For even the most battle-hardened / realistic / optimistic / mad (delete as appropriate) Hornets fan this brutal battering made gruelling viewing.

This was less a game of rugby league than the ultimate test of faith and endurance as a ruthlessly efficient Warrington Wolves rammed home 16 tries to mete out Hornets biggest ever margin of defeat.

Indeed, while the scoreboard operator was busy developing repetitive strain injury, Hornets failed to create a single viable scoring chance as Warrington’s superior pace, power, guile, power and pace (ask Paul Cullen) gave New Hornets a severe lesson in how the game should be played.

But as they struggled to come to terms with the hardest step yet on a steep learning curve, Hornets were - at times - their own worst enemy. Some poor tackling, particularly in the three quarters, gave the Wolves backline far more space than they had the right to expect. Indeed, the hesitance with which Hornets left flank committed itself to the tackle enabled Warrington to rack up 46 points by half time.

At even the most rudimentary level, Hornets failed to do the basics. Ball control and backing up seemed low on the agenda and even the introduction of Sam Butterworth - after John Braddish had failed to make a dent on the Wire defence - couldn’t encourage cohesion. In the midst of the carnage, prop Mark Costello looked prepared to at least try and take on Warrington - driving hard into the Wolves’ defence and looking to offload at every opportunity. To no avail, though.

Hornets supporters’ self-deprecating humour subsided into stunned silence, as their side was systematically dismantled before their eyes. Repeatedly, Warrington’s half backs carved huge holes up the middle of the defence and Rob Ball’s dismissal for a stupid high tackle epitomised Hornets absolute inability to compete.

All we can ask, really is that Hornets new charges learn from this salutary experience. If they pick up on how Warrington play the ball, support breaks and use the width of their pitch, they just might be better players for it. But the fear is that this could deal the team a massive confidence sapping blow. If we look to take positives out of every game, we’ll be disappointed - because there were none.

So we’ve got to lick our wounds, learn our lessons, dust ourselves off and start again. If what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, let’s use how bad this feels to spur us on.

For the record: Graham Appo, Paul Wood, Ben Westwood and John Wilshere grabbed two tries apiece with Jerome Guisset, Brent Grose, Dean Gaskell, Ian Sibbit, Nathan Wood, Gary Hulse, Paul Noone and mard fullback Daryl Cardiss scoring one apiece.