Pictures Eddie Whitham
WIRE old boys Blake Austin and Richie Myler returned to haunt Warrington Wolves as Leeds won 40-4 at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
For two clubs so used to challenging for honours, the Super League season has so far been nothing short of disappointing, but it was the Rhinos under new coach Rohan Smith who moved up the table after this one.
It could gone so different for Warrington Wolves had they made the most of two breaks down the right-hand side in the early exchanges.
For the first, Connor Wrench’s break tight to the touchline saw him pass long inside for Oliver Holmes, when maybe Gareth Widdop would have been a better option, and the chance went begging.
Shortly after, Daryl Clark raced away in the same channel and this time Leeds scampered back and held up George Williams, whose kick to the corner was too long for Wrench.
But it was Leeds who opened the scoring on seven minutes. Cameron Smith broke through the middle and although he was stopped by a fine ankle tap by Stefan Ratchford, Wire’s defence was unset.
Kruise Leeming jumped in at dummy half and kicked to the right corner for David Fusi’tua to touch down.
Leeds started the game a point behind Wire in 10th place in the table, and the game turned in to an arm wrestle for a while.
Peter Mata’utia was held up over the line before Warrington got on the scoresheet on 24 minutes, Matty Ashton diving over in the left corner off Widdop’s pass.
But the game turned in a dire six-minute spell for Warrington where they conceded three back-to-back scores.
First, a wonderful piece of skill by Myler, who tipped a pass inside as Billy Magoulias charged at him, which enabled Zak Hardaker to feed Leeming for 10-4.
Hardaker then got on the scoresheet with a rather straightforward run in through a few tacklers from 10 metres out.
And then after a break down the right, a pinpoint Austin kick across field for Ash Handley and Liam Sutcliffe ended in the hands of James Donaldson to touch down.
Leeds led 18-4 at halftime, and they stretched that lead to 20-4 with a Rhyse Martin penalty on 46 minutes.
Just as in the first half, Warrington then fell apart with three tries conceded in five minutes.
Handley went over, before Bodene Thompson crossed for a dubious score, and then Fusitua added a second.
To rub salt in the Wire wounds, Handley snared an interception and raced 90 metres to the sound of boos around the ground as fans headed for the exits.
Warrington Wolves: Widdop, Wrench, Mata’utia, King, Ashton, Ratchford, Williams, Philbin, D Clark, Cooper, Currie, Holmes, Magoulias. Subs: Mulhern, Bullock, Davis, Amor.
Leeds: Hardaker, Handley, Sutcliffe, Martin, Fusitu’a, Austin, Myler, Oledzki, Leeming, Tetevano, Gannon, Thompson, Smith. Subs: Dwyer, Prior, Donaldson, O’Connor.
Acrobatic finish from Ashton 💪@WarringtonRLFC on the board live on @SkySportsRL#SuperLeague #SLWarLee pic.twitter.com/yEUWbIlrQJ
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) June 3, 2022
TRY! And just like that Leeds are back in front as Zak Hardaker steams through! ⚡
Warrington 4-10 Leeds pic.twitter.com/cAaQ4otznV
— Sky Sports Rugby League (@SkySportsRL) June 3, 2022
Rhinos running rampant 🦏
Is this their best performance of the season so far? 🤔#SuperLeague #SLWarLee pic.twitter.com/reNU3mbVdN
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) June 3, 2022
