Match Report – Leeds 24 – Warrington 22

Sam Walters (17), David Fusitu’a (49), Luke Hooley (62) and James Bentley (69) scored tries as Leeds Rhinos claimed a huge Super League win over Warrington Wolves on Sunday; Comeback victory reignited Rhinos Super League play-off momentum

Leeds reignited their Super League play-off ambitions after fighting from behind to overcome a free-falling Warrington in a dramatic finish at Headingley.

James Bentley’s late try nearly sealed a 24-22 win for the Rhinos, who had been unconvincing for long stretches and were lucky to trail by just four points at halftime.

But the hosts were forced to hold on after Stefan Ratchford’s late try cut the deficit before Matt Dufty found himself within a finger of reaching Ratchford’s kick at the buzzer.

While the win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Rhinos, Warrington could consider himself a little unlucky to see his own losing streak stretch to seven league games, leaving his own playoff hopes hanging in the balance.

James Bentley was among the try scorers as Leeds scored a huge Super League win over Warrington

For long stretches, it seemed that Wire, still operating under interim head coach Gary Chambers, was ready to breathe new life into his campaign as they ripped open the flat-footed Rhinos at will.

Dufty ran into his own kick to score within two minutes, then Josh Thewlis was only denied a second for the visitors when his foot deflected into touch after a fine move from Cameron Smith.

Sam Walters lost the ball in Leeds’ first start, but they capitalized on a series of penalties to take the lead as the Rhinos’ standout player Smith dispatched Walters quickly before Martin added the extras.

But within two minutes, Leeds proved their own worst enemy once again as Dufty picked up a high ball and left Bentley for dead, driving 60 meters through the Rhinos line before dismissing Matty Ashton to grab Warrington’s second.

Rhyse Martin kicked four conversions in Leeds’ win

The visitors should have extended their lead after opening the Leeds line again only for Danny Walker to miss out on a golden opportunity with the test line at his mercy.

Leeds’ mistakes continued on either side of half-time, first Harry Newman passing a potential scoring opportunity past Ash Handley into touch, then Handley’s shocking mistake on the ball gave Ratchford the chance to kick Warrington later on in 12-6.

Leeds equalized when David Fusitu’a grounded a clever kick from Aidan Sezer and Martin’s conversion leveled Leeds, but five minutes later Warrington were back in front when Ratchford found it too easy to dummy and score the Wire’s third attempt.

But the veteran’s conversion deflected off the face of the posts and Leeds seized on their unlikely opportunity, Sezer unloaded for full-back Luke Hooley to run under the posts.

Leeds looked to have sealed victory when Smith’s drive up the middle ended in a Bentley cross in the corner, but Matty Nicholson’s late effort made for a nervous last few minutes and Dufty came agonizingly close to putting the final spin on a reverse competition.