Warrington Wolves 40 Hull KR 10: Rovers unpicked as Wolves emphatically hit back

With that in mind, they can afford to take risks and they certainly took plenty in this game, initially throwing the ball around almost at will to cause Warrington Wolves some significant problems.

It was short-lived, though, and their opponents’ undoubted class eventually shone through as they worked them over and wore them down at every opportunity to ease home in the second period.

It was a sixth straight defeat for the East Yorkshire club who remain bottom of Super League following Toronto's record being expunged.

That said, it did not take long for Super League’s top tryscorer to add to his account.

With a try after just 57 seconds, Ben Crooks not only quickly marked KR’s return but also his own comeback from a worrying neck injury that had sidelined him since the end of February.

Rovers coach Tony Smith has always been one for innovation and, so it was, his side started the game with a short kick-off, successfully winning back possession against a surprised Warrington.

A few moments later, after some precision passing that has become the hallmark of many of his sides, winger Crooks was diving over in the left corner for his eighth try of the year.

Unfortunately, it was as good as it got for Rovers who then conceded 34 unanswered points before finally getting back on the scoreboard via Adam Quinlan’s consolation effort in the 75th minute.

Initially, though, they offered plenty of guile, threat and enterprise, especially in a first half where they only trailed 12-4 at the break.

It was a failure to make the most of their well-fashioned opportunities, too often forcing the final pass after the likes of silky full-back Quinlan had found space, that cost them dear.

Warrington were scratchy early on with plenty of erratic distribution and seeing Anthony Gelling sin-binned for a dangerous tackle on Matty Gee in the 12th minute.

Shaun Kenny-Dowall was yellow carded himself soon after to see Rovers’ numerical advantage levelled out but they defended their line well and saw Will Dagger have a try ruled out for a forward pass.

Ex-Hull FC winger Tom Lineham got Warrington’s first try soon after in the 23rd minute but free-spirited KR saw a series of chances come and go before their opponents added another via Sitaleki Akauola.

The second half was one-way traffic, however, as Gelling produced a wonderful finish in the 45th minute and then showed slick handling to get Josh Charnley in after Dagger had erred coming out of his own 20.

Clearly, Warrington were far more clinical, illustrated when Rovers created some more space for Quinlan to strike only to see Dagger send another wayward final pass as the chance beckoned.

To rub it in, Wolves struck straight after with some brilliant interplay down the middle for Gareth Widdop to cross.

Man-of-the-match Stefon Ratchford added another before Lineham got his second just before the final hooter.

Warrington Wolves: Ratchford; Charnely, Gelling, Ratchford, Lineham; Austin, Widdop; Hill, D Clark, Cooper, Currie, Hughes, J Clark. Substitutes: Philbin, Akauola, Ashton, Walker.

Hull KR: Quinlan; Dagger, Kenny-Dowall, Linnett, Crooks; Ellis, Brierley; Peteru, Parcell, Lawler, Gee, Hauraki, Hadley. Substitutes: Minchella, Murray, Trout, Garbutt.

Referee: James Child (Dewsbury)