STEFAN Ratchford was removed as a precaution ahead of next week's World Club Series game, says Tony Smith.

The full back left the field after 10 minutes to be replaced by Gary Wheeler, but Smith admits it was to prevent further damage.

"Stef got a bit of a stinger in his shoulder, so we erred on the side of caution there," he said.

"Rather than put him back on and risk it for next week we took him off.

"Gaz Wheeler was good when he came on, but we settled on Gareth O'Brien in there at the end and he'splayed a bit at full back before."

Wolves' head of coaching and rugby says everyone else came through ok.

And he singled out his wingers for praise after a narrow 7-6 success at the KC Stadium.

"I'll pick out two of my boys, one on either side. I thought Rhys Evans was fantastic and just surpassed by Kev Penny.

"I thought he was probably the best player on the park. There were probably other players who did more work, but some of what he did was just outstanding.

"And he was very well acknowledged in the dressing room by his teammates as being the stand out."