Hull FC 12 Warrington Wolves 34: Battling Hull are outclassed as Wolves lift shield

The two points mean the Wolves have finished just one above reigning champions Wigan, who beat Crusaders.

They will face fourth-placed Huddersfield in the first round of the play-offs next Friday.

They may not be able to call on the services of Garreth Carvell for that game, though, after he was placed on report for a high shot on Will Sharp.

But while Smith makes his preparations for that game, Hull boss Richard Agar knows he is just one defeat away from the end of his time with the club.

It was confirmed earlier this week he would be leaving at the end of the season, with a move to Wakefield announced yesterday, and his current club must travel to Leeds or Catalan in a play-off shoot-out, while still facing the ignominy of potentially being overhauled by bitter rivals Hull KR in the table.

Within six minutes centre Ryan Atkins robbed Joe Westerman of possession and ran 30 metres to score. Chris Bridge added the goal before Westerman made amends by collecting Richard Horne’s flat pass and holding off three tacklers before sliding over.

He added the extras and could have laid on another four-pointer not long after but, with three men on an overlap, was quickly locked up by an eager Warrington defence.

Hull fell behind again in the 20th minute, Atkins drawing in Jordan Turner and feeding Chris Riley to score by the corner flag.

David Solomona then limped off after attempting to tackle Cameron Phelps. But Michael Monaghan scooted in from close range. Atkins then turned Richard Whiting and sent the supporting Riley in for a second, with another breakaway try, this time from Bridge off Brett Hodgson’s burst, rounding off the first half.

Riley nearly started the second with a hat-trick try but he stepped in touch as he looked to swoop on Lee Briers’s crossfield kick

Hull had a healthy percentage of possession and, after being constantly repelled, Westerman finally earned them some reward for their efforts when he scraped over for his second try.

It was only temporary relief, though, as Atkins and Briers sent Joel Monaghan hot-stepping in to send a travelling contingent of 2,000 fans into party mode.

Hull FC: Phelps, Whiting, Turner, Yeaman, T. Briscoe, Horne, Obst, O’Meley, Houghton, Moa, Manu, Westerman, Washbrook. Substitutes: Radford, Lauaki, Dowes, Sharp.

Warrington Wolves: Hodgson, J. Monaghan, King, Atkins, Riley, Briers, Myler, Cooper, M. Monaghan, Carvell, Anderson, Grix, Bridge. Substitutes: Clarke, Harrison, Solomona, Blythe.

Referee: S Ganson (St Helens).