PAUL Vaughan hailed Warrington Wolves’ resilience as the injury-hit side downed St Helens 32-18 in Thursday’s Betfred Super League clash at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
Already without talisman George Williams for around eight to nine weeks, the Wolves lost fellow halfback Marc Sneyd to a fractured eye socket during the game, along with hat-trick scorer Matty Ashton failing a head injury assessment, and Toby King and Lachlan Fitzgibbon both picking up knocks.
Yet Warrington, who began the evening ninth in Super League, overcame those blows to make it three wins from three against Saints in their springtime trilogy and former Australia international Vaughan was full of praise for the attitude of his team-mates.
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Trilogy complete for @WarringtonRLFC ✅ pic.twitter.com/EgmkFOVtsw
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) April 24, 2025
“I think that’s one thing we can take away from this group is we’re very resilient, and the work ethic we put in week in week out can never be questioned,” Vaughan told BBC Five Live Sports Extra as Warrington moved level on points with St Helens after nine rounds.
“Sometimes we’re a little bit scratchy and it’s probably not the best footy to watch, but you can never question the effort.
“It was good win under pretty tough conditions.
“These are tough games against the Saints and tonight was nothing different. Hopefully we can build on that because we’ve been a bit scratchy the last couple of weeks.”
Those injuries, particularly to their starting halfback combination, could not have come at a worse time for the Wolves.
Sam Burgess’ side face reigning champions Wigan Warriors, who trounced them 48-24 in Las Vegas back in March, next at Super League’s Magic Weekend in Newcastle on May Bank Holiday weekend.
That is followed by a Betfred Challenge Cup semi-final against Leigh Leopards, 18-14 victors over the Wolves last Saturday, at St Helens’ Totally Wicked Stadium on May 11.
Experienced prop Vaughan, now in his third season at Warrington, is under no illusions about what lies ahead, but the 33-year-old backed them to rise to the occasion.
“The level of competition each year in the Super League is getting better and this year it has gone up a notch,” Vaughan said. “There are no easy games, it’s always a grind.
“We’re just trying to get it together…[and] get some good footy put together for the next couple of weeks so we can build our season.
“It’s a long season and it’s only early doors. We’ve got a great squad here and we’ll keep on pushing.”
WARRINGTON WOLVES 32 (King, Ashton 3, Tai, Dufty tries, Sneyd 2, Thewlis 2 goals) beat ST HELENS 18 (Bennison 2, Percival 2 tries, Whitby goal)
Referee: Liam Moore
