While the Rhinos were floating on cloud nine after securing their return to Wembley in last weeks semi-final win at Warrington's home ground, the Wolves had spent the week trying to forget their Challenge Cup horror exit to Hull KR at Headingley.
The Wolves though came into the game with an unblemished 2015 record against the Rhinos with two wins from two, and were desperate for the points to launch their Super 8s attack on the top four. Leeds needed the win to ensure that they finished the first round of the 8s on top of the pile, and didn't give Saints the opportunity to leap-frog them in the south of France tomorrow.
When the Rhinos failed to find touch with a penalty, the Wolves returned the ball with interest through a break from Daryl Clark, who shrugged off Danny McGuire and Adam Cuthbertson to go fifty metres before finding Kevin Penny in support to outpace Ryan Hall and score under the sticks. New Wolves signing Sandow added the extras.
Within three minutes Leeds were back on level terms when Paul Aiton made the break and found Kallum Watkins who was tackled ten short by Stefan Ratchford. A quick play the ball to Kevin Sinfield saw him scoot from acting half back and pass back to Watkins to go over without a Warrington hand on him. Sinfield kicked the extras for 6-6.
On twenty-one Adam Cuthbertson put in a trademark offload and allowed Sinfield to fly a wide miss-out pass to give Tom Briscoe a walk-in by the right corner flag. Sinfield failed to convert from the touchline but the Rhinos were now in command.
The Rhinos edged further ahead on thirty-one when Jamie Peacock passed inside to Zak Hardaker who turned Stefan Ratchford inside out to go forty metres and ground between the sticks. Sinfield kicked the extras for 16-6.
Three minutes from the break and the Rhinos scored the scrappiest of tries. A Cuthbertson offload hit Carl Ablett in the stomach and was then kicked forward by the Rhinos second-rower before Danny McGuire dribbled the ball under Rhys Evans before getting one hand on the ball to ground it. Referee Child referred the decision to the video referee as a NO TRY but was over-ruled. Sinfield added the two for 22-6 and the game was drifting away from the Wolves.
On the stroke of half-time Briscoe was illegally carried into touch by Stefan Ratchford and Sinfield kicked the penalty for a commanding lead.
The first try of the second half went Warrington's way when Sandow passed to Ratchford who went thirty metres before finding Penny to cross in the corner, outpacing Briscoe. Sandow failed to convert from the touchline.
From a scrappy Leeds try, to a competitor for try of the season, as Hardaker took a Briscoe pass on the half way line and jinked his way through heavy Warrington traffic to go fifty metres to dive over. Sinfield added the extras for 30-10.
On fifty-seven it was becoming a one-way Leeds procession after good work from Brad Singleton provided Joel Moon with the opportunity to cross. Sinfield was again accurate with the boot for 36-10.
On sixty-nine Sinfield kicked a drop goal as the Rhinos kept up the pressure on Wolves line.
On seventy-three Hardaker found another gap in the tired Wolves defence and despite having the line begging he passes inside to the supporting Rob Burrow to score the Rhinos seventh try of the game and make his skippers goal a formality.
But Leeds weren't done as Carl Ablett forced his way over on his 250th game to score on seventy-six minutes. Again it was a simple kick for Sinfield for 49-10, a total Leeds demolition of the Warrington side who they couldn't beat on the two previous meetings this season.
This was a Rhinos performance out of the top drawer against a Wolves side who look a spent force and who are now four points adrift of fourth spot with six games remaining. The Rhinos march on and go back two points clear of Wigan Warriors at the top of Super League.
Rhinos: Hardaker (2T), Briscoe(T), Watkins (T), Moon (T), Hall, McGuire (T), Sinfield (7G, DG), Garbutt, Aiton, Peacock, Ablett (T), Keinhorst, Cuthbertson. Subs: Singleton, Delaney, Burrow (T), Leuluai.
Wolves: Ratchford, Penny (2T), Evans, King T, Monaghan, Sandow (G), Myler, England, Clark, Sims, Philbin, Currie, Hill. Subs: Dwyer, Asostasi, Wilde, King G.
Referee: James Child
Attendance: 13,118
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