A stunning first-half display by Super League favourites Warrington Wolves saw them kick off their 2013 campaign with victory over Castleford Tigers at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
The Wolves exploded out of the blocks and scored four tries in the opening 13 minutes through Chris Riley, Ryan Atkins, Rhys Evans and Richie Myler with Brett Hodgson landing three conversions to open up a 22-0 lead.
Further first-half tries from Ben Westwood and Garreth Carvell, both goaled by Hodgson, saw the Wolves extend their lead to 34-12 at half-time.
The Tigers produced a much-improved second-half display and restricted the home side to just a further score from Westwood but the damage had been done in the opening exchanges.
Castleford scored second half tries through Richard Owen and Jake Webster to add to first half scores from Justin Carney and Michael Shenton with Jamie Ellis landing four goals.
Warrington coach Tony Smith had almost a fully fit squad to select from with centre Chris Bridge the only absentee as he recovers from a close season operation.
A much changed Castleford side saw coach Ian Millward give six full debuts to Jordan Tansey, Jake Webster, Keith Mason, Justin Carney, Weller Hauraki and Lee Gilmour, while Michael Shenton returned for his second spell at the club as captain but they were without winger Kirk Dixon who was ruled out with a torn calf sustained in training.
The Wolves were quick out of the blocks and any hopes Castleford had of causing an opening game shock disappeared in the opening 13 minutes as the Wolves ran in four tries.
The Wolves were ahead after just two minutes when winger Chris Riley scrambled over in the corner and three minutes later a superb midfield break by Simon Grix sent Ryan Atkins racing clear to score.
Centre Rhys Evans claimed Warrington's third try on the 10 minute mark and three minutes later Richie Myler touched down with Brett Hodgson landing three conversions to make it 22-0 to the home side after just 13 minutes.
It was a surprise that it took a further 10 minutes for Warrington to add to their tally and this time a Briers bomb was kept alive superbly by Joel Monaghan and Evans to allow Westwood to cross for his side's fifth try which Hodgson again converted to stretch the lead to 28-0.
Castleford finally got a foothold in the game and were rewarded with points when Rangi Chase's kick deflected off Lee Briers and Jake Webster sent Justin Carney over for his side's first try of the season which Jamie Ellis converted.
Four minutes before half-time Garreth Carvell added a further try for the Wolves which Hodgson converted, but the Tigers had the final say of the first half when in the dying second Warrington lost possession as they tried to keep the ball alive and Shenton pounced on a loose pass and raced 30 metres to score.
Ellis kicked his second conversion to reduce the arrears to 34-12 at half time.
Warrington were once again on the front at the start of the second half and three minutes after the restart Myler sent Westwood over for his second try of the game and Hodgson's conversion made it 40-12.
But to their credit the Tigers stuck to their task and produced a gritty second half display which was rewarded with tries for Owen and Webster and Ellis landed two more conversions but all the damage had been done in the first half.
Warrington welcome Castleford to the Halliwell Jones Stadium on Sunday looking to extend their winning run against the Tigers to eight matches.
The Wolves have not lost against their opening opponents in Super League XVIII since the Easter of 2009, including running out 54-6 winners in the same fixture last season.
Head coach Tony Smith, who has signed no new players during the winter months, has included Paul Wood in his 19-man squad for this weekend.
However, the 31-year-old prop - who played in October's Grand Final against Leeds despite suffering a ruptured testicle which later that night had to be removed - could also yet feature for Swinton in the Championship on Sunday.
The Lions have a partnership where all Wolves' players are dual-registered, so Wood - as well as Tyrone McCarthy and James Laithwaite - look set to turn out for Swinton against Workington at Leigh Sports Village.
Chris Bridge is Warrington's only injury absentee, meaning youngster Rhys Evans and Stefan Ratchford are battling it out to start in the centres.
Meanwhile, Castleford head out on the road hoping a raft of new faces can improve their fortunes in 2012.
Tigers coach Ian Millward has included two of his recruits, Keith Mason and Jordan Tansey, in his squad for the first time after they missed the club's pre-season friendlies through injury.
Winger Kirk Dixon will be sidelined for the start of the season after suffering a calf tear during a sprint session, meaning the visitors will be without their first-choice goal-kicker.
"We are going in to Sunday's game very positive and with all new recruits back in the squad, they need to have a big impact," Millward told the club's official website.
"We have no specific targets for the first half of the season but our main aim is to be competitive for the full 80 minutes and consistent with the delivery of what we have been working on in training."
Castleford will be captained by Michael Shenton, the centre set to start his second spell at his home-town club after returning from St Helens.
Warrington squad: Atkins, Briers, Carvell, Cooper, Evans, Grix, Harrison, Higham, Hill, Hodgson, Monaghan, Monaghan, Morley, Myler, Ratchford, Riley, Waterhouse, Westwood, Wood
Castleford squad: Owen, Carney, Shenton, Webster, Chase, Ellis, Walker, Clark, Huby, Gilmour, Hauraki, Millington, Emmitt, Milner, Massey, Holmes, Thompson, Tansey, Mason
Castleford Tigers' big close-season signing Michael Shenton is hoping to see progress from the Super League club following last year's below-par campaign.
The 26-year-old England international centre is back with the Tigers after two seasons with St Helens and he cannot wait for the 2013 season to get underway.
Shenton has not lost any of his ambition after re-joining Castleford and is daring to dream the West Yorkshire club could one day appear in a Grand Final at Old Trafford.
However, Shenton's short-term goals are more modest and he hopes Ian Millward's side, who finished joint-bottom of the pile last season, can start moving in an upward direction.
When quizzed on Castleford's chances of reaching a Grand Final, he told Sky Sports: "It would be a dream come true.
"It would be even more special for a town like Castleford to achieve something like that. It would make some serious history.
"We know how tough that is going to be. This year is just making progress and getting confidence back in the players who played here last year.
"The main thing this year is being more consistent, try stick to our game plan and do the little things a lot better. We want to make a lot of progress from last year and be in the hunt. We've got to respect the ball this season."
Castleford have recruited well during the close-season with the likes of Weller Hauraki joining from Super League champions Leeds Rhinos while Lee Gilmour, Keith Mason and Jordan Tansey have also been added to the ranks.
"We're excited. There's a lot of guys here with points to prove as well," he continued. "We've made some really good signings this year.
"We've got Weller Hauraki. We've managed to keep Rangi Chase, Jordan Tansey as well. He's played a lot of Super League, but his off-the-field stuff has cost him a little bit."
Castleford have one of the toughest starts on Sunday as they tackle Challenge Cup winners and Grand Finalists Warrington Wolves at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, but it is a test Shenton is relishing.
"It's difficult to see where we're at until we start playing. There's no better test then kicking off against the Challenge Cup champions and Super League Grand Finalists."