PAUL Anderson will be aiming for his players to return to higher levels of performance when they face St Helens in a Super League curtain-raiser at the Totally Wicked Stadium on Friday.

His Warrington Wolves under 19s side fell to their first defeat of the campaign at home to Wigan at the weekend following strong wins against City of Hull and Castleford Tigers.

“The performance wasn’t up to the standard that we have set and if you don’t play to your best against a team like Wigan then you are going to get punished and that is what happened," said Wolves' head coach after the 32-18 loss at Victoria Park Stadium.

"We were a little off in attack and defence and we came up with a few errors that they capitalised on and that allowed them to get the win."

A Cole Oakley try early in the second half put Wolves in the hunt but Wigan proved too strong.

Riley Dean's conversion cut Wigan's interval lead to 16-14 but the visitors responded quickly and kept their line intact until Josh Thewlis scored a consolation try 10 minutes from time.

"We never gave up and kept going until the end which is credit to the pride the lads have in wearing the shirt," said Anderson.

"We will work hard over the next few days in training to rectify things."

Wingers Liam Brinksman and Lewis Hall bagged Warrington's other tries.

Friday's game kicks off at 5.30pm, prior to the St Helens versus Hull KR Super League game at 7.45pm.

Wolves: Josh Thewlis; Liam Brinksman, Nathan Roebuck, Cole Oakley, Lewis Hall; Riley Dean, Joe Barnes; Jack Wright, Padraig Anglin-Sheedy, Tayler Brown, Ellis Longstaff, Connor Wrench, Jacob Gannon. Subs: George Roby, Dean Beddall, Daniel Harper, Morgan Burgess.