SL Preview: Warrington v Leeds
Leeds take a trans-Pennine trip this week, after hammering Hull in Yorkshire’s East Riding last time out.
Scoring 43 points in a stunning second half against the Airlie Birds, coach Brian McDermott will hope his team start better, after giving Hull a 12-point start last week.
Warrington endured a nervy win over Hull Kingston Rovers last week at home, a game which Ryan Atkins missed through illness.
Atkins returns for the visit of Leeds, while George King replaces Joel Monaghan, who has a hamstring injury.
Brett Delaney, who played for Hunslet last week on dual registration against Bradford, is included in the Leeds squad, replacing the injured Mitch Achurch.
Full-back Ashton Golding is named, ahead of Liam Sutcliffe.
Prediction: Another game which looks too close to call, but Leeds have been the more impressive side in recent weeks. Rhinos to win by six points.
Warrington Wolves (19-man squad): Asotasi, Atkins, Bridge, Clark, Currie, Evans, Harrison, Higham, Hill, King, Laithwaite, O’Brien, Penny, Philbin, Ratchford, Russell, Sims, Westwood, Wheeler.
Leeds Rhinos (19-man squad): Hardaker, T. Briscoe, Watkins, Moon, Hall, McGuire, Burrow, Leuluai, Aiton, Peacock, Jones-Buchanan, Ablett, Sinfield, S. Ward, Delaney, Cuthbertson, Singleton, Walters, Golding.
Stats:
Kevin Sinfield needs five points to reach 4,000 for his career. Sinfield has scored 3,731 points (85 tries, 1,677 goals and 37 field goals) for Leeds since 1997. He has also scored representative points for Great Britain (44 – 2 tries & 18 goals – 2001-2003, 2005 & 2007) and England (220 – 5 tries & 100 goals – 2000-2001 & 2008-2013).
Danny McGuire needs four tries to reach 250 for Leeds. McGuire’s total of 246 touchdowns has been reached in 350 games for the Rhinos since 2001. He has also landed five field goals for Leeds, leaving him eleven points short of a total 1,000 for the club.
Rob Burrow needs seven points to reach 1,000 for Leeds. Burrow’s total of 993 has been reached with 171 tries, 152 goals and 5 field goals in 412 games for the Rhinos since 2001.
Stefan Ratchford is eight points away from 500 (132 for Salford, 2007 & 2009-2011 and 360 for Warrington, 2012-2015)
Super League Summary:
Warrington have won their last four home meetings with Leeds, with the Rhinos’ last away win against the Wolves coming 26-24 in the Super League play-offs on 30 September, 2011.
Warrington won 15 (includes wins in 2006 and 2013 play-offs)
Leeds won 30 (includes win in 2012 Grand Final & 2011 play-offs)
1 draw
Warrington highest score: 44-10 (H, 2000); 44-16 (H, 2006) (Widest margin: 42-6, A, 2011)
Leeds highest score: 54-16 (H, 2006) (Widest margin: 52-10, A, 2007)
Last 10 Meetings:
Leeds 24, Warrington 16 (CCSF, 9/8/14) (at Langtree Park, St Helens)
Warrington 24, Leeds 6 (SLR15, 30/5/14)
Leeds 18, Warrington 12 (SLR2, 21/2/14)
Warrington 40, Leeds 20 (SLQPO, 14/9/13)
Warrington 19, Leeds 18 (SLR21, 5/7/13)
Leeds 28, Warrington 22 (SLR11, 7/4/13)
Leeds 26, Warrington 18 (Super League Grand Final, 6/10/12) (at Old Trafford, Manchester)
Leeds 18, Warrington 35 (Challenge Cup Final, 25/8/12) (at Wembley Stadium)
Warrington 37, Leeds 18 (SLR17, 8/6/12)
Leeds 26, Warrington 18 (SLR6, 9/3/12)