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
Warrington forward Chris Hill says he is surprised how quickly he has adapted to life in Super League.
The 25-year-old describes his own improvement as being 'ahead of schedule' but admits he is still a long way short of becoming the finished article.
During his debut season, Hill collected a Challenge Cup winners' medal, appeared in a Grand Final and also played for England.
He joined Wolves from Championship club Leigh in the autumn of 2011 and has now made 33 Super League appearances.
Hill told the Warrington Guardian: "I am well ahead of where I thought I would be after 12 months in the top flight.
"Obviously, I wanted to be in this position, but if I was to be level-headed about it I would have said that I would have got only a few games last year and 2013 would have been my breakthrough season.
"But I just want to look forward. I am not one for thinking about how well I have done.
"If anything I'm more likely to look back at the negatives from last year, because that is how you get better.
"I know I had a half-decent year, but there are bits of my game I can improve and that is what I need to concentrate on."
As for carrying-on in 2013 where he left off last year, he added: "I don't feel any pressure. I will just go out there and play my game.
"I am approaching things in exactly the same way. I've knuckled down in pre-season and will really rip in when we get started."