Leeds delighted to end losing streak at Warrington
Friday 2 February 2018 00:03, UK
Leeds coach Brian McDermott was delighted to watch his side end a run of seven successive defeats at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
The defending Super League champions kicked off the 2018 campaign with a 16-12 win - their first at Warrington's home ground since 2011 - thanks to tries from Jamie Jones-Buchanan and two from Ryan Hall.
"It's a big moment, I'm sick of coming here and explaining why we lost," McDermott said.
"It was okay to good. I'm really pleased we won and we got a lot of tackling practice but there will be a better version of Warrington in five or six rounds.
"We will need to be better and our game management for the last 15 minutes was crazy but our overall performance was good."
McDermott was delighted with the performances of Hall, 18-year-old full-back Jack Walker and former Warrington scrum-half Richie Myler, who was making his Leeds debut.
"I thought Richie Myler was very good," he said. "He added a bit of cohesion.
"It was good to see that from Ryan Hall. That is what Super League is about, seizing moments like that. He came back from the World Cup in great shape. He looked very good in training and he looked sharp out there.
"Jack Walker took some difficult high balls and never seems to get driven back. It's almost like he's sellotaped to the floor at times."
Warrington coach Steve Price stood by his captain Chris Hill after he left his side's opening match of the season early after his wife went into labour.
The Wolves were trailing 12-6 at half-time when his wife was rushed to hospital to deliver a baby girl - the couple's fourth child - and Hill followed after making his second stint early in the second half.
"I have never been in that situation but it is what it is," said Price, who was in charge of his first Super League match after succeeding Tony Smith in the close season. "It was important Chris did the right thing, to be beside his
wife.
"It was one of those things. Chris made that decision and he had our support.
"We were aware of it before the game, she was having a few contractions. I guess the timing worked out in Leeds' favour."
Leeds never looked back after racing into a 12-0 lead thanks to tries from veteran forward Jones-Buchanan and England winger Hall and, although Australian centre Bryson Goodwin scored on his Wolves debut 10 minutes before half-time, Hall clinched victory with an 80-metre run for his second try.
New-look Warrington scored again through Tom Lineham two minutes from the end to give the Rhinos a fright and more encouragement for his new coach.
"It was a good starting point," Price added. "It was most pleasing when, at 16-6, we showed a fair amount of resolve with our goal-line defence.
"As I said all along, it was going to take time with our new combinations but here are a lot of positives."
