Wembley heartache as Leeds Rhinos fall at final challenge

The public announcer declared Kevin Sinfield’s conversion “levels the score” at 6-6 just as an almighty thunderstorm unleashed itself on Wembley.

Leeds fans, looking for any sort of omen, must have thought the ensuing deluge would also level this match.

It had started in balmy sunshine, that traditional Challenge Cup final weather which, as such, only creates recent painful reminders of their side wilting away to another defeat in this cruel competition.

Incessant rain and dark skies, though, makes it a different matter altogether. Those inclement conditions are clearly associated with so many of the Rhinos’ Grand Final triumphs on miserable, wet October nights in Manchester. What better sign?

Such was the ferocity of the rain, it also brought swift reminders of the famous Watersplash final of 1968 when, of course, the Loiners also triumphed. Things were looking up.

Warrington players looked instantly less assured, Leeds’s seemed to grow in stature as if all the pressure built up over years of torment was now relieved.

But, eventually, the storm passed and, with it, so did another chance for this great side to emerge from their Challenge Cup malaise.

There was perhaps two moments which meant this one – a sixth since last winning in 1999 and third consecutive final defeat – slipped away.

Firstly, video referee Phil Bentham’s baffling decision to rule out a Brett Delaney effort when trailing only 12-10 in the 43rd minute.

Leeds prop Kylie Leuluai rattled Brett Hodgson with an almighty tackle which forced the ball loose. Delaney picked up to scamper a few short yards to the line.

It was eventually established the hit was legal though Hodgson was knocked clean out and required lengthy medical attention. All the more remarkable that the wily Warrington full-back dusted himself down to go on and win the coveted Lance Todd Trophy.

Somehow, though, Bentham ruled a double knock-on and, from the Leeds scrum, Warrington’s defence showed just the sort of steely resolve and organisational quality which has underpinned their development under coach Tony Smith.

However, soon after, referee Richard Silverwood inexplicably missed Lee Briers’s clear fumble – as obvious as that earlier downpour – off Kevin Sinfield’s long drop out.

Another drop-out was quickly forced and, this time, Hodgson’s quality cut-out pass put winger Chris Riley over. The Australian repeated the trick for Ryan Atkins to score, the momentum had turned and, so, when Tyrone McCarthy bundled over just before the hour, Warrington were 28-10 ahead and untouchable.

Their superior kicking game starved Leeds of any decent possession in the second period, Adrian Morley and Michael Monaghan had excellent impacts off the bench and, in Hodgson, they had a player with the just the sort of invention Rhinos were sadly lacking.

Lee Briers, using all his experience, nudged them further ahead with a drop goal before Hodgson dropped a shoulder to glide through for a deserved score of his own.

That came in between two tries for Kallum Watkins, the Leeds centre who at least helped made the scoreboard more respectable than their 30-6 defeat against Warrington two years ago.

Jamie Peacock had a towering game for the Yorkshire club producing four charging runs in the first half alone to tear into the heart of the Warrington pack.

After the break, too, when chances were limited, it was the prop’s consistent offloading that looked the most likely way of seeing his side find a way back in.

At 18, Stevie Ward became the youngest Challenge Cup finalist since Francis Cummins appeared for Leeds against Wigan in 1994 when aged just 17 years and 200 days.

Playing in place of the injured Danny McGuire he was confident in all that he did, not least launching into a big tackle on Ben Westwood in the first set of the game.

Jamie Jones-Buchanan had smashed Chris Hill with the first tackle of the match as Leeds quickly looked to ensure there would be no chance of a repeat of last year’s final when they were 16-0 behind against Wigan in the blink of an eye.

But this Warrington pack relishes a fight. Westwood, the rugged England second-row, had a running battle with Ward as if he was slighted by the youngster’s early temerity while Garreth Carvell rattled Sinfield with a challenge after the Leeds captain had kicked downfield.

It was a loose Carvell offoad near halfway that saw Hill smuggle out a pass to a breakaway Richie Myler in the seventh minute, the scrum-half weighing up his options well before chipping a kick to the corner where a stretching Joel Monaghan touched down for the opening try on seven minutes.

Hodgson slotted the touchline conversion – his first of five – and then broke clear only for Westwood to fail to gather his pass.

The first rumbles of thunder were met soon after by Leeds’s response, Ian Kirke rumbling over off Sinfield’s inside pass, shrugging off Hodgson to score his first try in 16 months.

Sinfield converted and added a penalty soon after when Warrington prop Paul Wood lost his cool on Carl Ablett, throwing a sweet punch which could have resulted in far more than the loss of two points.

However, Leeds’s defence was too static close to their line to allow Warrington a way straight back in, Myler’s injection of pace giving Warrington’s Trent Waterhouse just enough room to muscle over.

Jones-Buchanan then hobbled off with a knee injury but Sinfield brought it back to 12-10 when Briers cynically blocked Ryan Hall as he tried to challenge Joel Monaghan for a crossfield kick.

That scoreline seemed a perfect launchpad for Leeds to finally push on and deliver but yet again they fell short and it was Warrington who picked up a third win in just four seasons.