IT was not the return skipper Chris Hill was looking for.

The captain says the past four weeks have been among the most difficult in his career after missing the past three Warrington Wolves games with suspension following his sending off at Wigan last month.

He returned to the starting line-up at Headingley on Friday night but the 36-0 drubbing by Leeds was the heaviest defeat since coach Steve Price took over in 2018, and the first time his side has been 'nilled'.

"That was not a Warrington performance", said Hill.

"It is one of the worst we have tossed up for as many years that I can remember.

"It was not good enough and we will not accept it."

READ MORE > Headingley horror show

In the moments after the final hooter, the prop forward called his shell-shocked squad over for a huddle in the middle of the pitch for more than a minute.

He said what was said will remain private but explained all the players are 'man enough' to take any blame.

The 32-year-old added: "That will stay in house.

"But we are one club. You see that in all the players travelling over here who weren't playing.

"This isn't just a job for us. It hurts.

"We have had a good week in training, there are no excuses.

"Leeds executed their plays well. We will sit down tomorrow and watch the video. It won't be an easy watch but if there are things to be said, we will say them.

"We are all men. We have got to look at ourselves and our performance.

"We are one club with one goal."

READ > Price: We were beaten in every department

Hill's sending off at Wigan was his first since he joined Warrington in 2011. And said it has been a horrible time - not just for him, but his family as well.

He added: "My wife will say this has probably been the worst three weeks of her life with me at home.

Warrington Guardian:

"I have been getting up early, working with the reserves. It has been tough watching to be honest, I hate not being involved.

"It is not just a job for us, we love this sport.

"The hardest is the effect on your family.

"My kids have to go to school with kids saying 'I saw your dad get sent off on Sky'. It is horrible.

"People do not see that and do not understand. Then there is all the criticism on social media from people sat on their keyboards or hiding behind screens, we have seen what happened with Caroline Flack.

"I can handle it but it is not nice for your family to see.

"It does effect you."

He says the priority will now be on getting back to winning ways against table topping Castleford on Friday.

"We showed against Saints we can do it," he said.

"It is still early in the season, we are still going through new combinations. There are no prizes handed out in February but we have to get better."