Warrington Wolves kept their Super League season alive with a 24-10 victory over Hull FC on Saturday evening, and in doing so, silenced any lingering hangover talk following their Challenge Cup final defeat to Hull KR at the start of the month.
Led by George Williams, who, similarly, put to rest any doubt of his commitment to the Wire’s cause following a high-profile transfer link to NRL outfit the Dolphins, the home side was too strong, pulling away at the start of each half to record a win that keeps their play-off hopes very much alive with 11 rounds of the season still to go.
As it stands, the Wire are just two points behind seventh-place Wakefield and three behind sixth-place Hull, with Sam Burgess’ side, showing plenty of craft and courage to earn the two points and perhaps reignite their campaign.
For Hull, it was a disappointing defeat. They weren’t at the races to start, and despite a mini resurgence before half-time, they didn’t produce for long enough periods to trouble the scoreboard and threaten the result.
Aidan Sezer was at the heart of all they did well, but it wasn’t enough, with game star Williams in turn producing the goods alongside half-back partner Marc Sneyd to ensure a big win in the context of Wire’s season.
Hull coach John Cartwright named an unchanged side for the first time this season—and incredibly, the first time since the play-off game at Wire back in November 2020. Meanwhile, Warrington full-back Matt Dufty made an early return from a fractured cheekbone, with centre Toby King dropped.
And it was the Wire who started the stronger of the two sides. They got their first try through Josh Thewlis, with Jordan Rapana caught in the defensive line, and the winger, once he broke through, having a clear run to the try line as he raced 80 or so metres.
In response, Hull actually shaped up well. They tried to get their halves playing wider with Liam Knight used as the middle link, and at times, it worked to effect. However, it was the home side who came up trumps again, with a slick right-to-left move putting the other Thewlis brother, Jake, over in the corner. The young gun went over untouched, with Marc Sneyd’s boot making it 12-0 to the Primrose and Blue outfit.
Hull needed some inspiration, and as has so often been the case this season, it came through their captain and leading half-back Sezer. The skipper first ran strong, taking a Cade Cust pass to attack the line at pace and burst through before showing the necessary composure to find Harvey Barron to finish in the corner—although whether the pass was legal was certainly dubious, to say the least, with the home crowd screaming ‘forward.’
But little did Hull care. They were back in it, with Sezer again proving instrumental. The half attacked once more, coming onto Cust’s pass again and bursting through the line to score. That put Hull within two points at the break, with a contest that looked like it was getting away from them after an inconspicuous start firmly in the balance.
But that Hull fightback was soon laid to rest in the second half—albeit it was the away side who broke and had the chance to score and take the lead. But Wire did just enough to get to a Hardaker pass after a Sezer half break and prevent FC’s right edge from running away—with Tom Briscoe failing to take in the pass.
That defensive play was rewarded, with Wire then regaining control with two quick-fire tries. First, Sam Powell scooted over from close range, with the veteran hooker smelling an opportunity to strike, before Lachlan Fitzgibbon added a fourth, getting on the end of a crisp move that saw the Black and Whites carved open.
Sneyd again made no mistake, with the Wire 14 points to the good and in the ascendancy once again. They were camped on Hull’s line for what seemed an eternity, but the away side miraculously survived.
They kept going, with Lewis Martin—his foot in touch before grounding the ball—seeing a try overturned by the video referee. The effort from Cartwright’s side wasn’t in question, but ultimately, it was all in vain as Wire ran out deserved winners, with two massive games now coming up at the MKM Stadium—first St Helens and then Wakefield. For this Hull side, resurgent but still with a long way to go, next month is certainly make or break.
Teams
Warrington Starting XIII: 1. Matt Dufty; 2. Josh Thewlis, 20. Connor Wrench, 4. Rodrick Tai, 28. Jake Thewlis; 6. George Williams, 35. Marc Sneyd; 13. Luke Yates, 17. Jordy Crowther, 10. Paul Vaughan; 38. Sam Stone, 12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon; 11. Ben Currie
Interchange: 14. Sam Powell, 27. Luke Thomas, 8. James Harrison, 19. Stefan Ratchford. 18th Man: 39. Tom McKinney
Hull Starting XIII: 1. Jordan Rapana; 2. Harvey Barron, 5. Tom Briscoe, 20. Davy Litten, 22. Lewis Martin; 14. Cade Cust, 7. Aidan Sezer; 8. Herman Ese’ese, 9. Amir Bourouh, 40. Liam Knight; 3. Zak Hardaker, 4. Ed Chamberlain; 16. Yusuf AydinZak Hardaker and Ed Chamberlain start with Yusuf Aydin at loose-forward.
Interchange: 16. Jack Ashworth, 19. Brad Fash, 24. Jack Charles, 39. Sam Eseh. 18th Man: 27. Matty Laidlaw
Scorers
Warrington Tries: Josh Thewlis, Jake Thewlis, Powell, Fitzgibbon. Goals: Sneyd 4/4
Hull Tries: Barron, Sezer. Goals: Sezer 1/2
Scoring System: 6-0, 12-0, 12-4, 12-10, HT, 18-10, 24-10,
Referee: Chris Kendall. Video Referee: Jack Smith
Attendance: 10,235