Josh Thewlis on his spectacular try, gaining confidence and key defensive play

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8 hours ago

Josh Thewlis touches down for the opening try against Hull FC after breaking from deep inside his own half (Image: Paul Currie/SWpix.com)
WARRINGTON Wolves needed a good start against Hull FC, and Josh Thewlis provided it in spectacular fashion.
With The Wire tasked with coming off their own line early in the game, the winger – back in his regular position after two games at full-back – burst through the Black and Whites defence and streaked home from almost the full length of the field.
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From there, his side never looked back and secured a victory that keeps them alive in the play-off race, when defeat would have all but ended their hopes.
'It was just a yardage carry, I got my nose through and away I went,' the older Thewlis brother told the Warrington Guardian post-match as he completed another game alongside younger sibling Jake, who was on the opposite wing.
'We've been working hard lately and sticking to process and it showed today.
'It was a pretty easy switch – we do two or three training sessions a week so it was just picking up my job again. I spoke to Sam (Burgess) and it's a case of wherever the team needs me.
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'It was good going back to full-back – you see the game a lot differently – but it's good to be back on the right edge and building some connections with Rod (Tai) and George (Williams).'
On the victory, he added: 'We did need it. Closing that gap between us and the six is definitely something we spoke about this week.
'It was either going to be seven points after today or three, and we've made it three so we're back in touch. Hopefully we can charge now for the rest of the season.
'It's been tough recently – we've been putting a lot of effort into games without coming away with points and wins.
'The players have been frustrated more than anyone – I get fans are frustrated as well – but it's good to see us get the benefits out of our hard work.
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'I think we can gain a lot of confidence from that.'
Thewlis the younger joined his brother on the scoresheet shortly afterwards as Warrington struck out into a 12-0 lead, but a nervy second half appeared to be in store after the visitors narrowed the gap to two points with a surge late in the opening period.
However, The Wire nailed their start again after the break and back-to-back tries from Sam Powell and Lachlan Fitzgibbon stretched them out to an unassailable lead.
'We spoke about our start all week – Hull have got a good starting pack that come hard with Herman Ese'ese leading it,' Thewlis said.
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'Our three middles got after it this week and we got a 12-0 start.
'They pegged us back with some unanswered points but in the second half, our emphasis was on going hard again and I think we delivered on both of them.'
Warrington kept Hull pretty much at arm's length for the rest of the game, but there was time for a scare when Lewis Martin crossed on Thewlis' right edge.
However, video referee Jack Smith chalked the try off after replays showed centre partner Rodrick Tai had done enough to force Martin into touch before he grounded the ball.
'We spoke about moments and winning more of them,' Thewlis said.
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'Our system works but it's about making one-on-ones and Rod getting around and making that kind of tackle is part of our system.
'It was a massive effort – the game could have been in the swing there but that popped their bubble a bit.'