Super League: Warrington 32-22 Toronto Wolfpack - Canadian side's winless run continues
- Published
Betfred Super League |
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Warrington (22) 32 |
Tries: Charnley, Widdop, Lineham, Ashton, Murdoch-Masila Goals: Ratchford 6 |
Toronto (12) 22 |
Tries: Wilkin, Ackers, Russell, O'Brien Goals: Wallace 3 |
Warrington Wolves survived a late Toronto Wolfpack comeback to consign the Canadian side to a fourth defeat.
Josh Charnley opened the scoring for the Wire before Gareth Widdop quickly scored his first Warrington try.
Jon Wilkin cut the deficit in between Tom Lineham and Matty Ashton touching down before Andy Ackers kept Toronto within 10 points at half-time.
Matty Russell and Gareth O'Brien combined to level for Toronto but Ben Murdoch-Masila ensured Wire's victory.
Toronto's defeat comes off the back of a hectic week for the Wolfpack, who had released former Great Britain coach Brian Noble from his role as director of rugby.
They also controversially signed France international Tony Gigot on a four-week trial, starting the former Catalans half-back on the bench.
The visitors, who have suffered with injuries this season, had been set to lose Wilkin prior to Friday's match, external but the veteran loose forward was a surprise starter for the Wolfpack.
Despite having Gadwin Springer and Darcy Lussick missing through injury, Toronto welcomed back Sonny Bill Williams after he missed their defeat by Wigan to be in New Zealand for the birth of his fourth child.
Debut scores for Widdop and Ashton had looked to have put the hosts in control but the visitors fought back and had looked on the verge of forcing golden point extra-time when O'Brien's try levelled the scores at 22-22.
But Murdoch-Masila, along with Stefan Ratchford's two successful penalty goals, ensured the Wolfpack's hunt for a first Super League win will go on.
Warrington head coach Steve Price:
"I thought we were in total control for the 15 [minutes] and last 15.
"Either side of half-time is a bit worrying but credit to the boys, sometimes you have to find the way in the early parts of the season to get that W, and we won in different styles to what we have in the past so that's pleasing.
"To find a way and scrapping towards the back-end of the game I was very pleased with the lads.
"Overall, we are still learning, still developing as a group and that is the most positive sign."
Toronto Wolfpack head coach Brian McDermott:
"We are getting better every week and we are building on that each week.
"We are a group that has been thrown together, the overseas boys were in Australia until January and the club as a whole is still three-years-old.
"Getting into Super League, we have played 12 months in the Championship and getting used to that so it will take a few rounds just to think quick enough.
"We haven't died wondering this year but I'd rather learn them lessons early. Where we are at the moment, weirdly, it's not about winning and losing for us."
Warrington: Ashton, Charnley, Ratchford, King, Lineham, Austin, Widdop, Philbin, D Clark, Cooper, Currie, Murdoch-Masila, J Clark.
Interchanges: Johnson, Walker, Burrell, Davis.
Toronto: O'Brien, Kay, Miloudi, Leutele, Russell, Wallace, McCrone, Mullally, Ackers, Singleton, Williams, Thompson, Wilkin.
Interchanges: Sidlow, Olbison, Worthington, Gigot.
Referee: S. Mikalauskas.