Wolves left stunned as Rhinos produce shock win

No side has ever done so from outside Super League’s top three but the courageous Yorkshiremen – written off for much of a troubled season in which they finished fifth – stunned minor champions Warrington Wolves with this breathtaking win rated their “finest hour” by chief executive Gary Hetherington.

Rated massive underdogs, they ignored the hype surrounding their revered opponents to march to a fourth Grand Final in five seasons.

Next Saturday they will face the winners of tonight’s St Helens and Wigan Warriors qualifying semi-final and, having now won five games and earned this huge scalp, they will fancy their chances against either.

When Sinfield’s drop goal attempt was charged down in the penultimate minute it seemed the gripping game looked like it would enter extra-time with the scores locked at 24-24.

However, referee Steve Ganson controversially ruled the hosts’ chasers had been offside and, as play carried on, he remained rooted in the spot with his arm extended.

The composed Sinfield, typifying someone who has led his side to four Super League titles, held his nerve to slot the kick and send Leeds supporters delirious although it was noted the players held their celebrations at the end; it seems they are intent on finishing the job next week.

Video referee Ian Smith had ruled out ‘tries’ for both Warrington’s Matt King and Leeds’s Ryan Hall in the latter stages, the latter particularly dubious, but outstanding Leeds, inspired by the brilliant Danny Buderus, who has confirmed he will return to Newcastle Knights next season, and Jamie Peacock, were rewarded for their unstinting effort.

Another two of their old guard who have featured throughout those previous Old Trafford glories – Danny McGuire and Rob Burrow – had combined to initiate a fightback after they had trailed just before the hour mark.

First, Burrow’s dazzling footwork saw him dart down the middle from deep inside his own half and find his trusted half-back partner McGuire in support.

McGuire sped on and, although caught by Ryan Atkins and Joel Monaghan, brilliantly hung up a pass for Hall to score his second.

Straight after, Brent Webb took Burrow’s pass and cut inside Chris Bridge to sprint clear again, this time Burrow accelerating to finish a spectacular effort. Sinfield putting his side 24-18 up.

Warrington typically responded when Chris Riley got his second off Lee Briers’s impish run, Bridge restoring parity before the dramatic finish during which Sinfield also saw a huge penalty attempt fall just short.

Leeds had spoken of the need to start well and they could not have perfected their game plan any better by going ahead inside just four minutes, McGuire’s grubber kick sitting up for Carl Ablett to touch down.

Sinfield converted and when Chris Bridge boomed the re-start kick dead, there was some clear evidence that possibly the size of the occasion may have created some rare nerves in the Warrington ranks.

Warrington levelled when Briers’s perfectly-executed kick was plucked out of the air by a rising King, who swiftly found Bridge with Joel Monaghan coming in from his wing for the finish.

Bridge improved the 14th-minute score and Leeds were forced to rally further to fend off a couple of breaks, first from Riley after McGuire’s unfortunate slip, before Zak Hardaker was called upon to make a desperate tackle on a speeding Briers.

Ben Westwood thought he had crossed on his return from injury but the England second-row was rightly called back for a forward pass from David Solomona.

There was no reprieve, though, in the 33rd minute when Solomona’s typical dart forward attracted defenders and his quick play-the-ball allowed Michael Monaghan to go clear and fling a pass out to Riley, who slipped inside the grounded Ablett for Bridge to make it 12-6.

Hardaker threatened just before the break when, after being put clear by Webb, he demonstrated real confidence and flair to beat Riley only for King to force an error. They did level though within just 50 seconds of the second period re-starting, Hall intercepting Simon Grix’s pass to race 55m, fending off Briers. Sinfield improved but, after the captain failed to deal with Briers’s unexpected kick in front of his own posts, Jones-Bishop was penalised for offside. Warrington chose to run it and Richard Myler directed a long pass to King who, from close in, powered Jones-Bishop out of the way. Bridge landing the touchline conversion.

That looked like it for Rhinos before their remarkable rally.

Warrington: Hodgson; J Monaghan, King, Atkins, Riley; Briers, Myler; Morley, M Monaghan, Carvell, Anderson, Grix, Bridge. Substitutes: Westwood, Clarke, Cooper, Solomona.

Leeds: Webb; Jones-Bishop, Hardaker, Ablett, Hall; Sinfield, McGuire; Leuluai, Buderus, Peacock, Jones-Buchanan, Delaney, Clarkson. Substitutes: Burrow, Bailey, Kirke, Hauraki.

Referee: Steve Ganson (St Helens).