IT is not often that you see Tony Smith as animated as during the half time break at Headingley Stadium.

Normally calm, and occasionally even flippant after a defeat, Smith’s reaction to his players’ first half performance was the picture of frustration as he stomped and gesticulated around the dressing room.

It was a sight that the Wolves fans watching on Sky’s TV cameras would have wanted to see, a reaction that would most likely have mirrored the frustrations of those watching from home or from the away stand in Leeds.

It was thoroughly deserved following one of Wolves’ weakest starts to a match all season, a 40-minute period in which Leeds looked a step above in every facet of the game.

Smith seems to largely accept attacking mistakes at this stage of the season, but what really frustrated was the manner of tries conceded, with Danny McGuire catching Wolves napping with a dummy half push over that had Smith fuming afterwards and Kallum Watkins brushing aside Chris Riley to cross in the corner.

When Paul McShane spun over with a move ‘he does every week’ according to Smith, it was clear that Wolves were not sticking to the game plan.

The ‘hair-dryer’ treatment seemed to work to some degree, but Wolves never once looked deserving of returning home with any points.

Any lingering hopes were lost in the crucial spell between 50 and 60 minutes, when Wolves bombed chances that should have changed the game.

Stefan Ratchford went for the line instead of sending Joel Monaghan in for what then would have been a second try and Ben Harrison failed to keep hold of Mike Cooper’s pass with the line beckoning.

Both were potential scores that would have moved Wolves to within two points and swung the momentum the visitors’ way.

A fifth brace of the season for top class finisher Monaghan was a highlight, but even the optimist would struggle to put on a brave face after Wolves recorded their worst seven-match run since Smith took charge in 2009.

INTERESTING NOTES

Joel Monaghan scored his fifth brace of the season in the 28-22 defeat to Leeds Rhinos on Sunday

Simon Grix made his first start at centre this year, with Mike Cooper also named as starting prop for the first time in 2013

Ben Westwood needs one try to clock up his 100th in primrose and blue

Chris Bridge needs three tries to reach a career century of touchdowns

Brett Hodgson is 18 points away from 1,000 in Super League

Richie Myler is one away from his 100th Super League appearance

MATCH FACTS

Super League Round 11 Sunday, April 7, 2013

Leeds Rhinos...28

Warrington Wolves...22

Leeds: Zak Hardaker; Kallum Watkins, Carl Ablett, Joel Moon, Ryan Hall; Kevin Sinfield, Danny McGuire; Kylie Leuluai, Rob Burrow, Jamie Peacock, Stevie Ward, Mitch Achurch, Jamie Jones-Buchanan. Subs: Chris Clarkson, Brad Singleton, Paul McShane, Richard Moore.

Wolves: Brett Hodgson; Joel Monaghan, Simon Grix, Ryan Atkins, Chris Riley; Stefan Ratchford, Richie Myler; Chris Hill, Michael Monaghan, Mike Cooper, Trent Waterhouse, Ben Westwood, Ben Harrison. Subs: Garreth Carvell, Micky Higham, Paul Wood, Ben Currie.

Scoring: McGuire try, 4mins, Sinfield goal, 6-0; Sinfield penalty, 9mins, 8-0; Monaghan try, 13mins, Hodgson goal, 8-6; Hall try, 19mins, 12-6; Watkins try, 25mins, 16-6; Myler try, 33mins, Hodgson goal, 16-12, McShane try, 37mins, 20-12; Hall try, 50mins, Sinfield goal, 26-12; Monaghan try, 62mins, Hodgson goal, 26-18; Sinfield penalty, 74mins, 28-18; Atkins try, 80mins, Hodgson goal, 28-22.

Pens: Leeds 6 Wolves 6

Referee: James Child

Attendance: 15,059

Top Man: Joel Monaghan