season, after going through what we've gone through, took some doing."

Match facts

engage Super League Round 22, August 5, 2007

Warrington Wolves 43 Wigan Warriors 24

Wolves: Brent Grose (1t); Stuart Reardon (1t), Martin Gleeson, Henry Fa'afili (1t), Kevin Penny (1t); Chris Bridge (1t), Lee Briers (1t, 7g, 1dg); Paul Wood, Mark Gleeson, Paul Rauhihi, Ben Westwood, Adrian Morley, Jon Clarke (1t). Subs used: Rob Parker, Andy Bracek, Ben Harrison, Simon Grix.

Warriors: Chris Ashton; Liam Colbon (1t), Phil Bailey, David Vaealiki, Pat Richards (4g); Trent Barrett, Thomas Leuluai (1t); Stuart Fielden, Mickey Higham, Iafeta Paleaaesina, Gareth Hock, Bryan Fletcher, Sean O'Loughlin. Subs used: Eamon O'Carroll, Harrison Hansen, Michael McIlorum, Darrell Goulding (2t).

Referee: Ian Smith

Scoring: Reardon receives Martin Gleeson's pass and scores after Ashton had handed Wolves possession, 4mins, Briers converts, 6-0; Rauhihi's offload and a pass from Clarke allow Penny to zoom 40m down the touchline and evade Ashton, 9mins, Briers converts, 12-0; Bailey's offload leads to Ashton putting Colbon over, 12mins, Richards converts, 12-6; Briers burrows past three defenders from dummy half, 21mins, Briers converts, 18-6; Grose races half the length of the field after Martin Gleeson had fed him from a scrum, 25mins, Briers converts, 24-6; Briers lands 15m drop goal, 40+mins, 25-6; Leuluai races clear from a Paleaaesina offload and steps past Grose, 43mins, Richards converts, 25-12; Clarke collects Briers' pass and steps inside Leuluai seconds after Fielden had been sent to the sin bin, 57mins, Briers converts, 31-12; Barrett and Bailey combine to put Goulding through a gap, 66mins, Richards converts, 31-18; Fa'afili jinks over from close range, 69mins, Briers converts, 37-18; Bridge steps past four defenders for a trademark try, 75mins, Briers converts, 43-18; Goulding touches down Ashton's kick, 80+mins, Richards converts, 43-24.

Sin bin: Warriors: Fielden 56mins (late tackle).

Pens: Wolves 9 Warriors 8

Scrums: Wolves 12 Warriors 6

Attendance: 12,552

Warrington Guardian top men: Briers 3pts, Westwood 2pts, Grose 1pt.

Interesting note: Wolves have a positive points difference for the first time since the opening round win at Wigan.