WARRINGTON Wolves will have to mount a second-half comeback if they are to get Super League off to a winning start in the World Club Series.

The sides traded tries through Tyson Frizell and Gareth O’Brien, before Joel Thompson crossed and Ryan Atkins replied.

Wolves’ hopes of putting Super League off to a winning World Club Series start looked bleak when within two minutes Benji Marshall’s pass put Frizell in the corner and Widdop converted.

It came after former St George man Ashton Sims knocked on in the tackle close to his own line, handing possession to the visitors.

Wolves regained their composure and, with a strong crowd behind them, began to find some confidence with ball in hand.

O’Brien moved the ball on to Richie Myler and he looked to have executed a perfectly waited chip for Monaghan.

The onrushing winger gathered well, but had to check his stride and it allowed the scrambling St George defence to recover on their own line.

O’Brien pinned several high bombs in succession on Josh Dugan, but the talented full back gathered well under pressure.

But it was O’Brien’s skill with ball in hand that pulled Wolves level.

The half back, who looked to be heading to Bradford Bulls last season, broke the Dragons line before selling State of Origin full back Dugan with a dummy – aimed at the supporting Myler – and darting home besides the post himself.

The Warrington Academy graduate knocked the extras over himself.

What was billed as a tight encounter certainly did not start in that fashion, and Dragons were over again in the 19th minute.

Myler knocked on from dummy half and the NRL outfit took full advantage when Widdop found space to thread a grubber into Thompson’s path and he beat Monaghan to touch down.

Ben Thaler went to the video, but the try was given and Widdop converted for the visitors.

Ben Harrison, who replaced Sims, made good ground on several occasions but Wolves were facing a solid Dragons defence.

Then The Halliwell Jones Stadium was sparked into life, Eto Nabuli with an incredibly high tackle caught Penny in the neck and the fans voiced their displeasure at the treatment of the hometown hero.

It handed the hosts their first penalty half an hour in, and they boys in primrose and blue worked it left for Atkins to spin in a tackle and touch down.

O’Brien pulled the kick wide.

Nabuli looked to break free down the left flank for Dragons two minutes later with the visitors outnumbering Wolves wide, but it was Penny who recovered to stop the winger.

With less than two minutes of the half remaining, Myler put a deep cross-field kick which looked to have pinballed its way into Rhys Evans’ path, but he was hauled back – without the ball – by Jason Nightingale.

The decision went to the video referee, but no try was the call and Dragons held out.

They would continue to do, slowing the play-the-ball down at every opportunity as Wolves looked to release with urgency.