Sam Burgess will know that nothing is won at this stage of a rugby league season but a month into his first head coaching role, you suspect he will be satisfied, if nothing else, with the way his Warrington Wolves team are progressing.
Burgess has made no secret of his desire to strengthen the mental resolve of a side who undoubtedly possess the ability to challenge for silverware but last year limped their way through to the end of the season. That change was evident in key moments here as the Wolves made it three consecutive victories at a place where few teams will come and win in 2024.
Hull Kingston Rovers, like Warrington, have aspirations of a tilt at the Grand Final this season. This absorbing contest, in which the lead changed hands no fewer than five times, could have easily gone either way. But in the end a Matt Dufty try nine minutes from time, and some spirited defending in the final moments when Rovers were piling on the pressure, proved enough to get the Wolves over the line.
“It was a great game,” Burgess said. “Both teams were good, both teams had their moments of energy swings and we managed to clinch it at the end. I didn’t think it would be that close but I’m really proud of the players, I felt they got what they deserved.” It is now three wins from four after defeat at Catalans on the opening weekend and while they are far from the finished article, there are promising signs in the impact Burgess had so far.
Burgess has introduced a number of younger players into his squad and one of those, the teenage half-back Leon Hayes, was influential here, as was full-back Dufty, who not only scored the winning try but had a hand in almost everything the Wolves did well in attack. Dufty’s creativity helped open the scoring, with a wonderful pass that enabled George Williams to touch down. Hayes then kicked through for Matty Ashton to make it 10-0, but Rovers hit back.
Tries from Tyrone May and Ryan Hall were both converted by Jez Litten to make it 12-10, but Warrington responded with two tries as half-time approached. First, Hayes and Lachlan Fitzgibbon teed up Toby King to put the visitors back in front before Dufty broke from deep and kicked ahead for Connor Wrench. Both conversions were missed to leave Warrington’s lead a slender six, but the momentum of the contest could have been far different had Rovers not spurned two glorious opportunities either side of the break.
James Batchelor should have scored when it was 12-10, but he dropped the ball in the act of scoring, before a wonderful break from Mikey Lewis wasn’t finished by Rovers to leave them ruing what might have been. “I’m gutted for the players,” their coach, Willie Peters, said. “Most of the time you put that effort in you win. I can’t fault the effort.”
The opening 20 minutes after half-time were certainly cagey but Rovers eventually struck when Oliver Gildart crossed, and then a stunning pass from May opened up a gap for Tom Opacic to touch down in the corner. The eight points from the two tries were enough to make it 20-18 in Rovers’ favour but crucially, James Batchelor missed both attempts at goal. You wondered if that would eventually prove decisive and the answer arrived with nine minutes remaining.
Warrington had largely been ineffective in attack for large periods of that second half but the one moment they did have, they took full advantage of it to seal their victory. A wonderful move direct from the scrum involving Hayes and Williams allowed Dufty to cut through and touch down.
The Australian almost turned from hero to villain when he dropped a kick with seconds remaining to hand Hull KR one last chance but the Wolves held firm with the kind of endeavour and spirit that perhaps underpinned the impact Burgess is wanting to have at this club in the months and years ahead. So far, so good.
