Under the recently announced new coaching stewardship of former Paramatta Eels coach Brad Arthur, at least until the end of the season, the Leeds Rhinos were looking for a turnaround in form and performance as they made the ominous trip to Warrington to take on a Wolves side who were looking to go second and to get within two points of the Wigan Warriors at the top of the table.
A win for the Rhinos would lift them level on points with six placed Catalans Dragons but they needed a massive points win to lift them above the side from the south of France.
Leeds had a ten-point start on the coupon, many Rhinos supporters feeling that the advantage was a little stingy on behalf of the bookmakers as they feared a larger defeat despite the new man in charge.
An early mistake from Rhyse Martin put Leeds under immediate pressure and on the fourth tackle from a play starting on their opponents twenty, a George Williams grubber kick to the corner was chased and grounded by Matty Ashton. Stefan Ratchford added the touchline conversion for a 6-0 lead.
Within two minutes the Wolves were in again, Matt Dufty taking an outside pass from Danny Walker to go over under the sticks from thirty metres. Ratchford was on target again, Warrington with the perfect start, the Rhinos having a nightmare opening to the game.
On their first real foray into the Wolves twenty, the Rhinos opened their account with David Fusitu’a leaping to collect a pinpoint Brodie Croft cross-field kick and ground in the right corner. Martin flashed his conversion attempt across the face of the goal, Leeds still eight points behind.
Spirited Leeds defence thwarted a Warrington onslaught around the half hour mark but on thirty-five Dufty got his second of the night after throwing a dummy, bumping off two Leeds tacklers and coming inside to go in. Ratchford hit the target for the third time in the game for an 18-4 lead as the game headed towards the break.
But with fifty seconds remaining Roderick Tai scored a try from nothing as he picked up a ricocheted kick to go through a gap for a walk-in try. Ratchford added a fourth goal of the half for 24-4, the Wolves in total charge.
Leeds drew first blood in the second half on forty-four with Lachlan Miller taking a Jack Sinfield pass to shrug off a tackler and ground to the left of the posts. Martin added the conversion for 10-24.
George Williams was sin-binned on fifty after a high tackle on Andy Ackers close to his own line. Within a minute, fast hands from Leeds saw Ned McCormack off a Martin pass with acres of space to cross down the left. Martin was wide with his conversion attempt while McCormack was helped from the field after picking up an injury. Leeds within ten points of their hosts.
The hour mark, Williams still off the field, witnessed Warrington extend their lead when Tom Whitehead crashed over the line from close and managed to get the ball on the ground under a heap of Leeds tacklers. Ratchford made it five from five for a sixteen-point lead.
A professional foul from Matty Ashton on seventy-five, presenting a fast Leeds play the ball, saw the Warrington man sin-binned, from the resulting play Paul Momirovski stretched for the line to get a fourth Leeds try, Martin again missing the conversion with Leeds trailing by 30-18 at the full time hooter.
Leeds were always second best on the night with Warrington more comfortable winners than the scoreline might suggest. Warrington only scored one more try than their visitors but the impeccible boot of Stefan Ratchford made all the difference as Martin failed to find the target on three occasions for Leeds. Warrington are back into second spot in the table, Leeds still seventh but showing some shoots of improvement over an awful performance last week in the golden point win over London.
Warrington Wolves: Dufty (2T), Lidop, Tai (T), Ratchford (5/5G), Ashton (T, SB on 75), Williams (SB on 50), Drinkwater, Harrison, Walker, Vaughan, Nicholson, Holroyd, Currie. Subs: Musgrove, Crowther, Powell, Whitehead (T). 18th Man: Taylor-Wray.
Leeds Rhinos: Miller (T), Handley, Momirovski (T), McCormack (T), Fusitu’a (T), Croft, Sinfield, Oledzki, O’Connor, Eseh, McDonnell, Martin (1/4 G), Smith. Subs: Ackers, Lisone, Goudemand, Edgell 18th Man: Nicholson-Watton.
Half-Time: 24-4.
Full-Time: 30-18.
Score Progression: 4-0, 6-0, 10-0, 12-0, 12-4, 16-4, 18-4, 22-4, 24-4 : HT: 24-8, 24-10, (SB), 24-14, 28-14, 30-14, (SB), 30-18 :FT.
Lead Exchanges: Warrington.
Referee: Jack Smith.
