TYRONE POWER
RUGBY LEAGUE Price praises Aussie in Warrington romp
STEVE PRICE hailed Tyrone Roberts as the Aussie helped rampant Wolves dump Wigan out of the Challenge Cup.
Aussie scrum-half Roberts has taken time to settle into his new surroundings but produced a creative, classy performance behind a dominant pack led by England prop Chris Hill.
Price’s side led 16-0 at the break and never looked like relinquishing their grip on the contest, with Wigan well below the standards set in beating the Wolves 38-10 just a fortnight earlier. Warrington are now just one win away from Wembley – and Price believes Roberts (right) will continue to get better. Price said: “It certainly was his best performance for us. “I was saying to the lads down in the sheds that that’s the standard now. “That was his best game today by a long shot and there’s still more to come – that’s why I signed him. “That was our best performance to date as well – the energy and intensity from start to finish was first class. “I thought we lacked a bit of execution in the middle part of the game, but then I am a hard man to please.” Price’s counterpart Shaun Wane was visibly despondent at the end after a flat performance from his players.
The Warriors have now lost both matches and scored just one try since the coach announced he will leave at the end of the season – but he insisted that wasn’t a factor in their display.
Wane said: “I hope not. We’re professionals and we have to deal with things.
“The players are professional sportsmen and now we just have to dust ourselves down, carry on and work hard.
Deliver
“I know the players very well and know what they can deliver, but we dipped below that today.
“The players are hurting badly and I don’t think it had anything to do with any announcements. We got beaten in every facet of rugby league, and that’s not like a Wigan team that I coach.
“I’m really disappointed especially with the importance of the game. “They wanted it more and were by far the better
team.”
Speed
Price’s side played at breakneck speed from the off, and scored first-half tries through Kevin Brown, Ben Murdochmasila and Josh Charnley – the 200th of his career. Wigan tried to drag themselves back into the game after the break without success and a late Roberts drop goal and a Dec Patton try crowned the Wolves’ win.
Tries: Brown, Murdoch-masila, Charnley, Patton. Goals: Livett 2, Goodwin. Drop goal: Roberts. Attendance: 10,213