Ewan Irwin’s second-half kick proved enough to sink injury-ravaged Leeds 14-12 at Headingley and send Warrington into next weekend’s Betfred Super League Grand Final for the first time since 2018.
The visitors slowly cranked up the pressure in the later stages and Irwin’s penalty proved the only score of a pressure-filled second period that shattered the hosts’ dreams of returning to the season-ending showpiece.
Brad Arthur’s Rhinos led the league table until the penultimate week of the season but a mounting injury crisis dealt a hammer-blow to their post-season chances and despite an heroic effort his patched-up starting 13 fell agonisingly short.
