JUDGING by the demeanour of the Wire contingent at full time, anyone could have been mistaken for thinking they had lost this game.

It is surely impossible for victory to ever feel like defeat, but this came terribly close such was the extent of The Wire’s final-quarter collapse.

They led 34-12 going into the last 20 minutes – how on earth were Wakefield ever allowed to get so close?

> 'An avalanche we could not control' - Price's post-match thoughts

> Fifita almost has last laugh following Wolfie's mullet stunt

> Action and tries as Wire survive Wakefield onslaught

> How the game broke down

> Wakefield 32 Wire 34 as it happened

Credit has to go to the hosts for their stirring fightback but at a time when cool heads were needed, Warrington lost theirs.

Danny Walker will undoubtedly be a fine player in time and he will be better for having the likes of David Fifita and Pauli Pauli repeatedly thunder in his direction.

However, Daryl Clark’s removal from proceedings could be seen as a catalyst for the collapse – Wolves conceded four tries in 13 minutes with him off the field.

Through all of that, however, the basic fact is The Wire won the game and beyond the final stages, there were so many positives to take.

The way they stormed into an 18-0 lead inside the first 15 minutes showed the swagger and panache they can play with when they turn it on.

Warrington Guardian:

Blake Austin dazzled while Mike Cooper was once again sensational – Wire once again had him to thank for some superb offloading that got them on the front foot.

Warrington Guardian:

Their ruck speed was too much for Wakefield to live with and when chances came, they were clinical as was Stefan Ratchford from the kicking tee.

In defence too, repelling four straight Wakefield sets on their own line showed excellent application although repeatedly being penalised forced their hand somewhat unnecessarily.

They could have been even further clear, too, had video referee Robert Hicks ruled in favour of Jake Mamo on two occasions.

While his second-half effort in pursuit of Ryan Atkins’ kick through was a borderline call, the decision to chalk off his try in the corner from a looping Declan Patton pass for obstruction seemed almost nonsensical.

Ben Currie had cleared the defensive line and Danny Brough seemed to make a defensive decision to tackle him. That try would have at least made the score 22-0, but instead the penalty gave Wakefield momentum and their first try.

With that being said, Warrington should not have needed that extra comfort and it once again comes down to the issue of them not being ruthless enough.

Warrington Guardian:

This is the third occasion they have had dominant leads over an opposition but, like Huddersfield and Wigan before them, Wolves allowed Trinity back into the game and this was the closest it came to costing them.

Teams will now be thinking that, no matter what the scoreline is, The Wire can be got at if they can stay in the fight and leave enough in the tank for the final stages.

We can only hope this acts as a serious wake-up call as there will only be so many times they will be allowed to get away with things like this.

INTERESTING NOTES:

. Wire’s third straight win at Mobile Rocket Stadium

. Season highs in points scored (34), points conceded (32) and penalties conceded (14)

. Joe Philbin makes first start since July 2017

MATCH FACTS:

Super League, Round Seven

Thursday, March 21, 2019

Wakefield Trinity...32 Warrington Wolves...34

Trinity: Ryan Hampshire; Ben Jones-Bishop, Reece Lyne, Joe Arundel, Max Jowitt; Jacob Miller, Danny Brough; David Fifita, Kyle Wood, Anthony England, Pauli Pauli, Justin Horo, Jordan Crowther. Subs: Tinirau Arona, George King, Craig Kopczak, Keegan Hirst

Wolves: Stefan Ratchford; Josh Charnley, Ryan Atkins, Toby King, Jake Mamo; Blake Austin, Declan Patton; Chris Hill, Daryl Clark, Mike Cooper, Jack Hughes, Ben Currie, Joe Philbin. Subs: Ben Murdoch-Masila, Lama Tasi, Jason Clark, Danny Walker

Scoring: T King try, 5mins, Ratchford goal, 0-6; Charnley try, 9mins; Hill try, 13mins, Ratchford goal, 0-18; Hampshire try, 19mins, Brough goal, 6-18; Austin try, 31mins, Ratchford goal, 6-24; Ratchford penalty, 40mins, 6-26; Ratchford penalty, 42mins, 6-28; Fifita try, 56mins, Brough conversion, 12-28; Charnley try, 59mins, Ratchford goal, 12-34; Wood try, 64mins, 16-34; Wood try, 67mins, Brough goal, 22-34; Jowitt try, 75mins, Brough goal, 28-32; Arundel try, 78mins, 32-34

Penalties: Trinity 14 Wolves 8

Referee: Ben Thaler

Attendance: 4,753

Top Man: VOTE HERE