Warrington Wolves 42 Leeds Rhinos 10, match verdict

THIS is what we wanted to see from Warrington Wolves.

Optimism with strong undertones of caution was the mood of the day among the majority of the 11,000-strong crowd that returned to The Halliwell Jones Stadium ready to board the rollercoaster ride that is following their team for another year.

By half time, that mood was turned into jubilation, excitement and bedazzlement.

At the very least, the fans needed to see something from their side they could get behind after seeing precious little of that during a torrid 2022.

There was a sense of plenty being ready to pounce if things did not start well, but even the biggest critics of this team and its head coach could find precious little fault with what they saw.

The celebrations that followed Wire's seventh and final try scored by Greg Minikin (Image: Mike Boden)

Indeed, there were rumblings from some that the rip-roaring, 30-point first-half display was up there among the great halves of rugby Warrington had produced at their home ground.

There were flashes of brilliance with the ball from the undoubted creative talent Wire possess but for the most part, this was an exhibition of the very basics of rugby league.

Run the ball in hard and straight, get off your line in defence and tackle with force, build pressure on the opposition and if you are going to concede possession, do so on your terms.

Those four things would be on Page One of any rugby league coaching manual – do all of them and you will be rewarded with points.

Warrington did and sure enough, a side that reached last season’s Grand Final found themselves blown away.

Josh Thewlis scores a fine try (Image: PA)

Yes, Leeds were well below-par but in truth, they were pounded into submission by a Wire side that were right at it from the very first minute.

Injuries and suspension had already started to eat away at Daryl Powell’s new-found depth up front before a ball had been kicked in anger but led by the colossal Paul Vaughan, their remoulded middle unit tore through their counterparts.

With an able support cast in Tom Mikaele, James Harrison, Joe Bullock and Sam Kasiano, Vaughan quite literally led from the front and if this kind of showing is a sign of what is to come, he is going to be quite the signing.

Paul Vaughan in action during his impressive Super League debut (Image: Mike Boden)

And to think there is still Gil Dudson, Josh McGuire and Joe Philbin to add to that unit…

The kind of platform they laid meant George Williams and Josh Drinkwater could not have wished for a better opportunity to get their partnership off to a dream start and between them, they ensured Wire completed their sets superbly almost without exception.

Pretty much since they regrouped in November, the noises coming out of the Warrington camp were that things really did feel different this time.

Those words were taken with its fair share of scepticism by many and there is still a long way to go until it can be fully proven that Wire have left the dark days far behind them.

However, this was quite a way to start that journey.

Ben Currie looks to evade Richie Myler (Image: Mike Boden)

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