Warrington start the 2023 season in emphatic fashion

A stunning seven-try victory gives Warrington the perfect start to the new season.

Rugby League is back! The long-awaited return of the Super League season ended last night with a much changed Warrington Wolves side taking on 2022 defeated Grand Finalists Leeds Rhinos at the Halliwell Jones Stadium in front of the Sky Sports cameras.

After an embarrassing season last year for everyone at the club, the offseason saw plenty of comings and going’s providing the team with a big pack- something they clearly lacked last season.

Rohan Smiths Leeds Rhinos were the first challenge that lay ahead for the Wolves, a challenge that they overcame with an emphatic seven-try victory. In the opening game of the season starting with a win is the most important with the performances improving each game week but if Warrington’s first half is anything to go by they look aside that we have been accustomed to seeing at the top end of the Super League table.

Following a completely dominant first-half showing, the hosts lead 30-0 at the break. Matt Dufty picked up the first try of the new 2023 season after Ben Currie had broken the defensive line. Three quick-fire tries from Josh Thewlis, Daryl Clark, and Danny Walker took the game away from Leeds before new signing Sam Kasiano capped off a brilliant first-half with a try on debut.

With the match already won the second half lacked intensity until Leeds got themselves on the scoreboard through Daryl Olpherts another debutant going over. But Warrington hit back instantly, a short ball found the on-rushing James Harrison who wasn’t going to be stopped from close range. Greg Minikin who has suffered with injuries so far in his time at the club put the icing on the cake to bring up the 40-point mark and cap off a very impressive opening night performance.

After a first season in charge of Warrington that ultimately saw the fans question the appointment of Powell. A win in such an impressive manner in front of a 11,000 crowd was the perfect start. The Halliwell Jones in previous years has been a tough place to go for many visiting teams but last season that was far from the case. Making the stadium a formidable place again will be key to Warrington’s success this season.

Leeds however, are missing a number of key players but a number of the tries they conceded were due to poor defending something that will disappoint Rohan Smith.

Warrington now face Ian Watson’s Huddersfield Giants in Round 2 whereas Leeds host Hull FC.

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