ANY doubt over how a much-changed Warrington side would gel for 2016 was quickly put to bed by an heroic defensive effort to derail the champions.

Last ditch tackles, brave interceptions, kicks repelled, it was all there as Wolves took advantage of two outstanding pieces of Chris Sandow magic to come away with both points from Headingley.

A bumper crowd and cracking atmosphere made this feel like a big occasion and both sides looked nervous before the start.

But from the moment Ashton Sims tore into Zak Hardaker on Leeds’ first possession, you knew Warrington were up for a battle.

And they had to be.

A 10-5 penalty count and numerous handling errors meant the Wire had to defend 60 more play-the-balls in the game (10 extra sets) and that total was at 40 in a first half which Leeds dominated. Wolves held firm.

Matty Russell was quick to beat Ryan Hall to a Danny McGuire kick while Liam Sutcliffe dropped the ball when the line was in sight.

When Wolves did have the ball they looked threatening and after a penalty gave them good territory, Sandow stepped inside Joel Moon to race in from 10 yards.

Leeds were ahead within 15 minutes of the second half, Brad Singleton crashing over before Hall finished a sweeping move.

Perhaps the Warrington side of last season would have folded at this point – but not on this occasion.

Rhys Evans, who alongside Ben Currie was outstanding at centre, made another try-saving tackle, and with 13 minutes to play Wire had the game’s outstanding moment.

Evans and Tom Lineham created space to go 30 metres from the Leeds line. And from the play the ball Sandow put in a masterful kick that allowed Currie to send Penny in.

Andrew Johns talked about Wire missing the ‘freak factor’ which Lee Briers gave them. Whisper it quietly, but this was Briers-esque.

Long-term Wire fans will have enjoyed a quiet smile as the impressive Kurt Gidley smacked his conversion between the posts from the touchline to give his side the lead while Hardaker missed a similar chance for Leeds after Hall’s score.

There was still time for drama. Currie chased down Burrow for a try saver and Hardaker’s penalty miss had the 1,600 travelling fans dreaming of what 2016 may bring.

MATCH FACTS:

Super League Round One, Thursday, February 4, 2016

Leeds Rhinos...10 Warrington Wolves...12

Rhinos: Zak Hardaker; Tom Briscoe, Kallum Watkins, Joel Moon, Ryan Hall; Liam Sutcliffe, Danny McGuire; Keith Galloway, Rob Burrow, Adam Cuthbertson, Brett Ferres, Carl Ablett, Brett Delaney. Subs: Brad Singleton, Mitch Garbutt, Jimmy Keinhorst, Jordan Lilley.

Wolves: Matty Russell; Tom Lineham, Rhys Evans, Ben Currie, Kevin Penny; Kurt Gidley, Chris Sandow; Chris Hill, Daryl Clark, Ashton Sims, Jack Hughes, Ben Westwood, Joe Westerman. Subs: Brad Dwyer, George King, Benjamin Jullien, Jordan Cox.

Scoring: Sandow, try, 36mins, Gidley goal, 0-6; Singleton try, 47mins, Hardaker goal, 6-6; Hall try, 55mins, 10-6; Penny try, 67mins, Gidley goal, 10-12; Hardaker penalty miss, 77mins, 10-12.

Penalties: Leeds 10 Wolves 5

Referee: James Child

Attendance: 16,168

Top man: Ben Currie

STATS SPOT:

* Six players made their Warrington debuts; Kurt Gidley, Tom Lineham, Jack Hughes, Joe Westerman, Jordan Cox and Benjamin Jullien.

* Chris Sandow crossed for his first try as a Wolves player

* Wire inflicted Leeds’ first opening-day defeat for 16 years

SUPER LEAGUE TABLE:

P    W    D    L    F    A    Pt
Hull FC    1    1    0    0    42    20    2
St Helens    1    1    0    0    30    16    2
Widnes Vikings    1    1    0    0    24    16    2
Wigan Warriors    1    1    0    0    12    6    2
Warrington Wolves    1    1    0    0    12    10    2
Castleford Tigers    1    0    1    0    16    16    1
Hull KR    1    0    1    0    16    16    1
Leeds Rhinos    1    0    0    1    10    12    0
Catalans Dragons    1    0    0    1    6    12    0
Wakefield Trinity    1    0    0    1    16    24    0
Huddersfield Giants    1    0    0    1    16    30    0
Salford Red Devils    1    0    0    1    20    42    0

STORY SO FAR:

App    T    G    Dg    Pt 
1 Kurt Gidley    1    0    2    0    4
2 Tom Lineham    1    0    0    0    0
3 Rhys Evans    1    0    0    0    0
4 Ryan Atkins    0    0    0    0    0
5 Matty Russell    1    0    0    0    0
6 Stefan Ratchford    0    0    0    0    0
7 Chris Sandow    1    1    0    0    4
8 Chris Hill    1    0    0    0    0
9 Daryl Clark    1    0    0    0    0
10 Ashton Sims    1    0    0    0    0
11 Ben Currie    1    0    0    0    0
12 Jack Hughes    1    0    0    0    0
13 Ben Westwood    1    0    0    0    0
14 Joe Westerman    1    0    0    0    0
15 Mitchell Dodds    0    0    0    0    0
16 Brad Dwyer    0+1    0    0    0    0
17 James Laithwaite    0    0    0    0    0
18 George King    0+1    0    0    0    0
19 Ben Harrison    0    0    0    0    0
20 Kevin Penny    1    1    0    0    4
21 Ben Evans    0    0    0    0    0
22 Gene Ormsby    0    0    0    0    0
23 Gary Wheeler    0    0    0    0    0
24 Toby King    0    0    0    0    0
25 Joe Philbin    0    0    0    0    0
26 Declan Patton    0    0    0    0    0
27 Sam Wilde    0    0    0    0    0
28 Jack Johnson    0    0    0    0    0
29 Benjamin Jullien    0+1    0    0    0    0
30 Harvey Livett    0    0    0    0    0
31 Morgan Smith    0    0    0    0    0
32 Jordan Cox    0+1    0    0    0    0
33 Ryan Bailey    0    0    0    0    0