BEN Currie showed expert finishing power as the match winner against Hull KR, but it is the team’s defence on his mind ahead of a battle-royal with Leeds Rhinos at The Halliwell Jones Stadium tonight, kick off 8pm.

The back rower, who did an admirable job covering Ryan Atkins’ absence in the centres at the weekend, was not happy that 24 points were conceded.

“Every team started the season with intentions of having the best defence and other goals but a few have dropped off, including ourselves,” said the 20-year-old Ireland international.

“You can have a good game, then a bad game, it all depends on the day. You’ve got to turn up with the right attitude, you can’t just think it’s all going to go well, you have to make it happen.”

And he feels sure it will need to happen against the Challenge Cup holders, whom he watched score 43 points without reply last week against a Hull side that Wolves defeated 7-6 two rounds earlier.

He said: “They’re a team who can really score some points. We conceded 24 against Hull KR so that’s not good enough and we need to fix it up.

“Our defence will be key against Leeds. They have lots of pace in their outside backs. That can really damage you.

“We can’t concede 24 points against a team like Leeds because it would be hard to score more than that against them.”

Among Rhinos’ form players is England right centre Kallum Watkins, a product of Latchford Albion.

He was ripping up the Airlie Birds for fun at the KC Stadium.

Whether Currie continues at left centre or Atkins returns after flu against his hometown club, a red alert will be glowing on Watkins.

Wolves’ head of coaching and rugby Tony Smith sees it two ways.

“It’s a big challenge for anyone up against Kallum Watkins, he’s a fantastic player,” said Smith.

“At the same time with either of those boys for us, Kallum will have his hands full as well.

“It’ll be a good match-up whichever way it goes.”

Currie only found out around 8.30am on Sunday that a few hours later he would be playing in a position he had not trained in all week, but it worked out well for him with his ball-handling skill helping to create tries for Matty Russell and Gary Wheeler before he left former Parramatta Eels winger Ken Sio trailing to score the winning try six minutes from time.

It was his first try of the season and he said: “In pre-season I scored three tries in two games and then I’ve started the season with a bit of a drought.

“It was really good to get my first and for it to be such an important one.”

As much as Currie revels in the hard work, he grew up enjoying moments of glory in matches too.

“When I was a kid playing back row I made quite a lot of breaks and really enjoyed that part of the game,” he said.

“I’ve not done as much of that as I’ve wanted to over the past year or two so it’s really good to get back to that and hopefully I can kick on and do some more.”

And Smith is confident the Academy graduate will perform well wherever he features for Wolves.

“Ben showed he can handle it on Sunday and handle changes in position,” he said. “Last year he ripped it up at Wakefield at right centre.

“Ben plays well wherever he gets put and he was happy with his positional change.”