A rare two-try performance from forward Cameron Smith set Leeds Rhinos on their way to a fifth consecutive Super League win, piling on the misery for Challenge Cup beaten finalists Warrington Wolves.
Smith came off the interchange bench to break down some strong Warrington defence in the first half, and with the in-form Jake Connor adding the conversion and a penalty, the home side had breathing space at half-time.
The Wolves’ spirited performance fell apart in the second half as Smith added another, and tries from Brodie Croft, Tom Holroyd, Connor and Morgan Gannon ensured Leeds stayed in touch with top two Hull Kingston Rovers and Wigan Warriors.
A superb try from Jake Thewlis had given Warrington brief hope, Ben Currie added a late consolation score, and Marc Sneyd’s two conversions saw him overhaul Andy Farrell to go fourth in the all-time Super League kickers’ list with 1,027 goals.
Warrington’s morale-sapping late defeat by Hull KR at Wembley last week was compounded by the loss of full-back Matt Dufty with a fractured eye socket, but their performance in that narrow loss, and the return of George Williams for his first Super League appearance since 12 April, raised hopes for the rest of their campaign.
That optimism was underlined in a tight first half against a Leeds side whose defensive record is second only to that of Hull KR this season.
Both teams had chances thwarted by excellent defence in the opening half-hour and ironically it was a Williams fumble that set Leeds up for the opening score, Smith benefiting from Lachie Miller’s sharp break to go under the posts, with Connor extending the lead.
All of the Wolves’ fine defensive work in that opening half proved to be for nothing as Leeds stepped up a gear after the break and the visitors, who lost Arron Lindop to a knee injury, began to flag.
Within six minutes of the restart, Smith had barged over for his second try – only the second time in his nine-year career that he has scored more than once in a game – and Croft stepped outside his would-be tackler to put the game beyond Wire.
That sparked Sam Burgess’s side into attacking life and they responded with a picturebook try, Thewlis racing clear after a slick passing move, but it was a momentary pleasure for the travelling fans.
Leeds roared back onto the attack and, after Smith was inches short of a hat-trick just before, Connor sent Holroyd through a gap before darting through for a try of his own to add to five successful conversions.
Ben Currie’s 99th try for Warrington was a consolation, while Sneyd’s kick saw him to 1,027 in Super League, ahead of Wigan legend Farrell, but Gannon had the final say, with Kallum Watkins given the conversion to get him on the scoresheet in his 400th career appearance.
