Harlequins 24 Warrington Wolves 54: Dangerous Bridge has Quins on the ropes with display

Bridge helped himself to a hat-trick inside the opening half-hour, before adding a further score after the break as Warrington kept up the pressure on Engage Super League leaders Wigan.

Smith said: “I thought Chris looked dangerous every time he had the ball.

“I like him when he plays in that role as it allows him to roam and he can do damage.

“He looked really sharp out there, although he was absolutely shattered by the end of the game.

“We had to mix things up a bit today and Chris was a shining example of that as he is willing to do whatever we ask him.”

The Wolves began the game at a lightning pace, running in three tries inside the opening 10 minutes.

Garreth Carvell was first on the scoresheet, profiting after Quins stand-off Luke Gale had an early kick charged down.

Bridge claimed his first try after a neat break from Richie Myler, then added his second of the match after a run from Brett Hodgson.

The hosts were stunned, but to their credit did conjure up a try of their own when Gale chased his own kick to touch down.

That was brief respite though, with Joel Monaghan, Lee Briers and Bridge all crossing before the interval.

There was more of the same after the break as Bridge grabbed his fourth try, before Myler struck himself.

Luke Dorn and Dan Sarginson added some respectability for the home side with tries, before Paul Wood and Andy Ellis claimed late scores for the Wolves and Quins respectively.

Harlequins coach Rob Powell said: “We did not come out with anything like the intent we needed and that concerned me quite a bit.

“We made mistakes and basic errors and that cost us.

“This game is all about being relentless – sides like Warrington have that intensity and we have to try to match it.

“We are able to compete in patches but not for an entire game and the truth is we have not been good enough.”

Harlequins: Dorn, Calderwood, Clubb, O’Callaghan, Melling, Sarginson, Gale, Ward, Randall, Wilkes, Mitchell, Purdham, Bailey. Substitutes: Ambler, Krasniqi, Ellis, Golden.

Warrington: Hodgson, J. Monaghan, King, Atkins, Williams, Briers, Myler, Wood, M. Monaghan, Carvell, Anderson, Grix, Bridge. Substitutes: Higham, Harrison, Westwood, Blythe.

Referee: S Ganson (St Helens).