A night that started with the bizarre spectacle of a child in a toy car dubbed Whizzy Rascal delivering the match ball concluded in relatively straightforward fashion for Warrington and their coach, Daryl Powell, against his former club Castleford.
There is plenty that unites the two towns, including an insatiable thirst for a first Super League title and the way in which rugby league dictates the mood of so many inhabitants of both areas. But on the basis of what we have seen in the opening fortnight, these two clubs seem likely to be heading in different directions in 2022.
It is two wins from two for Powell and Warrington, and after grinding their way to victory at Headingley last weekend against Leeds this was ultimately a far simpler stroll to success against a Castleford side yet to find any sort of rhythm under Powell’s replacement, Lee Radford.
The difference between these sides was epitomised by the moment when Robbie Mulhern strolled around Castleford’s Liam Watts with ease to score Warrington’s fourth try. Not only did that put the outcome beyond doubt, it summed up how Powell’s new side were considerably better than his former one on a chastening evening for Radford, who remains without a win this season.
“We started fantastically well but when you lose a penalty count 10-3 it bites you in your backside,” he said. “We ran out of gas with the amount of defending we did, and with our last-tackle plays being poor, you end up with nothing but a loss. I’ve certainly not missed this feeling.”
Radford was keen to stress that there was no need to panic given we remain in the embryonic stages of the season and Powell shared the same mindset despite recording back-to-back wins to start his career as Warrington coach.
Warrington led 12-0 at half-time after tries from Matty Ashton and George Williams, with Castleford offering little in response in attack, though there was a potentially significant moment when a try from Kenny Edwards was ruled out for a double movement. That would have almost certainly made it 12-6, but instead the Tigers went in at the interval behind by two scores. “It’s a big swing if he scores there,” Radford said.
But this night was more about Powell and Warrington. In the second half they moved up a gear and scored some wonderful tries, including two for Josh Charnley to take the England international past 250 in his career. Encouragingly for Powell, it looks as though there is still more to come from Wolves, too. “We really grew into that game,” he said. “It’s a really pleasing night because it’s really important to win your first home game of the season and we did that with plenty to spare.
“You don’t want to lose a game against your old team, particularly your first one and my first here at home as Warrington coach. It was a pivotal game and it was important we played well.”
Castleford scored first after half-time when Derrell Olpherts crossed but by the time they had breached Warrington’s defence again, the game was all but over as a contest.
Charnley’s first, a clever finish from close-range, nudged the Wolves’ lead back to 12 before Mulhern galloped through a worrying hole in the Castleford defence and outpaced several Tigers defenders to put genuine daylight between the sides. Just before the hour mark they registered their fifth try when the former Castleford centre Peter Mata’utia reacted quickest to a loose ball and touch down. Suddenly, it was 28-4 and the game was finished.
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Castleford did claim a consolation when Jake Trueman broke freein a rare moment of celebration for the travelling contingent from West Yorkshire. But it was perhaps fitting that Warrington had the final say when Charnley leaped highest to claim a kick and put the seal on an encouraging night for Powell and his new club.
Warrington Ratchford; Charnley, Mata’utia, King, Ashton; Widdop, Williams; Philbin, Clark, Mulhern, Currie, Longstaff, Clark. Interchange Hughes, Bullock, Davis, Thewlis. Tries Ashton, Williams, Charnley 2, Mulhern, Mata’utia Goals Ratchford 5
Castleford Evalds; Faraimo, Mamo, Fonua, Olpherts; Trueman, O’Brien; Smith, McShane, Lawler, Edwards, Sutcliffe, Westerman. Interchange Watts, Griffin, Turner, Blair. Tries Olpherts, Trueman Goal O’Brien
Referee James Child.
