Wire 30 Leeds 18 – game story and post-match

It’s two home wins in a week – and three in a row in total – for Warrington Wolves.

A blistering start and end to the first half proved enough to see off Leeds Rhinos and ensure they moved, at least for 24 hours, into second place in Super League.

The Wire were 12-0 up inside five minutes thanks to tries from Matty Ashton and Matt Dufty, who added a second near the break before Rodrick Tai sent them 24-4 up at the break.

There was a brief wobble after the break as Leeds, whose only first-half try came from David Fusitu’a, threatened a reply when Lachie Miller and Ned McCormack got either side of George Williams for a tackle high.

However, Tom Whitehead calmed his nerves with his first try in Super League and it looked like the Wire would then cruise to victory.

That changed late on after Ashton was shown a yellow card for a professional foul, Paul Momirovski crossed soon after to put the nerves back on track.

However, the last few minutes were seen without any further alarms.

More reaction to follow

> All Sam Burgess had to say about Wire’s win over Leeds

> Confirmed injury blow for forward Wire after Round 17 win

> SOCIAL WIRE: How the fans reacted to the win over Leeds

> Relive the action at Halliwell Jones Stadium as it happened

Match facts:

Super League, round 17

Thursday, July 11, 2024

Warrington Wolves…30 Leeds Rhinos…18

Wolves: Matt Dufty; Arron Lindop, Rodrick Tai, Stefan Ratchford, Matty Ashton; George Williams, Josh Drinkwater; James Harrison, Danny Walker, Paul Vaughan, Matty Nicholson, Adam Holroyd, Ben Currie. Subs: Zane Musgrove, Sam Powell, Jordy Crowther, Tom Whitehead. 18th man: Cai Taylor-Wray

Rhinos: Lachlan Miller; David Fusitu’a, Paul Momirovski, Ned McCormack, Ash Handley; Brodie Croft, Jack Sinfield; Mikolaj Oledzki, Jarrod O’Connor, Sam Eseh, James McDonnell, Rhyse Martin, Cameron Smith. Subs: Andy Ackers, Sam Lisone, Mickael Goudemand, Alfie Edgell. 18th man: Tom Nicholson-Watton

The score: Ashton try, 3min, Ratchford goal, 6-0; Dufty try, 5min, Ratchford goal, 12-0; Fusitu’a try, 19min, 12-4; Dufty try, 37 mins, Ratchford goal, 18-4; Tai try, 40 min, Ratchford goal, 24-4; Miller try, 45 min, Martin goal, 24-10; try McCormack, 52 mins, 24-14; Whitehead try, 61 mins, Ratchford goal, 30-14; Momirovski trial, 76 min, 30-18

Penalties: Wolves 7 Rhinos 6

The sin bin: Williams (50 minutes, high tackle), Ashton (75 minutes, professional foul)

Referee: Jack Smith

Present: