Despite battling hard for the full 80 minutes, Leeds Rhinos lost out 24-6 to Warrington Wolves at the 2024 Magic Weekend at Elland Road.

One try separated the sides in the first half, but a second half hat trick from Matt Dufty sealed the points for Sam Burgess’ side. Leeds' Paul Momirovski kept the game in the balance with a try heading into the final ten minutes, but it was too little too late.

Head coach Brad Arthur made three changes to the side that defeated Wigan Warriors last time out at AMT Headingley. Captain Cameron Smith returned after serving a one-match suspension, plus the Rhinos were also boosted by the return of Ash Handley on the wing after he also missed last week through injury.

Brodie Croft’s return to Australia on compassionate grounds saw Jack Sinfield handed the opportunity to play his fourth Super League game of the year. The youngster’s most recent appearance up until the Magic clash was against the Wolves back in July.

A lively first set saw the Rhinos apply early pressure off the back of a knock on by Toby King. With the first chance of the game to push for points, James McDonnell’s half break looked optimistic before Jack Sinfield was pulled down short, but Harry Newman was caught on the last to turn possession over. Shortly after, Sinfield managed to engineer a half break but couldn’t find McDonnell with his offload.

Warrington responded as Matty Ashton broke free to set the alarm bells ringing for Leeds, but David Fusitu’a did well to deal with the threat. An offside penalty against the Rhinos though offered the Wolves their first opportunity at points, and Josh Thewlis took it as the winger kicked a penalty goal to make the score 2-0 after ten minutes.

The arm wrestle continued as the half progressed, and both sides weren’t prepared to give each other an inch. Leeds almost got their rewards for staying in the fight when Ash Handley rose above Thewlis to take a high kick, but the Warrington man managed to keep the ball off the ground in a desperate effort. Shortly after, off the back of a seven-tackle set, Warrington pushed downfield thanks to good hands from Dufty, King and Williams, but good defence from the Rhinos stopped the attack to keep the score at two points.

Three minutes from half time though, Warrington made the breakthrough as they got the first try of the game. Leeds were threatening coming forward, but a strong tackle from Roderick Tai on Lachie Miller proved fatal as the ball came free and George Williams picked it up to run away and touch down over the try line. Thewlis added the two points to make the score 8-0 to Warrington at the break.

Coming out after the break, the Wolves almost got over on their first attacking set. Danny Walker’s break from dummy half had Leeds fans on tender hooks, but great play from Miller made sure the Leeds full back shut down Walker before he could feed Dufty. Despite the Wire full back then forcing a drop out off Handley, the Rhinos defence stood strong and forced Jordy Crowther into an error.

Back to back penalties against Leeds handed the Wolves a chance to extend their lead further as the half continued. Starting with a ball steal against Rhyse Martin, the Rhinos found themselves down to 12 men minutes later as Fusitu’a was sin binned for a professional foul as he took out Ashton without the ball. Now with an extra man in attack, Warrington added back-to-back tries from Dufty to extend their lead. The full back used the space left by Fusitu’a to get his first try as Drinkwater fed him through a hole, and five minutes later, another break from Walker saw the hooker connect up with Williams, who then found Dufty to make the score 18-0 with 23 minutes left.

Back up to 13 players as Fusitu’a returned to the action, Leeds knew the game was in the balance with time against them. Sam Lisone’s return to the action almost saw the prop power over, but referee Chris Kendall called that the pass from Ackers forward. Then the prop was sent to the sin bin, along with Roderick Tai, as the pair clashed off the back of a Leeds scrum.

Leeds continued to push for points, but to no reward; Newman was unable to hold onto a pass from Miller in the Rhinos’ best opportunity. Up at the other end of the field, Warrington thought they had a fourth try of the night with Ashton, but the video referee concluded that the winger had knocked on Drinkwater’s kick in the build-up.

Entering the final ten minutes, a flourish from Leeds saw Momirovski cross for his seventh try of the year. A brilliant piece of play saw Martin angle a kick for the try line and Momirovski caught the Wolves defence napping as he slid over to score a fantastic try.

Dufty’s hat trick try was the final nail in the coffin though, as the full back benefited from an Ashton break to cross in the corner to seal a 24-6 result for the Wolves.

Match Facts

Wolves

1. Matt Dufty, 2. Josh Thewlis, 14. Roderick Tai, 3. Toby King, 5. Matty Ashton, 6. George Williams, 7. Josh Drinkwater, 10. Paul Vaughan, 32. Sam Powell, 41. Luke Yates, 42. John Bateman, 13. Matty Nicholson, 11. Ben Currie

Subs: 16. Zane Musgrove, 8. James Harrison, 9. Danny Walker, 17. Jordy Crowther  (18^th Man – 28. Adam Holroyd)

Tries: Williams (37), Dufty (50, 55, 77)

Goals: Thewlis 4/6

Sin Bin: Tai (64) – Illegal contact

Rhinos

1. Lachie Miller, 2. David Fusitu’a, 4. Paul Momirovski, 3. Harry Newman, 5. Ash Handley, 21. Jack Sinfield, 7. Matt Frawley, 17. Justin Sangare, 9. Andy Ackers, 15. Sam Lisone, 16. James McDonnell, 12. Rhyse Martin, 13. Cameron Smith (C)

Subs: 11. James Bentley, 14. Jarrod O’Connor, 25. James Donaldson, 30. Tom Nicholson-Watton (18^th Man – 18. Mickael Goudemand)

Tries: Momirovski (71)

Goals: Martin 1/1

Sin Bin: Fusitu’a (49) – Professional Foul, Lisone (64) – Striking