Johns confirms Leeds' decline

Warrington 33 Leeds 16

Johns, starting a short-term contract, kicked six goals from seven attempts, plus a drop goal, and made any number of perceptive kicks in general play. His defence was immaculate and he had a big hand in three Warrington tries, one of which he created out of absolutely nothing. Not bad for starters.

The Warrington coach, Paul Cullen, created a mild surprise by keeping both his other playmakers, Lee Briers and Nat Wood, in the starting line-up. All eyes were on Johns, however, from the moment he trotted out to a tumultuous welcome.

His Warrington career could hardly have got off to a better start, his first touch of the ball inducing a mistake when Rob Burrow knocked on from the kick-off. From the scrum, Johns simply moved the ball along the line for Henry Fa'afili to score in the corner. Just for good measure, the great man landed the conversion from the touchline.

Leeds, coming off a run of three defeats, were not simply there to make up the numbers and they hit back after eight minutes when Richard Mathers took Andrew Dunemann's pass and dummied his way through a tangle of three defenders. The Rhinos would have had a second try from the same combination but for Brent Grose's last-ditch tackle.

Johns kicked the Wolves back into the lead when Barrie McDermott went high on Mark Gleeson, whose brother, Martin, extended that lead when he took Briers' pass to rip through the Leeds defence.

Johns landed another difficult goal and then picked out Grose with a long pass to see him take advantage of some slack defending to cut through and score.

Leeds were in danger of being swept away, but they scored just before half time when Danny McGuire broke through and Matt Diskin was there in support.

Five minutes into the second half, Leeds had cut the Warrington lead to a mere two points when Marcus Bai crossed on the left wing.

That was the cue for Johns to conjure up his best moment of the match, shimmying through a gap to set up Logan Swann for a stroll to the line. Johns continued to control the game, his presence on the field giving other players more time and space.

Leeds thought they had scored a try when Bai intercepted Mark Gleeson's pass, but the referee, Ashley Klein, ruled that he had been lurking offside and Johns landed his fifth goal, adding a drop goal just for the hell of it.

In the last minute, Nat Wood darted over and Johns converted to spark scenes of euphoria among fans who believe he can take them all the way to the Grand Final.

Warrington: Grose; Fa'afili, Martin Gleeson, Kohe-Love, Bridge; Briers, Johns; Leikvoll, N Wood, P Wood, Swann, Moone, Clarke. Substitutes used: Mark Gleeson, Lima, Bracek, Riley.

Leeds: Mathers; Calderwood, Walker, Smith, Bai; Sinfield, Burrow; Ward, Dunemann, Jones-Buchanan, Lauitiiti, Poching, Ellis. Substitutes used: McGuire, McDermott, Diskin, Scruton.

Referee: A Klein (London).