Sports Journalist@MegWellensX
Last Updated: 18/06/26 10:31pm
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Maika Sivo scored a hat-trick as Leeds Rhinos secured a 34-6 victory over Warrington Wolves at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
The victory moves Brad Arthur's side two points clear at the top of the Super League table. with no other team able to chase them down in round 14.
Warrington are two points behind, albeit with a game in hand, after suffering their first loss in six league matches.
Leeds had a comprehensive half-time lead thanks to tried from Sivo, Brodie Croft and Harry Newman. Jake Connor converted two, with his third bouncing off the post.
Warrington were the first on the board through an Ewan Irwin penalty. then struggled to find points for the remainder of the first 40.
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The second half was then all about the visitors as Chris Hankinson went over followed by Sivo twice more. Connor adding a penalty too.
Warrington hit back late on through Matty Ashton. it was purely a consolation as they suffered a defeat that served as a reminder of the competition they have at the top.
Whoever won this top-of-the-table contest was going to make a statement. in the first 40, Leeds laid down their marker.
That came after a poor couple of minutes for Hankinson. He scuffed a kick out on the full. then gave away a penalty for a tackle off the ball which allowed Irwin to slot over the penalty to give Warrington a 2-0 lead after 10 minutes.
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Despite the early points for the home outfit, it was then all about the Rhinos.
Their first try came from some sensational vision from Lachie Miller to send through a pin-point perfect grubber kick. While Ash Handley could not finish it off, Sivo made sure to.
It took just three minutes until they were over again as Croft played the supporting role to a brilliant Handley break against the club he will join in 2027.
With the 10-2 lead firmly in place,. some strong defence nullifying Warrington's attempts to attack, Leeds stayed patient and pounced once again on the 30th minute when Newman outstripped Josh Thewlis when competing for the high kick to go in under the posts.
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With the easy conversion, Connor gave Leeds the 16-2 half-time advantage.
Trailing by three scores at half-time, Warrington inevitably needed the first score after the break more than the visitors. But it was the Rhinos who got the score as Miller delivered a delightful cut-out pass that allowed Hankinson to glide through untouched. Connor again adding on the extras.
Last year's Man of Steel knocked over a penalty shortly afterwards as James Bentley took out the ever-dangerous Miller off the ball. That extended the lead to 24-2.
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The Sivo show then took to the stage again as he completed his hat-trick with a two-try salvo in five minutes. Both finishes were trademark Sivo, collecting the ball from close range. bulldozing his way over despite the attempts of many a player in primrose and blue. The Halliwell Jones Stadium terraces began to empty at this point as Sivo bagged his third on the hour.
The Wire would close the scoring as Matty Ashton crossed in the corner from Josh Thewlis pass. But it was nothing other than a consolation for Sam Burgess' side. who remain second, two points adrift of Brad Arthur's Rhinos.
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Leeds Rhinoshead coachBrad Arthur:
"I like how reliable we are becoming as a team. Our resilience was really good and a good step in the right direction for us.
"The good thing about it is, I didn't touch about intensity or physicality this week so that pleased me.
"They believed. if we play at that level of intensity then teams will have to be at their best to beat us."
Sky Sportswill again show every game of the Super League live this season - including two matches in each round exclusively live. with the remaining five matches each week shown onSky Sports+
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