Warrington's start to the 2017/18 season hasn't been great to say the least.
Last season's League Leaders Shield winners have started their campaign with a horrendous five losing streak, having lost Catalans, Castleford, Salford, Wigan and Leigh. They have subsequently been pinned to the bottom of the Super League table.
It's a far cry from a side that many would usually consider as a title challenger and whilst there have been notable injures for Tony Smith's side, such as second row Ben Currie, fullback Stefan Ratchford and prop Chris Hill, there seems to be genuine sense of worry, anger and confusion at the Wire's start to the season and what it may mean come the end of July.
What odds right now on a Warrington v Leeds Million Pound Game?#rugbyleague— Chris Irvine (@Chrisirvine) March 9, 2017
Now, Warrington fans should probably look at the rest of the season and think you know what we've still got the chance to get 36 points and climb up the table into the top eight.
Well, it doesn't seem that way.
Fans have been split in what their opinion of their club's current standing, with some very critical of Tony Smith, some in the middle and others embarrassed at the lack of support for the team and the manager who has transformed the club since his arrival on 5th March 2009.
Smith himself is optimistic that his side's futures will turn around and said after the 22-8 defeat to Leigh "There was an amount of self-inflicted pain again. My players are trying hard but just coming up with wrong options and it's hurting us."
"Once we start making better decisions, we will come out the other side and get on a roll. "We will re-group. We'll get in tomorrow into some hard work and fix it up. We'll have Stef Ratchford back next week but we've got to get some the people who are already out there back in their best form."
What all Wire fans can agree on is that it's baffling how they've started so poorly after they beat Australia's Brisbane Broncos 27-18 in the World Cup Series.
It seemed that Warrington were finally going to take the step to break the glass ceiling and become Super League's top club but indeed they've been set to the bottom of the table whilst World champs Wigan and surprise package Castleford have emerged as the early title contenders.
However, this problem of Warrington cracking under pressure has only transitioned from the Grand Final into the regular Super League season.
Warrington lost back-to-back Grand Finals in 2012 and 2013 to Leeds and Wigan, respectively, and on both occasions were so close to winning their first league title since 1955.
They also lost the 2016 final to Wigan, with many considering it a 'bottle-job' as Smith's side leading 16-6 at halftime.
They also lost last season's Challenge Cup final 12-10 to Hull FC,with hooker Danny Houghton preventing a late-minute Ben Currie try to give the Yorkshire side their first-ever Wembley Challenge Cup victory.
Now all of this isn't to simply list all of Warrington's failures and just sign off.
No, I've done this to sate that Warrington fans maybe shouldn't be that surprised at their recent run of form when they look at previous occasions when they've had the opportunity to clinch a goal pass them by, with the Grand Final being the particular thorn in their side.
What has happened to every good team in Sporting history? They get found out. Once this happens, the club must make tactical and/or managerial changes or ultimately go downhill.
Getting rid of Tony Smith isn't the answer, in my opinion at least, but refining the basics is.
Who knows, this may all just be a blip in form and Warrington will find their form and climb up the league table into a more respectable position.
Wire fans will certainly hope so as I'm sure they'd rather be known as the nearly men of Rugby League than the team that's rapidly plummeting down Rugby League.
Full Time: @LeighCenturions 22 - 8 Wolves #wireontour Thank you to all our travelling support 💛💙 pic.twitter.com/QvVvDAZCBt— Warrington Wolves (@wolvesrl) March 16, 2017
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