IT certainly was a Magic evening for Warrington Wolves at Elland Road.
They made light of a partisan Magic Weekend crowd in Leeds Rhinos’ favour in their home city to come away with a 24-6 victory – a hugely important one in their bid to keep the pressure on the top two.
Our Wire reporter Matt Turner was there, and here are his five post-match talking points in “The Morning After”
A big banana skin is avoided
In my pre-match talking points piece, I wrote that this was probably the toughest regular-season game Warrington have left on paper.
Sam Burgess’ team selection at London last week probably told you enough about the importance they placed on this game and sure enough, pretty much all of his big guns were brought back.
How many of them play against Castleford on Friday remains to be seen, but they came here with a job to do – and do it they did.
A rapidly improving Leeds side in front of a partisan Elland Road crowd would be a tricky assignment for any side and given Rhinos boss Brad Arthur proclaimed post-match that he thought his side played better than they did in hammering Wigan the previous week, it adds another layer to what Wire were up against.
If they end up where they want to be come the end of 27 rounds, they may well look back at this as a big two points.
Matt the magician
The Aussie full-back is at it again – and after it looked like he was done for the night, too.
There was a sharp intake of breath from everyone in primrose and blue when Matt Dufty went down injured in the first half and given the way he hobbled around on the right wing for a few minutes, he really did look spent.
Sam Burgess even said Dufty was on the verge of being taken off after half time as he continued to be hampered by his right knee – thank God he decided to wait it out!
Around the time Burgess was contemplating withdrawing his number one, the game was stopped to analyse the tackle that would see David Fusitu’a sin-binned. Five minutes later, Dufty had crossed twice to effectively put the game beyond Leeds’ reach.
In the end, his trio of tries proved to be the difference in what was otherwise a well-contested affair.
That is what you want from your star players – to decide tight games, and Dufty did just that.
Tai’s Magic moment
The first half of this game kind of strolled along, with both sides seemingly grinding each other into submission.
Just as the scribes were getting set to pen words about a dull opening 40, however, there came a tackle heard and felt around the world.
Poor old Lachie Miller mustn’t have known what had hit him when the hulking mass of humanity that is Rodrick Tai connected with a bone-cruncher of a tackle and by the time he came too, George Williams was under his posts.
While it will be the half-back who goes into the record books for his try, it was really all about the terrific Tai tackle that made it – the kind of highlight-reel hit that has become his moniker.
The Papua New Guinean, who let’s not forget is in his first ever season of top-flight rugby league, is looking like more of a find by the week.
What a shot! 💪@George7Williams scored the only try in the opening 40 🏉#SuperLeague #MagicWKND pic.twitter.com/V9IV3tSBr3
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) August 17, 2024
Defensive holes plugged
Tai’s tackle on Miller was not the only heroic piece of individual defence from a Warrington player in the first half, with Josh Thewlis somehow managing to hold Ash Handley up over the line when the Leeds winger seemed destined to score.
Those plays and more spoke to a vastly improved defensive display from The Wire, even if the prospect of a shut-out win was wrecked by Paul Momirovski’s late try.
The holes that had been punched open at London appeared to have been plugged, and no doubt Burgess will have been much happier with how his side performed without the ball this week.
They had plenty thrown at them, with Leeds actually enjoying more play-the-balls inside the 20 than Wire did but for the most part, they were turned away by a keen and connected Warrington rearguard.
If they are to make this year one to remember, that will be the bedrock upon which it is built.
Hunting down the top two
Wire picked up the gauntlet laid down by Wigan, who beat St Helens 20-0 in the game immediately before theirs, and we shall see how Hull KR respond this afternoon when they face Catalans Dragons.
Even if Warrington remain outside the top two once the Super League roadshow rolls out of Elland Road, however, they remain an ominous presence.
Wigan and Hull KR will certainly feel uncomfortable with Burgess’ boys lurking behind them waiting to pounce on any slip-ups, thereby putting the pressure on to keep churning out the victories.
All Warrington can do is take care of their own house – George Williams said during the week that the team is of the mindset that they must win all six remaining games if they are to finish in the top two.
Even that may not be enough but if that’s what they are targeting, it’s one down and five to go.
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