WARRINGTON Wolves got their 2023 Super League season off to a stunning start on Thursday evening.
A superb display from Daryl Powell's men saw last season's Grand Finalists Leeds Rhinos blown away in a red-hot atmosphere at The Halliwell Jones Stadium.
The damage was done in a dominant first half in which The Wire racked up a 30-0 half-time lead.
Matt Dufty opened the scoring early on with tries following from Daryl Clark, Josh Thewlis, Danny Walker and debutant Sam Kasiano.
Leeds did at least avoid a nilling as Derrell Olpherts and Justin Sangare crossed after the break, but Wire kept their foot to the floor and added further tries from James Harrison and Greg Minikin to seal their highest-scoring win under Powell's leadership
More reaction to follow
> Our five Wire stand-outs from an incredible opening night
> The staggering numbers behind Paul Vaughan's 'phenomenal' Wire debut
> Everything Daryl Powell said in his post-match press conference
> Powell updates on Nicholson, Mata'utia and Harrison injury concerns
> Five key talking points from Wire's impressive Round One display
> WIRE SOCIAL: How fans are reacting to Wolves' blistering start
> Re-live the action as it happened here
Match facts:
Super League, Round One
Thursday, February 16, 2023
Warrington Wolves...42 Leeds Rhinos...10
Wolves: Matt Dufty; Josh Thewlis, Peter Mata'utia, Stefan Ratchford, Matty Ashton; George Williams, Josh Drinkwater; Tom Mikaele, Daryl Clark, Paul Vaughan, Matty Nicholson, Ben Currie, James Harrison. Subs: Sam Kasiano, Danny Walker, Joe Bullock, Greg Minikin
Rhinos: Richie Myler; Luis Roberts, David Fusitu'a, Ash Handley, Derrell Olpherts; Blake Austin, Aidan Sezer; Tom Holroyd, Kruise Leeming, Sam Lisone, Morgan Gannon, Rhyse Martin, Zane Tetevano. Subs: Jarrod O'Connor, James Donaldson, Justin Sangare, Cameron Smith
Scoring: Dufty try, 4mins, Ratchford goal, 6-0; Ratchford penalty, 8mins, 8-0; Clark try, 18mins, Ratchford goal, 14-0; Thewlis try, 24mins, 18-0; Walker try, 31mins, Ratchford goal, 24-0; Kasiano try, 39mins, Ratchford goal, 30-0; Olpherts try, 59mins, Martin goal, 30-6; Harrison try, 63mins, Ratchford goal, 36-6; Minikin try, 68mins, Ratchford goal, 42-6; Sangare try, 72mins, 42-10
Penalties: Wolves 5 Rhinos 4
Referee: Liam Moore
Attendance: 11,082
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel