Leeds held off a determined Salford side to open their engage Super League season with a hard-fought win at The Willows.

The Rhinos had led 30-16 with 14 minutes remaining after two tries from new signing Brent Webb but Salford refused to throw in the towel.

Gareth Haggerty and Aaron Moule, with his second try of the afternoon, set up a thrilling finish but the visitors just had enough despite being outplayed for large parts of the game.

Salford dominated the first half but left the field trailing 22-6 at the break after conceding two tries in the opening six minutes and two more in the closing five.

Webb marked his debut by starting and ending the half with a try while half-backs Danny McGuire and Rob Burrow also scampered over.

New Zealand full-back Webb, one of Super League's most exciting signings of the winter, needed just two minutes to open his account as he charged over on the left from a brisk Rhinos move.

The visitors continued their bright start by grabbing a second just four minutes later as McGuire powered over from dummy half after Gareth Ellis had been stopped short.

Kevin Sinfield converted to make it 10-0 but Salford quickly responded with Moule putting winger John Wilshere over in the corner.

The Reds then upped the pressure and forced Leeds to concede nine consecutive penalties but all they gained was a Luke Robinson goal after Sinfield was penalised for a high tackle.

Robinson twice pierced the line with probing kicks but Luke Dorn and Wilshere were both denied in-goal as the Leeds defence held firm.

Leeds finally broke free with two penalties of their own late in the half and they capitalised as Burrow jinked over from a Matt Diskin pass to score and Clinton Toopi set up Webb's second.

Sinfield converted both to stretch the lead further but the Reds hit back straight after the restart as Wilshere cut inside and stretched out to touch down.

Leeds began to feel the pressure as Salford attacked again and Keith Senior was sinbinned for holding down Robinson. Moule took immediate advantage with a try from close range that Robinson improved to cut the gap to six points.

But Leeds pushed that back to eight as Sinfield landed a penalty and they increased their stranglehold as Wilshere spilled a high McGuire kick and Jordan Tansey pounced for another converted try.

Yet still Salford would still not lie down and Gareth Haggerty brought them back into the game as he barged over Robinson again added the extras.

Moule then set nerves jangling as he found space on the right to score with five minutes remaining but the Rhinos held on.