Warrington Wolves v Leeds Rhinos verdict as Wire edge Super League’s 5,000th game amidst sin bin drama

Warrington Wolves hosted Leeds Rhinos in the 5,000th game of Super League and here’s out verdict on how the game unfolded.

Rhinos looked to have won it when they went 14-6 ahead after 51 minutes, but Warrington showed great spirit to pull the game from the fire.

Their revival began with a try by Stefan Ratchford from George Williams’ pass with 18 minutes left; then – five minutes from time – Leeds forward Keenan Palasia was sin-binned for head contact on Lachlan Fitzgibbon before Matt Dufty and Ratchford combined to create the decisive try for Jake Thewlis in the set from the penalty.

The deadlock was broken after 12 minutes. Warrington full-back Dufty’s long pass in his own half found Aaron Lindop and the winger chipped ahead and regathered to score a try out of nothing, which Marc Sneyd improved for the first of his two goals.

Rhinos winger Riley Lumb had been caught out trying to intercept Dufty’s pass,  but quickly made amends with a break which led to Leeds drawing level just six minutes later. He was tackled, but on the next play, the last, Brodie Croft shifted the ball right and Jake Connor’s pass was finished powerfully by James McDonnell. Connor added the extras.

It was Connor with the assist again on 27 minutes, this time a superb pass to send Lumb over at the corner, though too far out for the scrum-half to tag on the two. Leeds increased gtheirf lead on 51 minutes. Ryan Hall cleverly ran at offside defenders from a kick, but Tom Holroyd couldn’t quite force his way over. However, the chance was eventually taken when Connor and Croft combined to find Lachie Miller whose pass was finished superbly by Hall.

That was also unconverted and goal kicking proved the difference in the end as Warrington snatched the game, which ended on a controversial note when referee Tom Grant let the clock run down from a scrum in the hosts’ half, which would have given Rhinos one last opportunity.

Warrington Wolves: Dufty, Jake Thewlis, Ratchford, Currie, Lindop, Williams, Sneyd, Musgrove, Walker, Vaughan, A Holroyd, Fitzgibbon, Harrison. Subs Philbin, Yates, Wood, Powell.

Leeds Rhinos: Miller, Hall, Newman, Handley, Lumb, Croft, Connor, Oledzki, O’Connor, Jenkins, Bentley, McDonnell, Palasia. Subs Lisone, Gannon, Sinfield, Holroyd.

Referee: Tom Grant (Leeds).

Ready for #SuperLeague 5000th game 😤

Watch the clash in Warrington on @SkySports Action 👀 pic.twitter.com/b9NCIZfeyw

— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) March 28, 2025