Warrington Wolves 38 Hull KR 8: Donaldson's injury adds to Chester's problems at Hull KR

James Donaldson picked up a suspected broken wrist as Tom Lineham bagged a hat-trick for the Wolves.

Rovers coach Chris Chester said: “The scoreline blew away in the last few minutes but our effort was first class.

“We defended our line really well but were poor with the ball. You can’t afford to give a side like Warrington so much possession and we need to be better.”

Chester added: “George Lawler played all 80 minutes and is a good young talent and Maurice Blair had a decent game.

“The depth of our squad is getting tested but we have to stick together.”

Lineham, a close-season wing capture from Hull, went over three times in the second half after his side led 12-0 at half-time.

Kurt Gidley was in outstanding form on his first home appearance. He created the opening tries for Ben Currie and Joe Westerman before being sin-binned just before the break.

The Aussie stand-off also slotted over seven goals from seven attempts with the Wolves other try a solo special from Daryl Clark.

Depleted Rovers kept plugging away and deserved their tries through Ian Thornley and Kieran Dixon but never looked like winning.

Rovers had won only twice on their last 10 visits to Warrington who carried on from where they left off at Leeds Rhinos last weekend with Chris Sandow’s early 
40-20 putting Chester’s men under immediate pressure.

Currie grabbed the Wolves opening try after five minutes from Gidley’s precision grubber kick with the creator tagging on the conversion.

Kevin Penny had a try disallowed for stepping into touch after a slick pass from Currie with Rovers struggling to make any impact.

It was no surprise when Westerman took Gidley’s pass to cross after 18 minutes to extend the lead to 12-0.

Gidley was pulling the strings for Warrington with another inside pass to Sandow almost bringing another try.

Ex-Robin Jordan Cox came on at the break and saw his new side go further ahead despite being down to 12 men when Rhys Evans jumped to collect a Sandow kick and Jack Hughes sent Lineham over. Sandow missed the touchline conversion but his kicks continually pegged back Rovers.

Thornley gave Hull KR a glimmer of hope with Warrington still a man down with a powerful run bringing a try.

Gidley returned from the sin-bin but Warrington lost Westerman with a shoulder injury before Donaldson quit.

Hull KR stuck manfully to their task before Gidley slotted over a penalty on the hour to make it 18-4. Their hopes were finally dashed when Hughes and Matty Russell combined for Lineham to crash over in the corner. Dixon crossed for the Rovers second try but Kelly missed the straightforward conversion.

Lineham completed his hat-trick seven minutes from time after running unopposed over the line after an audacious long pass from Sandow with Gidley adding his fifth goal.

Warrington finished in style with a superb solo try from Daryl Clark with Gidley maintaining his 100 per cent kicking record with a conversion and penalty.

Warrington: Russell, Penny, R. Evans, Currie, Lineham, Gidley, Sandow, Hill, Clark, Sims, Westwood, Hughes, Westerman. Substitutes: Dwyer, G. King, Atkins, Cox.

Hull K R: Cockayne, Dixon, Thornley, Minns, Sio, Blair, Kelly, Green, Lawler, Tilse, Horne, Clarkson, Allgood. Substitutes: Walker, Mulhern, Donaldson, Holker.

Referee: B Thaler (RFL).