Warrington Wolves 48 Huddersfield Giants 0, match verdict

It is true they came up against vulnerable opponents, but a side can only play what is in front of them and they did so in a manner which pleased their boss Sam Burgess.

He said that for the first time in four matches his troops stuck to the game plan and got their rewards for doing so – albeit at a sad cost having lost the returning Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Toby King and Connor Wrench to injuries.

Connor Wrench touched down before going off injured (Image: SWpix.com)

When a side is dominant in a match, it can be all too easy for players to start going off script and doing their own thing – often to the detriment of the team performance.

But sticking to the structures and shapes they had practiced not only got them the win on this occasion but should also have given them a steer for what is needed in tougher contests that are looming large.

While it is struggling Leeds Rhinos next, The Wire’s top-four rivals St Helens, Wigan Warriors and Hull Kingston Rovers will follow in consecutive weeks and it is by harnessing the processes that they will give themselves their best chance of success at this important stage of the season.

Teams want to be getting on a roll leading into the final third of the regular Super League rounds and Burgess’ boys clearly made good use of their recent seven days off and previous blank weekend to refresh, re-energise, refocus and put right some of their recent wrongs.

George Williams and Adam Holroyd embrace Matt Dufty after his try (Image: SWpix.com)

The most glaring areas of improvement were ball control and game management, minimising the errors that had been impacting their displays of late and even doubling their set completion percentage from the previous outing at Hull.

And that was achieved despite the adversity of going into the game without first-choice wingers Matty Ashton and Josh Thewlis, then losing two backs – King and Wrench, along with back-rower Fitzgibbon – to injury which forced considerable reshuffling and meant some players staying on the field for more minutes than was probably intended.

Toby King goes over for Warrington's second try (Image: SWpix.com)

This says a lot about the attitude within the squad, how there is a desire to get on with the job and complete the mission no matter what.

Huddersfield, who had lost seven of their previous eight games, had their share of adversity as well, going into the match depleted due to a sickness bug that had hampered their preparations plus they then lost two men to head injuries.

Giants head coach Ian Watson admitted afterwards that each of his players was outworked by their Wire counterpart and just like in the Challenge Cup semi-final meeting the physicality of Warrington was too much for the Yorkshire side.

Stefan Ratchford smashes Huddersfield's debut winger Adam McGowan (Image: SWpix.com)

All of this is good signs pointing towards Warrington getting back to some of the form they showed before the disappointment of Wembley last month.

Also eye-catching was the fast starts to each half by the boys in blue, throwing intent and purpose at their visitors and getting the crowd onside right from the off.

On their first occasion with the ball Paul Vaughan led the way, taking three defenders over the line with him in his second carry of the set to score his first try of the season.

Paul Vaughan's second-minute try against Huddersfield (Image: SWpix.com)

It set the tone for what was to follow – strong carries, smart scheming and determined defending.

Eight different try scorers tells its own story, with The Wire not reliant on certain individuals to assemble points but providing a threat across the park which makes them more difficult to defend against This all brought them their biggest home league win of the season so far while also nilling opponents at The Halliwell Jones Stadium for the first time since the 4-0 defeat of Hull FC two years ago.

Rodrick Tai dives over in the second half (Image: SWpix.com)

The challenge now is to build from here and string a sequence of wins together that would increase belief on and off the field that there is plenty to feel optimistic about for the remainder of Burgess’ debut campaign in charge.