IT’S hard to imagine our first home Super League XVII fixture going any better.

A big performance, a big win and a big crowd at the Galpharm Stadium to see us turn on the style against Widnes Vikings. All in all, a perfect day!

For just a second game of the season, we looked very smooth, and the early signs do look incredibly encouraging.

And our on-field performance was matched by the supporters off it.

I don’t know how many fans Widnes brought, but it’s safe to say the vast majority of the near 9,000 crowd were backing us – and it was fantastic!

The noise they generated was amazing, and it’s hard to put a price on how much that can lift the boys.

Over the past few years we’ve made the Galpharm a bit of a fortress. I think it’s safe to say no Super League side relishes coming here any more.

The strength of our team obviously has a lot to do with that, but I do genuinely feel the way the fans get behind us at home games is also an important factor that can’t be overlooked.

And again, tomorrow night, we – the players – will be looking towards them as an extra source of motivation.

In Warrington Wolves, we know we’re about to face one of the best there is in Super League.

Last year, they were minor champions and, with Australian Test forward Trent Waterhouse and Stefan Ratchford having been recruited for 2012, they look even stronger. Having missed out on reaching last season’s Super League Grand Final, they’ve clearly taken steps to make sure that’s not repeated this time around.