Disappointing but reflective start too Daryl Powell's Warrington career as they lose in the hands of Matt Peet's men 14-6 on Saturday evening infront of a record attendance of 8000 packed into HJ. Warrington didn't play to bad in the game but it felt like Deja Vu from last year and the same old story with the pack being to light and them looking bland and flat in attack. It is obviously not going to be all guns blazing at the start of the year, but majority of Warrington fans are already thinking "Same old Warrington" or "Is Powell the right man for the job" after a Friendly game? Before the game, we got the devastating news of former Warrington, Leigh, Workington and Great Britain winger, Des 'Dessie' Drummond sadly passed away on Saturday evening at the age of 63. The news shocked the whole world of Rugby League and the whole stadium on Saturday evening was disbelief and sadness of a player who many many people looked up to. Dessie, scored 69 tries for Warrington and made 187 appearances for the primrose and blue during his time in 1987-1992. He was on the wing when The Wire won the Lancashire Cup in 1989, played in the Challenge Cup Final defeat to Wigan at Wembley in 1990 and lifted the Regal Trophy as captain when The Wire overhauled Bradford Northern in the 1991 final at Headingley.
Debuts for Man of The Match Pete Mata'Utia, Oliver Holmes and Joe Bullock really stealing the show with their immense performances. Out of the three, I really thought Joe Bullock was outstanding on Saturday, looked really sharp and took the ball in really well to that solid Wigan defense. His fitness levels looked better also, from a couple of Wigan fans, they told me if he was going to be a success, he needed to get them fitness levels up and he sure has done that. I think he did around 35-45 minutes which is great minutes for a big man. Also, great performances again from the likes off, Danny Walker, Daryl Clark, Connor Wrench who show up every week. A couple of players though need to step up if they want a place though like Josh Charnley and Joe Philbin, thought they were both really below their usual standard on Saturday and never really got into the game. I though Josh Thewlis looked 10 times better then Charnley on that right edge and was unlucky about that try being disallowed. A couple of notable absentees on Saturday and big one who was named in the 22 man squad last Tuesday was no Mike Cooper. Cooper is always a big miss for that Warrington team and always puts his body on the line and it shows how much they miss Cooper when he's out because the last two games Warrington have played, they have only scored six points in 160 minutes which is really poor for a Warrington team who have so many great players but can never get into them try-scoring opportunities when the forwards can't get them into a position to do so.
Stef made tribute to everyone who came out and supported him at the weekend by thanking everyone from the players to the fans to the backroom staff for making this happen, he went to say "Massive thank you to all the fans that turned up for the game on Saturday night. I never expected to see anything like that!" he went to then thank the thousand Wigan supports who made the trip to the Halliwell without no club coaches being put on and said "To the Wigan club and fans, thank you for being involved in my Testimonial. The club have been unreal in what you have done since we agreed to the game and I cannot praise you enough.
We now look ahead to the game on Friday for Lee Mossop's testimonial game as we play the Salford Red Devils. Warrington fans will be hoping they play their full strength team with a couple of rotations to the squad ready for the big kick off at Leeds next Saturday.
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