Warrington Wolves 37 Hull FC 12: Andy Last given painful reminder of what still needs to be done

Head coach Lee Radford was sacked after his humiliated Black and Whites capitulated to these same opponents in March.

His replacement Andy Last, of course, has had to bide his time to start making his own mark, for myriad reasons, and these are still early days in his reign.

Hull were competitive for the majority and there was no doubting the spirit but they were unable to build on last weekend’s impressive win over Huddersfield Giants.

Warrington were unfancied by many having seen six players need to self-isolate for track and trace reasons.

Another player then received a positive Covid test on Thursday morning so Steve Price’s side were further depleted.

Yet, when they still have the likes of gifted talents Blake Austin, Daryl Clark and Stefan Ratchford in their side, they will always threaten any opponent and that classy trio too often proved the difference here as Hull were gradually and methodically picked apart.

Admittedly, the East Yorkshire club were disrupted at times, influential full-back Jamie Shaul not returning to the field for the second period and both Josh Griffin and Jordan Johnstone requiring HIAs.

Their loose forward Ligi Sao also made a complaint against Warrington half Declon Patton - in the side after England stand-off Gareth Widdop was a late withdrawal - for alleged biting which was put on report and will be studied by the match review panel on Monday.

Nevertheless, the Wolves pack, with powerhouse prop Mike Cooper excelling, eventually got on top and, although only leading 19-12 at the break, they tightened that grip in the second period.

Former Huddersfield Giants centre Jake Mamo added his second try, showing more urgency to get to Ben Currie’s grubber.

Then Cooper’s brilliant offload saw Leilani Latu - one of three debutants alongside youngsters Ellis Robson and Ellis Langstaff - cross on the hour mark.

Australian stand-off Austin typically added another while Ratchford slotted five goals to rack up his 1,000th point for the club.

Austin’s drop goal in the final seconds of the first period had given them that slender internal lead and it was hard to argue with that scoreline.

His side had been marginally better in most areas - slightly sharper on the ball, more powerful going forward and better with their defensive work - but it was still finely poised.

Hull had got off to the best possible start when they showed early cohesion for Jake Connor and Shaul to usher Griffin over inside two minutes.

Admittedly, the centre suffered a blow to the head in the process and required that HIA but he returned to the action just as Johnstone did in similar circumstances later in the half.

Shaul made a stunning try-saving tackle on Austin as Warrington made their first probes but his colleagues were not as firm as England prop Cooper straightened up to go over close to the line.

Johnstone, again preferred to captain Danny Houghton as starting hooker after impressing so much in Last’s first win against Huddersfield, had to depart after coming off worse in an illegal hit on Louis Johnson.

It was from that penalty that Warrington added their second, Austin hoisting a crossfield kick that the usually reliable Carlos Tuiamave failed to pocket.

Matty Ashton pounced and Ratchford - the full-back operating at loose forward due to Warrington’s absenteeism - slotted the second of his goals.

When Hull looked to strike, their execution was off, shown when the returning Adam Swift spilled Shaul’s inside pass having also earlier been forced into touch when trying to go on the outside of Tom Lineham.

Jack Brown, the young prop who made some fine carries again, forced an ill-advised offload, too, and there was little to build from.

Albert Kelly, though, made one of his trademark breaks to get them in good field position, Ratchford fortunate not to be yellow carded for messing around at the play-the-ball.

It mattered not; at the next play, Kelly’s perfect pass found Tuimavave hitting a fine angle to atone for his earlier error, Jake Connor levelling the contest at 12-12.

Still, a momentary lapse in concentration from Kelly saw Mamo slip clear of him and then Swift for his first try in the 36th minute, Rathcford improving before Austin rubbed salt in the wound with a sensible drop-goal in the final seconds of the half.

His side would not concede again as the Wolves showed further bite in that second period.

Hull, down in eighth, are due back in action against Wakefield Trinity on Thursday although that fixture is under threat due to their opponents’ own Covid issues.

Warrington Wolves: Ashton; Charnley, Gelling, Mamo, Lineham; Austin, Patton; Cooper, D Clark, Latu, King, Currie, Ratchford. Substitutes: Walker, Johnson, Robson, Longstaff.

Hull FC: Shaul; Swift, Tuimavave, Griffin, Faraimo; Kelly, Connor; Sao, Johnstone, Brown, Ma’u, Lane, Fash. Substitutes: Houghton, Fonua, Buchanan, Bowden.

Referee: Ben Thaler (Castleford)