Leeds Rhinos 24 Warrington Wolves 18: Match report

All Leeds’ points came in the first half, when they were very clinical, scoring four tries - and wasting only one opportunity - to take a firm grip on the game.

They had been very disciplined, not conceding a penalty or a set restart, but that changed at the start of the second period and Warrington - with Rhinos academy product Robbie Mulhern setting a strong lead - dominated field position and territory.

An early try got them back in the game and on the rare occasions Leeds were able to get over halfway, some errors and poor decisions let them down.

A drop goal would have taken the pressure off, but they weren’t able to create an opportunity.

Rhinos defended well though, holding out until nine minutes from time when Warrington grabbed their third score.

They had all the momentum at that stage, but Leeds held their nerve and deserved the win, though it was much closer than it should have been.

It was Leeds’ fifth successive victory and they are showing an encouraging ability to win in different circumstances, as front-runners, chasing the game or holding out under heavy pressure.

Rhyse Martin was excellent for Leeds, in two different positions, scoring a try and converting all four touchdowns to extend his run of successful kicks to 27.

Captain Ash Handley, making his 150th career appearance, opened the scoring after five minutes, the first time Leeds had passed the halfway line.

Martin’s pass sent Richie Myler – playing at full-back – into a gap and Handley was on his shoulder, in the middle of the pitch, to cross for his 17th try of the season.

After 13 minutes Aidan Sezer made a break as referee Marcus Griffiths signalled a set restart, but the scrum-half lost the ball in a tackle and Warrington scored on the counter through Riley Dean.

The half-back’s kick close to the line rebounded straight back to him off a defender and he gathered to nip over from a try which Peter Mata’utia converted to level the scores.

Rhinos had to reshuffle five minutes later when winger Liam Tindall went off.

Cameron Smith, a week after suffering a dislocated thumb, replaced him from the bench with Zak Hardaker moving to the right-wing, Rhyse Martin into the right-centre and Bentley - who had a strong game on his return from injury - from 13 to second-row.

That paid off almost immediately when Rhinos turned down the two from a penalty in front of the posts and Smith and Blake Austin got the ball to Bentley who slipped out a terrific pass for Martin to cross.

That was lovely stuff and Leeds were in again soon afterwards through a remarkable finish from Morgan Gannon who ran a nice line and did very well to take Dean over the line with him and get the ball down.

Gannon retained his starting spot after scoring twice in last week’s win at Hull KR and, at only 18, is emerging as one of the brightest prospects in the European game.

Other than goal kicking – and he’s probably impress at that if he tried, there doesn’t seem to be a lot he can’t do.

Warrington did most of the attacking for the rest of the half, without really troubling the defence and then Leeds hit them with a sucker punch on the final play, which was to prove decisive at the end.

Austin’s towering kick was dropped by Matt Dufty, Bentley reacted well to pick up and feed Zane Tetevano and he powered over.

Tetevano played all of the first half and the first 10 of the second before being given a break.

He’s had enough time on the sideline over his Rhinos career, but there have been positive signs in the two games since his latest ban.

The conversion, after the hooter, made it 24-6 and that was a long way back for Warrington

The visitors had to wait until the 46th minute for their first penalty and made it count through Jake Wardle, who dummied over from Dean’s pass. Mata’utia added the extras from wide out

Rhinos defended back-to-back set restarts and then Martin sent Austin clear from a quick tap restart, but referee Griffiths said the pass was forward.

On 71 minutes, Hardaker held up Wardle over the line, but Ben Currie touched down from George Williams’ kick on the next play and the goal cut the gap to just six points, but Leeds held on.

The penalty count - two-nil in the first half - ended seven-five in Leeds’ favour and Rhinos had four set restarts to Warrington’s two.

Leeds Rhinos: Myler, Tindall, Hardaker, Sutcliffe, Handley, Austin, Sezer, Oledzki, O’Connor, Tetevano, Martin, Gannon, Bentley. Subs Smith, Dwyer, Prior, Walters.

Warrington Wolves: Dufty, Minikin, Mata’utia, Wardle, Ashton, Williams, Dean, Mulhern, Walker, Bullock, Currie, Harrison, Holmes. Subs D Clark, J Clark, Holroyd, Thomas.

Referee: Marcus Griffiths (Widnes).

Attendance: 13,152.