Warrington Wolves 33

Leeds Rhinos 16

STRUCTURAL engineers had better check The Halliwell Jones Stadium is fit for use in readiness for a potential play-off tie there next weekend.

The 19-month-old ground was shaking at its core as a passion-fuelled capacity crowd danced and roared the roof off the stands when Andrew Johns and his new Warrington teammates defeated the world club champions on a never-to-be-forgotten night.

All week there had been an unrivalled frenzy of excitement for Johns' debut and the Australian superstar scrum half did not disappointment in a remarkable man-of-the-match display that lived up to all of the pre-match hype.

Just four days after arriving in the country the 31-year-old played a huge part in four of Wolves' five tries, converting four of them as well as adding two penalty goals and a drop goal.

The night belonged to him and Nathan Wood, who switched to hooker to accommodate the arrival of Johns and fittingly scored the final try in his last league game on what has become cherished home soil.

After the final whistle Wood, who retires at the end of the season but makes his 100th Super League appearance for Wolves at Hull tomorrow, Friday, almost choked on his tears as he told fans down a pitchside microphone: "Warrington will have a spot in my heart for the rest of my life."

Johns' debut brought the best out of his teammates, who stunningly adapted their game to fit in with his, and the reward for head coach Paul Cullen was his first win against Leeds and more importantly continued hope of a third-place finish.

The pulsating match was described by prop Chris Leikvoll as being at 'Grand Final pace' and Wolves' top-drawer performance, even without the injured Ben Westwood, Mark Hilton and Mike Wainwright, should set the standard for the last league game and then the play-offs.

Wolves' defence was particularly impressive as players clamped arms in the tackle which prevented Leeds' renowned off-load game.

Leeds' comeback from 18-6 to 18-16 raised some concerns of turning the night into a damp squib but there was no need to fear with Johns' vast experience and quality on board, together with the team's improved control of the ball compared to the previous week's poor showing against Salford.

It was Johns who spotted the opportunity to dance round bulky Leeds and Great Britain prop Danny Ward and set up Logan Swann for the killer 49th-minute try.

Match facts

Engage Super League X

Round 27, September 10, 2005

Warrington Wolves 33

Leeds Rhinos 16

Wolves: Brent Grose; Henry Fa'afili, Martin Gleeson, Toa Kohe-Love, Chris Bridge; Lee Briers, Andrew Johns; Chris Leikvoll, Nathan Wood, Paul Wood, Logan Swann, Paul Noone, Jon Clarke. Subs used: Andy Bracek, Mark Gleeson, Danny Lima. Not used: Chris Riley.

Rhinos: Richie Mathers; Mark Caldwerwood, Chev Walker, Lee Smith, Marcus Bai; Kevin Sinfield, Rob Burrow; Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Andrew Dunemann, Danny Ward, Ali Lauitiiti, Willie Poching, Gareth Ellis. Subs used: Danny McGuire, Matt Diskin, Nicky Scruton, Barrie McDermott.

Referee: Ashley Klein

Scoring: Burrow drops Johns' towering kick-off and from the scrum Johns, Briers and Gleeson combine to put Fa'afili over, 67secs, Johns converts, 6-0; Mathers dummies and steps his way over, 9mins, Sinfield adds goal, 6-6; Johns kicks 12m penalty after McDermott's high tackle on Mark Gleeson, 21mins, 8-6; Briers makes space for Martin Gleeson to step out of Smith's tackle and cross for the fifth successive game, 27mins, Johns goals, 14-6; Grose pretends to kick and pass before handing off Lauitiiti and darting over, 35mins, 18-6; Clarke gives away a penalty and Noone's miss-tackle on McGuire allows Diskin to score, 40+mins, Sinfield goals, 18-12; Lauitiiti's ability to keep the ball alive sets up a try for Bai, 45mins, 18-16; Johns steps past Ward and hands over to Swann to finish off, 49mins, Johns converts, 24-16; Johns lands a penalty given for offside, 68mins, 26-16; Johns drops a goal from 35m, 73mins, 27-16; Nathan Wood goes over from dummy half, 81mins, Johns goals, 33-16.

Pens: Wolves 9 Rhinos 5

Scrums: Wolves 6 Rhinos 6

Attendance: 13,024

Warrington Guardian top men: Andrew Johns 3pts, Paul Wood 2pts, Chris Leikvoll 1pt.

Interesting note: Wolves have scored more points in total in this year's league matches than in any previous Super League season.