Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
MAM’S THE WORD AS JAKE STRIKES
Wolves star’s double wrecks Cas record
JAKE MAMO grabbed a home debut double to end Castleford’s unbeaten start to the season.
The Warrington utility back scored a hat-trick on this ground for Huddersfield last year and followed that up by crossing for two first-half tries.
It helped account for a Tigers side missing eight first-team players, but who started promisingly before the Wolves bench changed the course of the contest.
Joe Philbin and Ben Murdochmasila had a significant impact up front and with Mike Cooper producing a mammoth hourlong stint and Daryl Clark a constant menace against his old club, Steve Price’s side were worthy winners.
Another plus for the Warrington coach was England star Ben Currie making a shock return from his second long-term knee injury – and getting through his first match in 11 months apparently unscathed.
Paul Mcshane and Peter Mata’utia were among a host of tireless Cas workers and inform prop Liam Watts again led his pack from the front. But they lacked the Wolves’ clinical edge in attack.
Daryl Powell’s side dominated the early exchanges and deserved their 4-0 lead, winger Greg Eden touching down after the home side failed to deal with a Mcshane kick.
The Cas hooker should have doubled his side’s advantage only to fumble a Watts pass with the line open - and by half-time they were 12 points behind instead.
Mamo scored Warrington’s opening two tries from smart cutout passes, first from Declan Patton then Stefan Ratchford. The left winger then turned provider, taking a Blake Austin kick and handing on to Jack Hughes, who beat three defenders to touch down.
Ratchford edged the Wolves further ahead with a penalty before Murdoch-masila effectively sealed matters.
The Tongan – looking like the forward who terrified defences with Salford – roared on to a Blake Austin short ball and carried Mcshane and Mata’utia over the line with him.
Castleford responded when smart hands from Jake Trueman and Mata’utia created space for Greg Minikin to cross out wide. But the Wolves closed the game out comfortably.