Leeds vs Warrington match report: Rhinos shocked on first night as Danny McGuire limps out of action

Two of the very few highlights of last season for Warrington were wins over Leeds. They started 2016 in similar style with a victory that owed a good deal to a half-back, Chris Sandow, who made little impact last year.

Sandow scored one try and made another in a complete reversal of fortunes, although he was no doubt helped by the presence of the new signing Kurt Gidley alongside him.

The biggest factor, however, was the overall quality of Warrington’s defence. They will not be finishing a disappointing sixth again if they maintain the standards they showed against the champions last night.

This always looked like a good game with which to launch the 21st season of Super League; Leeds, who won everything last season with their free-flowing, improvisational rugby, against Warrington, who looked on paper as though they should have been capable of leading the pack but underperformed badly.

Both sides had a partially unfamiliar look about them. Leeds, who brought in only one new player last year, had the hugely experienced trio of Kevin Sinfield, Jamie Peacock and Kylie Leuluai to replace this time. They gave debuts to Brett Ferres and Keith Galloway, while the Wolves had notable new faces in Tom Lineham, Joe Westerman and Gidley.

Not for the first time, Leeds’ historic ground is earmarked for modernisation; for now, it remains the most atmospheric and traditional of rugby league’s stadiums. There was little chance to reflect on that, however, when Super League XXI kicked off.

Both sides began looking enterprising but rusty. A solid spell of Leeds pressure failed to make any inroads against the Wolves’ defence, although Sinfield’s successor, Liam Sutcliffe, might have scored if he had hung on to the ball near the try-line.

On 31 minutes, this became the longest wait for a try in any Super League season-opener, which was a tribute to both defences, but especially Warrington’s. Then, four minutes later and very much against the run of play, Sandow received a high tackle from Brad Singleton. He took charge from the tap penalty and found a gap in the way he failed to do last season to claim his first try for Warrington, with Gidley adding the goal for an unlikely half-time lead.

Leeds had an extra problem or two, with their new captain, Danny McGuire, going off with a knee injury and obviously not planning on making a return, and Sutcliffe hobbling. For a season that had barely started, it was a testing situation.

The first hint that they might come through it was six minutes into the second half, when Singleton ran on to Rob Burrow’s pass and had the power to ground the ball, despite a three-man tackle. Zak Hardaker’s conversion levelled the scores.

That should have revived them, but they continued to struggle for last year’s slickness. But Joel Moon pulled out of Rhys Evans’ tackle and Jordan Lilley formed the link for Ryan Hall to cross the line.

A fine run by Ben Currie threatened to bring the Wolves back into it, before Sandow’s brilliant crossfield kick put Kevin Penny over and Gidley’s goal-kick took them ahead. Currie’s tackle on Burrow preserved that slender lead and Hardaker, the man charged with replacing Sinfield as goal-kicker, missed a late chance to equalise from a 40-metre penalty.

Leeds Hardaker; Briscoe, Watkins, Moon, Hall; Sutcliffe, McGuire; Galloway, Burrow, Cuthbertson, Ferres, Ablett, Delaney.Replacements used Singleton, Garbutt, Keinhorst, Lilley.

Warrington Russell; Lineham, R Evans, Currie, Penny; Gidley, Sandow; Hill, Clark, Sims, Hughes, Westwood, Westerman. Replacements used Dwyer, G King, Jullien, Cox.

Referee J Child (RFL).