Smith’s rocket fires up Warrington

Warrington prop Ashton Sims says some stern words from coach Tony Smith helped the Wolves get back on track and demolish Wigan 40-10.

Heading into the Wigan game, Warrington had lost three of their past five Super League games.

The competition’s leaders roared back into form against the Warriors, inflicting an impressive 30-point defeat at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Sims revealed that a verbal challenge from Smith was the catalyst for the Wigan win.

“Even though we had those losses our defence was still really good, it was just our attack was lacking a bit,” he told Love Rugby League.

“‘Tez’ [Tony Smith] put a rocket up us a few weeks ago and challenged us to be producing our best, the attack we should be doing week-in-week-out, how we started the year off.

“It’s good to get back to the way we should be attacking.”

Sims made 32 tackles and 107 metres against Wigan. Warrington are now two points clear at the top of Super League with Catalans losing to Hull FC.

“It was good,” he said.

“We’re pretty happy but we know, in the back of our mind, Wigan were missing a few. Even though they were missing a few they were tough as nails.”

Next Warringon face Oldham in the Challenge Cup at Bower Fold. The Roughyeds pulled off the biggest Cup upset in decades in the last round by beating Hull KR.

“It [Wigan] was a good victory and we’ve got a tricky one with Oldham away,” the Fijian international said.

“That’s going to be tricky in itself.”