LEEDS RHINOS 26 WARRINGTON WOLVES 22
DAVE CRAVEN, AMT Headingley, Sunday
HAT-TRICK hero Maika Sivo continued his love affair with Super League and Brodie Croft delivered Leeds Rhinos the best present of all as the competition celebrated its 30th birthday.
Ex-Parramatta Eels winger Sivo took his tally to a staggering 14 tries in just six games this term as Leeds bounced back from 12-0 down to inflict Warrington Wolves’ first loss of the season.
Super League legends Adrian Morley and Iestyn Harris, who played against each other when Leeds faced Warrington 30 years ago on the last Sunday in March, brought on the match ball before kick-off.
Back then, the Wolves prospered. And they looked like doing so again, here.
But Rhinos captain Ash Handley delivered a superb display, brilliantly handling to furnish Sivo with all of his treble.
And then, after another terrific run from the centre, Aussie stand-off Croft came up with the match-winning try in the 67th minute, surging through a gap off Jake Connor’s pass.
Warrington gave themselves a chance with Josh Smith’s second try four minutes from time.
But Leeds, responding after the previous week’s dismal no-show at Hull FC, were in no mood to capitulate.
After 26 minutes, though, they were in all sorts of mess.
Man of Steel Connor sent one pass forward, kicked dead and then passed to no one, the sort of contribution that summed up his side’s afternoon early on.
But he, like the rest of his team, began to warm up and were left far happier by half-time.
Sivo has quickly endeared himself to Leeds fans after making a belated Super League debut this term.
And it was the big Fijian who got them back in the contest with a try double.
Both times, England international Handley handled brilliantly with the final delivery, the second an outstanding flick pass with just 64 seconds of the half remaining.
In between, Warrington thought they’d extended their advantage to potentially 18-4 when James Harrison hit George Williams’ cut-out pass and twisted out of Kallum Watkins’ tackle to touch down.
But video replays showed the England prop, on his 200th career game, had fumbled into the post.
Sivo completed his treble early in the second half – three tries in 17 minutes – after Ryan Hall’s intercept had got Leeds in position and Connor, Croft and Handley once more linked to usher the big man over.
Toby King hit back in the 50th minute, diving over from Thewlis’ pass, to put his side back in front.
But Leeds rallied again when Croft put McDonnell through and Jack Bird – in for Harry Newman – crashed over for his first try in Leeds colours, even if there was a hint of a double-movement.
Connor, though, missed his third conversion attempt to leave it at 18-18 – until he came up with the killer play for Croft’s try.
Ex-NRL centre Bird, meanwhile, was put on report for a challenge which left King with a badly swollen eye before Connor’s penalty gave his side breathing space.
Warrington had started well with Josh Thewlis’ stunning 50m solo try and, after Ewan Irwin’s excellent 40/20, Smith’s first from Albert Hopoate’s smart assist.
But Leeds roared home.
GAMESTAR: It’s hard not to give it to Maika Sivo after his hat-trick but the man inside him – Ash Handley – was supreme in everything he did.
GAMEBREAKER: Brodie Croft’s try always looked like being enough for Leeds – just.
HIGHLIGHT REEL: Maika Sivo’s second try from a gorgeous flicked pass by Ash Handley.
ALBERT GOLDTHORPE POINTS
3 pts Ash Handley (Leeds)
2 pts Maika Sivo (Leeds)
1 pt Josh Thewlis (Warrington)
MATCHFACTS
RHINOS
1 Lachie Miller
2 Maika Sivo
33 Jack Bird
4 Ash Handley
5 Ryan Hall
6 Brodie Croft
7 Jake Connor
10 Tom Holroyd
23 Danny Levi
13 Keenan Palasia
11 Kallum Watkins
12 James McDonnell
17 Cameron Smith
Subs
8 Mikolaj Oledzki
9 Jarrod O’Connor
14 Chris Hankinson (not used)
15 Cooper Jenkins
18th man (not used)
20 Presley Cassell
Also in 21-man squad
3 Harry Newman
16 Ethan O’Neill
19 Jeremiah Mata’utia
Tries: Sivo (29, 39, 46), Bird (56), Croft (67)
Goals: Connor 3/6
WOLVES
2 Josh Thewlis
5 Matty Ashton
3 Toby King
4 Albert Hopoate
26 Josh Smith
6 George Williams
18 Ewan Irwin
8 Luke Yates
9 Danny Walker
15 Liam Byrne
34 Kelepi Tanginoa
12 Sam Stone
13 Ben Currie
Subs
10 James Harrison
17 Jordy Crowther
22 Joe Philbin
35 Lachlan Webster (not used)
18th man (not used)
25 Max Wood
Also in 21-man squad
7 Marc Sneyd
21 Luke Thomas
31 Ben Hartill
Tries: Josh Thewlis (21), Smith (26, 76), King (50)
Goals: Irwin 3/5
SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-2, 0-6, 0-12, 4-12, 8-12; 14-12, 14-18, 18-18, 24-18, 26-18, 26-22
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Rhinos: Ash Handley; Wolves: Josh Thewlis
Penalty count: 8-8
Half-time: 8-12
Referee: Jack Smith
Attendance: 16,102