Warrington coach Tony Smith expects further improvement
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Jubilant Smith targets Double
By Julian Shea BBC Sport at Wembley
Warrington coach Tony Smith believes his team can improve further after retaining the Challenge Cup at Wembley.
The Wolves were in devastating form in outscoring Super League champions Leeds by six tries to one in a 30-6 win.
"I think we're going to get better over the next few years," said former Leeds coach Smith. "We set a high standard of to win games and be consistent.
"I ask my people to get better week by week, that's my secret - that's all it is, better as people and as players."
Warrington had waited 35 years to win the Cup before last year's 25-16 victory over Huddersfield but, inspired by a man-of-the-match performance by stand-off Lee Briers, crushed Leeds to keep their ribbons on the trophy.
Warrington 'blitzed' Leeds - Briers
The Wolves led 14-0 at half-time but even then they were taking nothing for granted.
"We felt we had a little bit to go at half-time," said Smith.
"We were 14-0 up but we hadn't hit our straps - it was a nice position to be in but we felt we needed to kick on a bit, as a team like Leeds could turn it around - they've done that to us before when we've had a commanding lead."
Despite not getting on the scoresheet, veteran Briers was an overwhelming choice as man of the match, with 34 votes out of 40, after an outstanding kicking performance.
He punched the air with delight when the result was announced, but insisted this was nothing to do with personal pride.
"It was a goal I set myself in both cup finals to win it, because if I win the Lance Todd trophy that means Warrington must be close to winning the trophy," he said.
"It's something that I can look back on and I'll go down in history, which is nice, but the main thing is that I've just won the Cup with a special bunch of guys.
"People might think I'm an individual on the field but I'm a team player.
"It had been in the back of our minds that we needed to retain the trophy to be considered a special team.
"We've been underachievers for a while and now nobody can call us anything but champions."
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