Leeds left high and dry after impressive showing

While there were few leaks in their resolute defence during the commanding 26-16 defeat of high-flying Warrington Wolves, the plumbing in the Headingley Carnegie dressing rooms did go to pieces on Friday night.

"I've had to have a wash in the sink," admitted stand-off Danny McGuire, following his influential display.

"It's hard times with the recession. It's like being back at (junior club) East Leeds in the old days.

"None of the boys have minded. I suppose if we'd have lost and there was no showers it might have been different but after that win no-one's bothered."

Understandably so. Champions Leeds began the second half of their previously under-whelming Super League season with a performance rich in character, desire and no little skill.

Their shoots of recovery had withered slightly after a woeful loss at St Helens but a victory over another of the emerging contenders pointed towards a potentially far happier conclusion to a testing 2010.

"It was probably the biggest game of the season to see where we are as a team," said McGuire, who reached double figures for the campaign with a second-half try which killed off Warrington.

"We were playing a side sitting second in the competition and we'd not beaten anybody above us. It was a chance to show we are still a force."

Leeds moved back into the top six – albeit briefly – for the first time since February but the victory was all the more impressive given their defensive display against a free-flowing side that had plundered more than 60 points in each of its previous two games.

"We'd been disappointed with our defending and Warrington are one of best attacking sides so to restrict them like we did was outstanding," added McGuire.

"We put in a massive effort and it was a step in the right direction. Everybody put their body on the line. It's been in the locker – we've just not been producing it enough this year."

They can claw back more ground when they face red-hot Bradford Bulls at Odsal on Sunday but Leeds are sweating on Jamie Peacock. The England captain may have suffered serious knee ligament damage after a try-saving tackle on Warrington's Adrian Morley.