WARRINGTON Wolves fought back late on to emerge victorious in an intense battle against Leigh Leopards.
Matty Nicholson proved to be The Wire's hero as his late score completed a recovery from eight points behind inside the final quarter to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
The second rower finished off a stunning Wire try after George Williams and Matt Dufty had combined to release Josh Thewlis, with the winger then cutting in from the right touchline and through the Leigh defence before finding Nicholson in support to score.
His fellow back-rower Lachlan Fitzgibbon was at the heart of Wire's other two tries - having been put through a hole by Williams, his dumped offload close to the line allowed Dufty to crash over after he had earlier touched Leon Hayes' kick down for his first Warrington try.
Combined, those efforts allowed Sam Burgess' men to edge out a Leigh side who had been in command thanks to three tries of their own.
Ricky Leutele's crash-over from Josh Charnley's pass back inside put them 14-6 up early in the second half, with the former Wire winger having opened the scoring himself by finishing off a slick left-edge move after just three minutes.
In between those, Ben McNamara touched down from Zak Hardaker's clever inside kick to ensure Adrian Lam's side had gone into the break ahead.
Warrington 16 Leigh 14 - post-match reaction
> THE FINAL WORD: Ability to find something from somewhere the biggest positive
> STAT ATTACK: Nicholson's incredible defensive numbers to go with winning try
> THE MORNING AFTER: Wire strike at the perfect time again
> The quality Sam Burgess feels got Warrington Wolves over the line for victory
> Connor Wrench injury update as Wire centre is forced off in first half
> WIRE SOCIAL: 'We don't win that game last year'
> Re-live the action from The Halliwell Jones Stadium as it happened here
Match facts:
Super League, Round Eight
Saturday, April 20, 2024
Warrington Wolves...16 Leigh Leopards...14
Wolves: Matt Dufty; Josh Thewlis, Connor Wrench, Toby King, Matty Ashton; George Williams, Leon Hayes; James Harrison, Danny Walker, Joe Philbin, Matty Nicholson, Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Jordy Crowther. Subs: Paul Vaughan, Joe Bullock, Sam Powell, Stefan Ratchford. 18th man: Adam Holroyd
Leopards: Matt Moylan; Umyla Hanley, Zak Hardaker, Ricky Leutele, Josh Charnley; Ben McNamara, Lachlan Lam; Tom Amone, Matt Davis, Robbie Mulhern, Kai O'Donnell, Frankie Halton, Owen Trout. Subs: Dan Norman, Jack Hughes, Oliver Holmes, Brad Dwyer. 18th man: Ed Chamberlain
Scoring: Charnley try, 3mins, 0-4; Fitzgibbon try, 21mins, Thewlis goal, 6-4; McNamara try, 34mins, Moylan goal, 6-10; Leutele try, 49mins, 6-14; Dufty try, 64mins, Thewlis goal, 12-14; Nicholson try, 71mins, 16-14
Penalties: Wolves 5 Leopards 3
Referee: Liam Moore
Attendance: 10,443
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