AS well as making progress to the fourth round of the Challenge Cup, Sam Burgess and Warrington Wolves were able to tick another box at Whitehaven on Saturday.

The Wire boss confirmed his players came through the game on a tricky pitch in Cumbria unscathed, with the new Super League season getting underway next weekend.

Warrington ran out 44-4 winners with Oli Leyland, Danny Walker, Jake Thewlis and Cai Taylor-Wray all scoring two tries each.

Here is everything Burgess had to say to the media after the game...

Q: What did you think of all that?

SB: I thought we were professional – we did a professional job and that’s what we came here to do.

They were tough conditions for the players and the field was pretty heavy, but thankfully we got through in good order.

It was a good, professional performance all in all.

Q: No injuries picked up, then?

SB: No, we came through really well, thank God!

I rested a couple of players just with the risk of head knocks, with Round One seven or eight days away.

We wanted to be smart but get the job done as well.

Q: There were a few people out there who will probably be playing in Round One – was it a case of getting the job done and getting them out of there?

SB: With Danny Walker, we just wanted to play him for the first half.

Sam (Powell) hasn’t quite done enough work yet to play enough time, but Ben Hartill has been good for us so we gave Danny a half and he came through okay.

For the other guys, it was the same comms.

Q: There were a few younger players out there who will have been wanting to put themselves in your mind for selection – did a few of them do that?

SB: I think everyone was good today – no-one really stood out but nobody stood out in a negative light either.

I’ve got a lot of trust in all of the guys in there so next week, I’ve got a couple of tough decisions to make. Everyone is pretty much healthy and everyone is desperate to play.

Q: What did you make of Whitehaven’s performance? They certainly made sure you didn’t have things all your own way!

SB: We always knew they would come with a bit of spirit.

It was a big game for the town as well as the players – a lot of them were playing local league last year and are making the step up.

I thought they did a great job.

Q: There’s maybe talk of the format being moved again next year so that you come in later again – as we stand here, what would you want to do?

SB: It’s not ideal having it the week before the season.

Everyone’s spent 10-12 weeks getting ready for the season and then this is thrown in before it. I don’t think it should be now.

A lot of teams normally take this week off with the concussion risk of missing Round One, and I hear Sam Tomkins got injured for Catalans today.

We could maybe do it better, but getting back out here and seeing the crowd has been great.

I’ve a lot of respect for it, but the timing maybe isn’t right.