Warrington Wolves ran riot with a 42-10 win over Leeds Rhinos in the opening game of the 2023 Super League season at the Halliwell Jones Stadium last night.
🏁 FT with @ResultingIT
Wire off to a flyer!! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/E4ElojR2yl
— Warrington Wolves (@WarringtonRLFC) February 16, 2023
The Wolves stormed to an early lead with Matt Dufty scoring after some smart work from Ben Currie to set him up in the opening five minutes.
From there the floodgates well and truly opened and further tries from Josh Thewlis, Daryl Clark, Danny Walker and Sam Kasiano put them 30-0 up at half-time.
The opening half of the 2023 season couldn’t have gone any better for Warrington. After a poor showing last season they will be looking to build on their result against last season’s Grand Final runners-up and mount a challenge to win Super League for first time.
Leeds came out in the second half a slightly better side and managed to get on the board with a try from debutant Derrell Olpherts.
But their defence continued to struggle and Warrington regained their advantage three minutes later through James Harrison and then Greg Minikin stretched the Wolves’ lead even further to 42-6.
Rhyse Martin's record breaking run of consecutive successful goals in Super League has come to an end on 39, his conversion attempt hits the post and rebounds away, his first miss in Super League since 9th July 2022
Wolves 42 – 10 Rhinos 74'— Leeds Rhinos (@leedsrhinos) February 16, 2023
Leeds’ only standout player – debutant Justin Sangare – was able to run through to gain another consolation try. But kicker Rhyse Martin missed his conversion for the first time since July 2022, ending his record-breaking run of 39 successful kicks.
Paul Vaughan took player of the match for the Wire, but it could’ve gone to several of their pack.
Harrison was another stand-out player as his bulldozing try in the 63rd minute helped restore their slightly dented lead.
Warrington seem to have put last season behind them following a dismal campaign which saw them finish one place above the drop.
For Leeds it was another poor start to a Super League season. They’ll be looking to avoid another slow start to a season, similar to last year, where they had to beat Castleford Tigers on the final day of the season to earn a place in the eliminators.
James Harrison appreciation tweet 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/JErml9oCHg
— Warrington Wolves (@WarringtonRLFC) February 17, 2023
Warrington will be looking ahead to their next game against the Huddersfield Giants. They’ll be hoping to catch them cold following the postponement of their opening game of the season against St Helens due to the champions’ participation in the World Club Challenge.
