Leeds Rhinos 24 Warrington Wolves 22

Leeds Rhinos returned to winning ways at Headingley Stadium in Round 22 of the Betfred Super League as they defeated Warrington Wolves 24-22.

Sam Walters’ sole try of the first half was built on by a strong second half performance that saw David Fusitu’a, James Bentley and Luke Hooley cross the try line, the latter for his first try for the club. The Wolves stayed in the contest for the full 80 minutes though, and could have snuck a win in the final minutes.

The Rhinos welcomed back Harry Newman and David Fusitu’a to the matchday squad as the only changes from the Round 21 defeat to Leigh. Fusitu’a replaced Luis Roberts to start as Rhyse Martin’s wing partner, whilst Newman, who played his first minutes since the end of May, was included on the bench. Corey Johnson continued to partner Aidan Sezer in the halves as the remainder of the starting 13 remained unchanged. Sam Lisone, James Donaldson and Tom Holroyd completed the bench as Jack Sinfield featured in the Reserves clash afterwards.

The early advantage went to the visiting Wolves, who scored on their first attacking set. The returning Matty Ashton and Peter Mata’utia connected up to get Warrington in striking range, before a move down the short side saw Matt Dufty kick ahead and score himself in the corner. The video referee had a second look at the decision and gave it the green light.

Pressure on the Rhinos, who were kept inside their own half for most of the opening ten minutes, almost saw Warrington capitalise again as Josh Thewlis got over in the corner after a string of quick passes, but as the video referee called that the winger had caught the sideline with his foot.

Leeds were prompted into action as Ash Handley and Nene Macdonald started to find space behind the Wolves markers. Cam Smith’s offload also allowed Sam Walters to go searching, but the young forward couldn’t keep hold of Aidan Sezer’s pass a few plays later as a big chance went begging.

The forward didn’t have long to wait to get his fifth try of the Super League season. The Rhinos were given a boost as Matty Nicholson was penalised for holding down James Bentley, and with two more repeat sets on the Wolves try line giving the home side a good spell of possession, Smith used a quick play of the ball from Sam Lisone to send Walters over for a much-needed try.

Martin’s conversion gave Leeds the slender lead, but the Wolves quickly responded as Ashton benefitted from a break by Dufty to turn the game back in favour of Gary Chambers’ side.

Both sides missed big opportunities in the closing stages of the half as Headingley began to get cagey. A similar break that led to the Ashton try wasn’t capitalised on by Danny Walker, who fumbled the ball, and James McDonnell also got close with an inspired drive for Smith’s side. Off the back of Ben Currie’s attempted catch and score, the Rhinos looked to build an attack, only for Newman’s intended pass for Handley to go to ground as the half came to a close.

The early stages of the second half saw the Wolves extend their lead by two off the back of penalties and errors by the Rhinos. Mata’utia and Thewlis both came close to the Leeds try line but as the ball was turned over on the last, an opportunist play saw Nicholson pounce on a slow play of the ball by Macdonald. A successive penalty for offside proved to be the final straw as Ratchford took the opportunity to kick a penalty goal and move the lead out to six points.

Unfazed, the Rhinos responded with the returning Fusitu’a. Thewlis’ incorrect play of the ball proved to be costly for the Wolves as Sezer tormented the away side’s goal line defence, before the half back put a high bomb up for winger Fusitu’a to take above the head Ashton and plant it down.

With the score locked at 12-12, the next move for either side was important. Stefan Ratchford caught Leeds’ defence napping as the centre breezed through to put the Wolves back in the driving seat, and more pressure was hampered on the Leeds as their restart going out on the full.

Somehow, the home side rode the storm to keep the game alive. From George Williams being denied at the opposite end of the field for obstruction, Sezer did well to take Macdonald’s offload and break the Warrington line. Unselfishly, he passed inside of support player Luke Hooley to get his first try in Rhinos and Super League try. Martin’s crucial conversion flew between the uprights to make the score 18-16 to Leeds with 15 minutes remaining.

Bentley made it back-to-back tries to send the crowd into pandemonium as they sensed a win was on the cards. Smith’s reintroduction off the bench saw the loose forward find a hole in the defence, but Hooley’s support play didn’t see the full back get a second try of the game. Matty Ashton had committed to bringing Hooley down and good thinking from the Rhinos saw them shift to the right, where Macdonald provided an unbelievable offload for Bentley to slide over.

Nicholson’s consolation try set up for a tense final ten minutes but there was a sense of relief as the final whistle sounded as the Rhinos claimed their first win since the start of July.

Teams

Rhinos

21. Luke Hooley, 2. David Fusitu’a, 12. Rhyse Martin, 4. Nene Macdonald, 5. Ash Handley, 26. Corey Johnson, 7. Aidan Sezer, 22. Sam Walters, 14. Jarrod O’Connor, 8. Mikolaj Oledzki, 19. James McDonnell, 11. James Bentley, 13. Cameron Smith

Subs: 3. Harry Newman, 15. Sam Lisone, 25. James Donaldson, 18. Tom Holroyd

Tries: Walters (22), Fusitu’a (49), Hooley (61), Bentley (69)

Goals: Martin 4/4

Wolves

1. Matt Dufty, 2. Josh Thewlis, 3. Peter Mata’utia, 4. Stefan Ratchford, 5. Matty Ashton, 6. George Williams, 7. Josh Drinkwater, 18. Thomas Mikaele, 16. Danny Walker, 10. Paul Vaughan, 11. Ben Currie, 12. Matty Nicholson, 36. Jordy Crowther

Subs: 17. Gil Dudson, 15. Joe Philbin, 8. James Harrison, 9. Daryl Clark

Tries: Dufty (2), Ashton (25), Ratchford (55), Nicholson (73)

Goals: Ratchford 3/5

Referee: Ben Thaler

Attendance: 15,166