Beware of Wolves

JAMIE Jones-Buchanan fears his Leeds side could be on the receiving end of a backlash from winless Warrington in tonight’s crunch clash.

The Wolves were widely tipped for Grand Final glory in preseason but have endured a terrible start and are bottom of the table after collecting one point from seven games.

Leeds had their own crisis after being beaten 66-10 at Castleford but they have since won four successive games.

However, the Rhinos have not won at the Halliwell Jones Stadium since 2011 and veteran second-rower Jones-Buchanan said: “It’s a really dangerous game for us. Warrington have still got the talent, ability, skills and players to do a great job and they’ve done big jobs on us in the past.

“The run we’ve been on recently and the form we’ve hit and where we are in the league table makes it an opportunity for them to knock us off.”

Warrington coach Tony Smith famously guided Leeds to their first league title in 32 years in 2004.

He has come under fire following the Wolves’ dismal start but Jones-Buchanan said: “Tony Smith would love nothing better than to beat his old club.

“We have to really concentrate and take on Warrington as if they are still a top-of-the-league team.

“That’s what they are really because the potential is still there. In recent years we’ve not had much luck at Warrington, so it’s all hands on deck.”

Tonight’s game is the first of four in 15 days for Leeds. “There would be nothing more deflating than going over to Warrington and losing,” said Jones-Buchanan.

“You’re backing that up into an Easter period when anything could happen, there’s a lot of fatigue coming in and you don’t know who’s going to be fit and healthy.

“What we need to do is continue what we are doing really well and keep building this synergy we seem to be getting between players.”

Leeds captain Danny McGuire makes his 400th game for the club, while Josh Walters replaces Brett Ferres, who begins a six-match ban.