Mixed emotions for Steve Price after Warrington cup win

Warrington coach Steve Price praised his players after their 28-22 Challenge Cup win at Hull KR, but criticised the late slump that almost allowed their opponents back in to the game.

The Wolves led 12-0 at half time, despite spending a period of the half with 11 men after Tom Lineham and Declan Patton were both sinbinned.

Lineham crossed for a try early in the second half and they looked home and hosed at 22-0 up when Ben Murdoch-Masila scored on 53 minutes.

Ben Crooks gave Hull KR hope and Josh Drinkwater’s score brought them within 12 points with 15 minutes to play.

And Drinkwater’s second gave them hope of an unlikely comeback, until Ben Currie’s try put the game beyond them despite Hall’s late try.

Price said: “The first half was outstanding. To play with 11 men, to absorb that amount of pressure inside our 30 was what our foundations have been built on over the last 18 months.

“I am super proud of our boys, especially in that first 40 minutes. They had 34 play-the-balls inside our 30 and we had four. Then we lost two of our left-side players and had to adapt.

“The 20 minutes after half-time we were in control. It was 22-0 and we were playing some reasonable footy.

“I was very disappointed with our attitude and our discipline, especially with the ball, that back end of the game. To give away a penalty, especially when you’ve got the ball, is unacceptable.

“It’s a tough place to come. We had to be at our best and it’s good to get there in the end.

“Credit to the players, 80 minutes away from another Wembley and that’s what we’ re striving really hard to do.

“We can take a lot of confidence, especially out of that first 60 minutes.”