Warrington 80 Wakefield 0: Wakefield record loss sees focus turn to end of season

Wakefield’s 80-0 loss at Warrington Wolves matched the competition’s biggest margin, set in 1999 when Leeds Rhinos beat Huddersfield Giants 86-6 and Bradford Bulls’ 96-16 demolition of Salford the following year.

It was Wakefield’s eighth successive defeat, after they won their opening two games and coach James Webster accepts finishing in the bottom-four is now inevitable.

Teams finishing from ninth to 12th in Super League after 23 rounds will compete with the Championship’s leading quartet for places in the top-flight next year.

Webster said: “As a club now we’ll probably make a decision that we are the first team to get rid of the motto that every minute matters and we wait until round 24.

“We will try and get our team nice and fit and make a crack at the last seven games.”

Wakefield face a possible dress rehearsal for the Qualifiers on Friday, when they play host to Halifax in the Challenge Cup.

“I can’t change (Saturday’s) result, as much as I’d like to. What I can change is how we prepare and the mindset going into Halifax,” said Webster.

Webster admitted he and the players were “embarrassed” by Saturday’s result.

The visitors trailed only 6-0 after 21 minutes, but conceded 74 points in the final 59 and 50 in the second half.

Warrington full-back Stefan Ratchford totalled 28 points from a try and 12 conversions. Richie Myler scored a hat-trick, Gene Ormsby, Toby King and Ben Currie each bagged a brace and Daryl Clark, Ashton Sims, Ben Westwood and Joel Monaghan got the others.

Warrington Wolves: Ratchford, Monaghan, Bridge, King, Ormsby, Patton, Myler, Hill, Higham, Asotasi, Currie, Westwood, Harrison. Substitutes: Clark, Sims, England, Laithwaite.

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats: Sammut, Riley, Hall, Arundel, Owen, Miller, T Smith, Simon, McShane, Griffin, Kirmond, Washbrook, D Smith. Substitutes: Trout, Ryan, Godinet, Lauitiiti.

Referee: R Hicks (Oldham).