Leeds Rhinos 26 Warrington Wolves 16: Show of strength sees Leeds send rivals warning

In defeating in-form Warrington Wolves, there remained plenty of those worrying signs that have plagued the champions' campaign so far, not least in a horrendous first quarter.

But, ignoring the loss of England captain Jamie Peacock to a seventh-minute leg injury, a spirited defensive effort and some moments of inspiration from Danny McGuire, saw the West Yorkshire club deliver a success which will do wonders for their belief while putting a significant dent in a side tipped to eclipse them soon.

Warrington, led by former Rhinos coach Tony Smith, had only been defeated once in the previous eight games and just twice all year in Super League.

They could have gone top last night but had no answer to their hosts' sheer cussedness and determination.

Granted, Leeds did not manage to escape their own half for the opening quarter hour, mainly because of their own inadequacies rather than any stellar work from Warrington.

Kevin Sinfield twice failed to relieve pressure with wayward kicks, first being harried into a sliced effort and then being charged down by Adrian Morley, the Warrington captain who led his side with his usual ferocity and energy.

From a 20-metre re-start, Peacock fumbled trying to play the ball before Kylie Leuluai added to the anxiety with an idiotic forward pass with Leeds players seemingly trying their hardest to find new ways of handing over possession.

Fortunately, their defence was far more reliable, Danny Buderus and Lee Smith bundling Chris Riley into touch when the impish Lee Briers looked to have crafted a Wolves chance out wide and then Sinfield and Brent Webb proving immovable as Ryan Atkins attempted to force his way over.

There were ironic cheers as Sinfield finally managed to get some sort of kick away downfield, the home support unconcerned it went straight down the throat of Riley – at least they were out of their own half.

However, Warrington then scored. After Ryan Bailey laid on in the tackle too long, Simon Grix caught the home side off-guard, sliding through a kick early in the tackle count for Australian centre Matt King to rush through, shoulder away Sinfield and dive on the loose ball in the 15th minute.

Chris Bridge converted but McGuire exposed Briers's defensive weaknesses out wide – a tactic Leeds would utilise all night – his pass allowing Carl Ablett to splinter the Warrington scrum-half and a poorly-positioned Chris Bridge.

Sinfield improved before a five-man tackle denied Riley again. There were still signs of unease in the Leeds camp though, Ryan Bailey – one of four players returning to bolster the side that vanquished Blackpool last week – berating his absent team-mates after they failed to offer any support when the prop marauded forward.

They were soon fired into action when Webb's arrowed cut-out pass left Briers and Chris Hicks isolated once more, Ryan Hall delivering a typically powerful finish to make it 16 tries in 16 games this season for the England winger.

Sinfield's kick made it 12-6 before more inspired defence – McGuire produced an outstanding tackle on Richard Mathers when his former Leeds team-mate seemed certain to score – ensured the advantage was held until the break.

Leeds targeted Briers once more to secure the vital first try of the second period, the robust Keith Senior leaving both the Wolves veteran and Bridge flapping before Webb rounded off.

The 44th-minute effort brought huge confidence to the home side as they began to find greater cohesion and larger holes in Warrington's lauded defence, deemed the finest in the competition.

Hall broke clear but wasted the opportunity when he ignored the supporting Bailey and lost possession in Mathers's tackle.

However, Sinfield's 58th- minute penalty made sure of victory after Hicks was yellow- carded for a blatant professional foul on Hall following Lee Smith's spectacular 70-metre run and then McGuire backed up Ablett's excellent burst to race in for another try just after the hour mark.

The Leeds stand-off raced back in the other direction to brilliantly rip possession off Grix just as the Warrington man was about to benefit from Mickey Higham's searing break.

More dedicated Leeds defence looked likely to hold the visitors out further until Grix finally did scamper over in the 71st minute, Bridge converting.

Ben Harrison crossed again soon after to cause some nervous final moments but Leeds emerged with their first victory over a top four side this year.

Leeds Rhinos: Webb; Smith, Delaney, Senior, Hall; Sinfield, McGuire; Leuluai, Buderus, Peacock, Jones-Buchanan, Kirke, Clarkson. Substitutes: Diskin, Eastwood, Bailey, Ablett.

Warrington Wolves: Mathers; Hicks, Bridge, King, Riley; Grix, Briers; Morley, Higham, Harrison, L Anderson, Westwood, Atkins. Substitutes: V Anderson, Solomona, Wood, Cooper.

Referee: B Thaler (Wakefield).