Smith hails red hot Riley

Smith: Praise for Riley

It's quite a feat to score five tries in any match but the vision and execution of his try from Lee Briers' kick straight from a scrum was superb and obviously well rehearsed on the training pitch.

Tony Smith
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Warrington coach Tony Smith heaped praise on Chris Riley after the winger scored five tries in the Wolves' 58-0 rout of Harlequins.

The 21-year-old became the first Warrington player to touch down five times in a Super League match as Smith's side crossed the try-line 11 times in total.

It was the perfect start to Warrington's 2010 season and leaves Quins still searching for their first win of the current campaign.

Although the former England coach recognised that poor defending played a part in Riley's haul, he lauded the winger's quality.

"A few were served up on a silver platter but a winger has to be there and he showed good speed on a couple of occasions," Smith said.

Superb

"It's quite a feat to score five tries in any match but the vision and execution of his try from Lee Briers' kick straight from a scrum was superb and obviously well rehearsed on the training pitch."

Smith also singled out skipper Adrian Morley for praise after the forward took to the field despite attending the birth of his daughter in the early hours of Sunday morning.

He added: "I knew he'd be up for it and all the three front rowers - Mozza, Garreth Carvell and Paul Wood - played well.

"The players were as pleased with the nil against them as the positive scoreline. We played some very nice rugby league, offensively and defensively.

"I feel for them having been on the other side at the Stoop last season but not too sorry for them. We have some very good attacking players and the new arrivals all did well.

"Richie Myler fitted in very well and was unlucky on a couple of occasions."

Outstanding

Harlequins, missing a number of key players, were never in the game as the Wolves raced out to a comfortable lead early on.

Coach Brian McDermott hailed Warrington's performance but was disappointed his side did nothing to stymie the attack.

"Warrington were outstanding and white hot. If we were going to lose it should have been by a lesser score," he said.

"At this stage of the season it is not about winning but performance. But we have not too much to build on for next week and that's my main concern.

"We did not handle the occasion of Warrington's first game and there was not one single aspect of game I was pleased with or not pleased with.

"We could have had an influence over the scoreline but from the moment go we allowed them to be as good as they were."