WARRINGTON Wolves kick started their season with a 24-12 victory over Hull KR at the Halliwell Jones stadium ending a run of 10 consecutive defeats.
With the influential Lee Briers starting on the bench and Michael Monaghan pairing up with Martin Gleeson at stand-off, the Wolves dominated much of the first half – with Monaghan in particular revelling at scrum-half.
Warrington took the lead on five minutes with young forward Ben Harrison breaching the visitors defensive line and Chris Hicks adding the two to make it 6-0.
Rovers hit back and forced Warrington to make a couple of defensive goal line drop outs but for once the Wolves’ defence held firm.
It was Monaghan who extended the lead on 30 minutes with a try and then on the stroke of half time Paul Johnson went in at the corner with Hicks converting to make it 16-0 at the break.
With Monaghan injured Briers entered the fray and it was his kick which sent Johnson over for his second try to make it 20-0 on 57 minutes.
There were a few home jitters on the hour when a Martin Dobson kick saw Peter Fox in at the corner, with Dobson adding the conversion. But then Matt King popped up to put the game out of reach after collecting a Briers kick to touch down.
Rovers grabbed a late consolation try from Makali Aizue to make the scoreline appear a little more respectable for the visitors.
But on the whole it was a much improved performance form the Wolves, particularly in defence and Head of Coaching Tony Smith will be hoping the victory will now kick start the season.
Meanwhile speculation still surrounds the future of Briers, who started on the bench and has been strongly linked with a move to League Two Barrow who are believed to have offered him a lucrative three year contract.
Pictures show Martin Gleeson (top) and try scorers Paul Johnson and Matt King.
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