Pictures Eddie Whitham
AN under-strength Warrington Wolves side made light work of Super League’s bottom club Leigh with a 44-18 win on Thursday night.
With the England international due to be played at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, Steve Price was forced to make six changes to his side.
There were six academy graduates in the side, including Josh Thewlis at full-back, Ellis Longstaff in the back-row and Ellis Robson, recalled from his loan spell at Bradford, on the bench.
With the likes of Stefan Ratchford, Mike Cooper and Toby King in the international set up, it could have been a potential banana skin for Warrington but they sent Leigh packing to an 11th successive league defeat.
The early part of the game was held up by a massive collision between Sitaleki Akauola and former Wire forward Tyrone McCarthy, who came off very much second best with a tackle attempt that forced him to leave the field.
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A massive collision as Sitaleki Akauola looks to run through Tyrone McCarthy! 😲
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— Sky Sports Rugby League (@SkySportsRL) June 24, 2021
Warrington took the lead in the ninth minute when Gareth Widdop, overlooked by England coach Shaun Wane, created enough space for Blake Austin, this week linked with a move to Hull KR, to dummy through the line and score.
The lead was doubled when a strong run from Matty Davis earned him his first try of the season, and just as they had done in their last home game against Wakefield, Warrington would take a penalty through Widdop on the half hour mark to stretch their lead to 14-0.
And although it wasn’t quite as dramatic as the game against Trinity, perhaps that penalty gave Leigh some encouragement, and at the start of the second half they threatened to get back in to the contest when Liam Hood went over from dummy half metres from the line.
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Walker > Longstaff > Widdop >TRY! 🐺
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— Sky Sports Rugby League (@SkySportsRL) June 24, 2021
Widdop converted his own try to restore the 14 point advantage and then winger Josh Charnley, a hat-trick scorer in that Wakefield win, got in on the act with a try in the corner on 53 minutes.
Junior Sa’u pulled another one back for Leigh, but further scores for Danny Walker and youngster Eribe Doro’s first try for the club made it 38-12.
Tom Lineham snared a late length of the field interception, and although Mark Ioane had the last say for the Centurions, they were well beaten.
Warrington: Thewlis, Lineham, Mamo, Wrench, Charnley, Austin, Widdop, Hill Walker, Akauola, Longstaff, Hughes, Davis. Subs: Butler, Dean, Doro, Robson.
Leigh: Brierley, Russell, Thornley, Sa’u, Mullen, Reynolds, Mellor, Ioane, Hood, McCarthy, Hellewell, Gee, Bell. Subs: Thompson, Wildie, Peteru, Mason.
