Speaking after the final whistle, the World Cup star said: “It's not the ideal conditions to have made a comeback in, but I'm glad to be back out there playing for Newcastle with a great bunch of guys.
“We got ourselves on the wrong side of a couple of tries – one from turnover ball and the other from a penalty try – and unfortunately we never recovered from that.
“In hindsight during the second half maybe we could have kicked at goal more from a number of penalties rather than go for the attacking line out, but the momentum was with us at that time and we could sense a break just around the corner which sadly didn't come.”
With the rain, sleet and wind contriving to produce a dour spectacle in the end, Wilkinson said: “Today we maybe learnt a lesson about how to play in these sorts of conditions. That's what professional rugby is all about, and we need to do it better.
“It wasn't pretty to watch, and it wasn't pretty to play in, but being back with the Falcons now and looking forward to the rest of the season in a Newcastle shirt is hugely exciting with the way we want to play the game and the talent and belief we have.
“Today I found out what it must be like to be a winger, just standing in the cold watching the forwards slug it out, and having the hail stone blowing in your face while you're waiting for the ball. The weather was obviously an issue, but Wasps dealt with it better than us and you won't find us using it as an excuse.
“It will be interesting to see how much we can take from the video of today. I know there were instances where we could have done with the ball staying in hand and I might have done some things differently, but the main thing was that they got one up on us in terms of physicality. They got yards when we needed to stop them, and they got enough momentum to score points.”
Now back in the swing of club action, he said: “There is huge potential around the Falcons at the moment, and that's why I'm enjoying being here so much.
“To be part of that every day is a nice feeling, and in the club set-up more so than with the international stuff it's really about building day in, day out. Having a guy like Carl Hayman come in was a big plus in that regard, and the building continues all the time.
“The difference with the club game is that you know, win or lose, that you'll be there next week, back on Monday morning to work on things and learning.”
With the pre-match furnace having been stoked by comments from Wasps skipper Lawrence Dallaglio relating to Wilkinson's loyalty as a Falcon over the past decade, the fly half said: “It is important to say that I want to win things, but everyone's job in every team is to make a huge contribution.
“Rather than sitting here and simply saying 'I want to win things', my own take on it is 'what can I do to help Newcastle win things?'
“That has always been the case with me. The first question is, is it right for me? Do I enjoy it? Is it a vehicle for my ambitions and desires? But equally, if not more important, is the question of am I making a valid contribution to it? Am I helping this team towards its goals?
“It's sometimes a bad decision to say something like 'I want to go somewhere where I can win things', without actually asking myself very honestly the question of am I pushing this club to its potential?
“Often people move out before they even know what's out there, but if you can keep improving, keep driving standards and helping others to achieve their ambitions, that's what I want to see.”
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