Gareth Widdop produced his best performance in a Warrington shirt as he and his Wolves teammates eased pressure on the coach, Steve Price, with a dominant victory against the newly promoted Leigh Centurions.
It may seem far-fetched to suggest any coach is under pressure only a fortnight into the season, but after a disappointing end to 2020, and a worrying defeat to Castleford last weekend, another loss here would have put Price, who has announced he is leaving at the end of the season, under further scrutiny.
So it was perhaps fitting that the player whose performances have been under the most pressure in recent times was integral to this commanding victory. Widdop struggled in his first season in Super League last year, but this was his standout display since his arrival at the club.
Widdop scored two of Warrington’s eight tries, and had a hand in almost all the other six as they moved into a deserved 22-0 lead by the interval. The left-edge pairing of Toby King and Tom Lineham was also outstanding, each crossing for two tries thanks in no small part to Widdop’s brilliance with ball in hand.
“It was much better,” Price said afterwards. “It’s always been there and it was very pleasing. We’ll build off this because there was a lot of positive stuff. Gaz came up with some brilliant plays through and he was superb.”
Lineham opened the scoring with a wonderful one-handed finish, before King crossed for his first soon after. Three minutes later Josh Charnley’s break was finished by Jake Mamo and, by the time Widdop scored the try his performance deserved, it was clear there would be no way back for Leigh, who remain winless since returning to Super League.
Their effort throughout was rewarded with consolation tries from Adam Sidlow and Ryan Brierley, but further tries for Ben Currie, Lineham and King underlined the gulf in class between the sides. There was still time for Widdop to claim his second of the afternoon, following a slick move that involved Currie and Lineham, allowing the half-back to cross for Warrington’s eighth try.
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The nature of Warrington’s defeat on the opening weekend to Castleford, plus the high expectations surrounding a club that have made no secret of their ambition to win the title, meant a performance, as well as a result, was required here. Thankfully for Price, his side – and Widdop in particular – delivered on both counts.
Warrington Ratchford; Charnley, Mamo, King, Lineham; Austin, Widdop; Hill, D Clark, Coo per, Currie, Hughes, Philbin. Interchange J Clark, Mulhern, Walker, Butler.
Tries Lineham 2, King 2, Mamo, Widdop 2, Currie. Goals Ratchford 6.
Leigh Brierley; Tierney, Brand, Thornley, Russell; Wallace, Reynolds; Ioane, Hood, Sidlow, Hellewell, Gee, Thompson. Interchange Wilde, Gerrard, Peteru, McCarthy.
Tries Sidlow, Brierley. Goals Reynolds 2.
Referee J Child.