JOHN WILSHERE, the former Papua New Guinea wing who was released by Warrington Wolves after an injury-hit debut season two years ago, savoured yesterday’s return to the Halliwell-Jones Stadium, scoring two of Salford City Reds’ four tries in a clinical display.
Wilshere spent last year trying to rebuild his confidence with relegated Leigh before Salford threw him another Engage Super League lifeline. It looks a shrewd move.
Wilshere, the utility back, was forced to slot in at stand-off to answer an injury crisis with Salford losing Chris Charles, the injured goalkicker, the influential Luke Robinson and Andrew Dunemann and Stephen Myler, their new signings.
However, despite Wilshere’s notable contribution, it was Karl Fitzpatrick who was the catalyst for this emphatic victory after switching from his usual full back position. Fitzpatrick’s kicks were responsible for all four tries with Stuart Reardon at fault in the build-up to Wilshere’s opening effort after only eight minutes.
Warrington gave themselves hope when Henry Fa’afili went over early in the second half, but Fitzpatrick collected his own kick ahead to put David Hodgson through before another precision kick allowed Junior Langi to score a rare try.
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There were no celebrations either for Warrington’s two other new signings, Michael Sullivan or Paul Rauhihi, who were both substituted by Paul Cullen, the coach. “I am bitterly disappointed,” Cullen said. “We were completely outplayed in every department. There were some really weak individual performances that puts their positions in doubt.”
Karl Harrison, the Salford coach, singled out Wilshere and Fitzpatrick for special praise. “We were written off and this was supposed to be a home banker but we came with a simple game plan and it paid off,” he said.
SCORERS: Warrington Wolves: Try: Fa’afili. Goal: Briers. Salford City Reds: Tries: Wilshere 2, Hodgson, Langi. Goals: Hodgson 4.
WARRINGTON WOLVES: B Grose; H Fa’afili, Martin Gleeson, T Kohe-Love, S Reardon; L Briers, M Sullivan; C Leikvoll, J Clarke, P Rauhihi, L Swann, B Westwood, R Parker. Substitutes: C Bridge, Mark Gleeson, P Wood, D Lima.
SALFORD CITY REDS: D Hodgson; J Langi, S Littler, A Moule, A Stewart; J Wilshere, K Fitzpatrick; A Coley, M Alker, P Highton, A Brocklehurst, I Sibbit, S Finnigan. Substitutes: T Jonkers, G Haggerty, J Clough, S Baldwin.
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Referee: R Laughton.