NOT good enough, said Tony Smith after watching his side suffer a humiliating hammering at Headingley.

That was certainly one way to put it as Wolves fell apart in the second half after turning around 12points adrift.

An inability to clamp the offloads and slow down the ruck, mixed in with a succession of sloppy handling errors similar to thosethat marred the opening to the season, handed dummy halves Matt Parcell and Rob Burrow the freedom of the park and they needed no second invitation.

Leeds’ smart men had all the time in the world to spot deficiencies in the defensive line, mainly from late retreating defenders, and take complete advantage.

Adam Cuthbertson and Jamie Jones-Buchanan kept the ball alive to great effect, Parcell bagged himself a first Super League hat-trick and Burrow rolled back the years to set up two tries before bringing the house down with a spectacular 70-metre effort that left Wire defenders flapping.

Wolves, who had no answers once Leeds got on a roll, will reflect on missed chances in the opening 20 minutes not helping their cause.

Benjamin Jullien just needed to stretch out his arm to score but he never envisaged the last-gasp effort from full-back Ash Golding forcing him backwards.

Daryl Clark conjured an opening for Stefan Ratchford but the covering defence was more enthusiastic than the support play.

A 50:50 call went against Matty Russell’s pounce on a kick palmed back by Liam Sutcliffe after referee James Child sent the decision upstairs as a ‘no try.’

But after dominating possession and territory early on some poor kicks let Leeds off the hook and then came the errors and frustration at seeing Leeds soak it all up and strike clinically.

Leeds had got their noses in front before Golding hobbled off, which saw the arrival of pocket dynamo Burrow.

The 34-year-old, in his 17th season with Rhinos, took charge of a second half which started badly for Wolves - from a Kevin Brown forward pass – and never picked up.

His no-look pass for Jones-Buchanan to gallop home from 20 metres was like a scene from a yesteryears magazine.

It was Harlem Globetrotters stuff at times after that as Wolves’ energy and confidence levels were dealt heavy punishment.

The shame of it all, Wolves brought it upon themselves.

INTERESTING NOTES

. Wolves have managed only one away win so far in 2017

. Last time The Wire were nilled was at Huddersfield on April 15,2016

MATCH FACTS

Super League Round 15, Friday, May 26, 2017

Leeds Rhinos…40 Warrington Wolves…0

Rhinos: Ashton Golding; Tom Briscoe, Kallum Watkins, Liam Sutcliffe, Ryan Hall; Danny McGuire, Joel Moon; Adam Cuthbertson, Matt Parcell, Brad Singleton, Brett Ferres, Stevie Ward, Jamie Jones-Buchanan. Subs: Jordan Baldwinson, Brett Delaney, Rob Burrow, Anthony Mullaly.

Wolves: Stef Ratchford; Matty Russell, Jack Hughes, Ryan Atkins, Tom Lineham; Kevin Brown, Kurt Gidley; Chris Hill, Daryl Clark, Ashton Sims, Benjamin Jullien, Joe Westerman, Mike Cooper. Subs: George King, Dom Crosby, Dec Patrton, Joe Philbin.

Scoring: Parcell try, 14mins, Sutcliffe goal, 6-0; Sutcliffe try, 30mins, 10-0; Sutcliffe penalty goal, 37mins, 12-0; Parcell try, 44mins, Sutcliffe goal, 18-0; Jones-Buchanan try, 49mins, 22-0; Moon try, 62mins, Sutcliffe goal, 28-0; Sutcliffe penalty goal, 67mins, 30-0; Parcell try, 70mins, Sutcliffe goal, 36-0; Burrow try, 79mins, 40-0.

Penalties: Rhinos 7 Wolves 6

Sin bin: Clark, Ward (fighting), 60mins

Referee: James Child

Attendance: 14,974

Man of the match (Guardian view): Clark