Challenge Cup wait goes on as Rhinos are battered by Wolves

A team that has won three successive Super League Grand Finals amid the pressure of Old Trafford was found wanting on their first trip to the new Wembley as impressive Warrington Wolves eventually eased to a 30-6 triumph.

It was anticipated as being one of the closest finals in decades but eventually the frustrated West Yorkshire club was grateful of Lee Smith's score late on simply to avoid the embarrassment of being the first team to be kept scoreless in 21 years.

However, coach McClennan maintained it was the excellence of their opponent's defence – which regularly denied Leeds even after they had got over the line – and not any notion his players froze that contributed to their downfall.

"Not at all, I don't think there was any freezing," he said, as a Lee Briers inspired Warrington retained the trophy they lifted last year and ensured Leeds's 11-year wait continues.

"You could see that in the way we were trying to get over their goal line. Possibly four times we got across but they kept us out with some wonderful defence.

"When they got down our end and got over they tended to score but at the other, even with Lee Smith's try, they were in there doing their utmost to hold him up.

"You have got to acknowledge what a great performance it was from Warrington but we put a tremendous effort in too."

However, a number of Leeds's big-name players did struggle to impose themselves most notably – and surprisingly – Danny Buderus, the former Australia captain who endured a horrendous mistake-ridden opening 20 minutes.

Rhinos, who trailed 14-0 at half-time, have now lost all four finals they have featured in since their last win in 1999 and McClennan, in charge of his first, admitted overcoming the pain of the convincing defeat will be hard.

"We're floored," he said. "You just couldn't get more disappointed in sporting terms than this. But you have to be tough, look at things, be constructive and work your way back out.

"We've been down before and I'm sure it will happen again but I'm sure we'll have our joys in the game as well."

Attention switches now to defending their Super League title with Leeds heading to Hull FC for a crucial clash on Saturday, the victors confirming fourth spot.

They may have to do so without second-row Jamie Jones-Buchanan who limped off with a leg problem.

Rhinos obviously missed the presence of another injured forward – Jamie Peacock – at Wembley as Warrington's imposing forwards got the upper hand to allow Australian winger Chris Hicks to cross for a hat-trick.

McClennan said: "You could see them winning the collision area. They looked stronger and stronger as the game went on and we just had to tackle too much in the end.

"We rallied for a bit in the second half but they held us up again and Warrington just really got up."

He revealed he made the surprise decision of leaving out Kiwi second-row Ali Lauitiiti in preparation for a Warrington onslaught, knowing the returning Carl Ablett would cope better defensively in the heat as their slick opponents moved the ball around.

However, in retrospect, Lauitiiti's attacking qualities may have been just what Leeds needed to break their iron-like rivals who, given the high standard of their performance, will now be much-fancied to go on and take their first Super League title at Old Trafford in five weeks.

Warrington coach Tony Smith, who lost his only cup final with Leeds in 2005, was elated by the ruthless display.

"It was terrific," he said, after picking the perfect time to seal his first win in five attempts against his former club.

"14-0 at half-time was a nice position to be in but we still didn't feel we'd hit our straps and knew we could kick on further.

"We knew we'd have to keep it going and get better as a team like Leeds can turn it around.

"They'd done it to us twice before this year but there was a lot of attitude there today from our boys; they weren't going to be denied."

Briers took the Lance Todd Trophy for man-of-the-match but Smith also had high praise for Richard Mathers, the former Leeds full-back who held up Brett Delaney twice and Ryan Bailey with a fantastic rearguard display.

Mathers heads to Castleford next season after Smith signed Huddersfield captain Brett Hodgson but he said: "That was the best game Rich's played for Warrington.

"He was enormous. What he did today was not only try-saving but game-saving."

Smith, who guided Leeds to two Super League titles, believes his high-flying Warrington team are ready to start building a dynasty of their own.

"I think we're going to get better over the next few years because we've started to understand what it takes to win games, be consistent and make sacrifices," he said, after transforming the under-performing Wolves since taking over last March.