Super League: Warrington Wolves 36-20 Salford Red Devils – Wire comeback maintains winning start

Warrington put together a stunning second-half comeback to beat Salford Red Devils and maintain their winning start to the Super League season.

But Matty Ashton dived to the corner, and Thomas Mikaele and Josh Thewlis crossed as the hosts rallied.

George Williams and Matt Dufty both got on the scoresheet as Warrington’s 30 second-half points went unanswered.

Warrington came into the fixture off the back of morale-boosting wins against Leeds and Huddersfield which put them top of the formative table.

Their thumping start to the campaign, in stark contrast to a miserable 2022 season, seemed set to continue when Currie chased down a trademark kick from Williams to put them in front.

Salford struck back through a familiar face as Warrington loanee Longstaff latched onto Joe Burgess’ offload to cross the whitewash within 11 minutes of his Red Devils debut.

The visitors were not done there, with Brierley running in from 70 metres for Salford’s second, while Sneyd darted over for their third just four minutes later. His fine work with the boot made sure they went in at half-time with a 14-point lead.

Ashton’s impressive acrobatic dive to the line just two minutes after the restart helped the Wire begin to claw back the deficit and he should have had a second were it not for some supreme defending from Brodie Croft to hold him up on the line.

Warrington’s stunning response was aided by Brierley being sent to the bin for holding Josh Drinkwater just before the hour mark. Mikaele made the extra man advantage count as he crossed just a minute later.

The hosts should have strolled in for another just moments later, but Dufty spilled the ball from Daryl Clark’s delivery and knocked on as he raced towards the line.

But the Wire continued to turn up the pressure and Williams sent in a brilliant long-range kick to the corner which was well chased and touched down by Thewlis. A fracas followed, sparked by Tyler Dupree crashing into him as he went over.

Salford were penalised, with Warrington awarded an eight-point try, but Stefan Ratchford missed his initial conversion before successfully kicking the penalty which followed.

Williams sent them eight points clear when he crashed over, shortly before Brierley returned to the field.

With five minutes remaining, Warrington were awarded another eight-point try as Kallum Watkins was judged to have made contact with Dufty’s head in the process of him going over, with Ratchford’s accurate kicking wrapping up a win to remember.

Salford Red Devils boss Paul Rowley told BBC Radio Manchester:

“I’m proud of the effort. I’m sorry for the players. I thought they deserved more out of the game. In the first half when we had equal possession, I thought we showed how potent we are as an attacking team.

“The second half, the landslide came. Set restart, penalty, territory and possession. They’re a quality team. It all contributes to too much pressure defensively.

“At the end it can look a little ugly. Possession and numbers take their toll on you. I’ve got nothing bad to say about our group. There are bits we’re not happy with and bits we’ll improve on.”

Warrington: Dufty, Thewlis, Minikin, Ratchford, Ashton, Williams, Drinkwater, Mikaele, Clark, Vaughan, Currie, Mata’utia, Harrison.

Interchanges: Kasiano, Walker, Bullock, Whitehead.

Salford: Brierley, Sio, Cross, Lafai, Burgess, Croft, Sneyd, Ormondroyd, Ackers, Dupree, Watkins, Longstaff, Partington.

Interchanges: Sidlow, Vuniyayawa, Atkin, Wright.

Referee: Jack Smith.