They stretched their lead eight minutes into the second period when some great link-up play between Moylan and Charnley led to an inside pass for Leutele who crashed over.
The Wire reduced the arrears with 15 minutes remaining when Fitzgibbon’s powerful burst and offload to Dufty saw the full-back go over and Thewlis converted to make it 14-12 going into the closing stages.
Dufty then turned from scorer to creator as his fine footwork created space for Thewlis to race away and find Nicholson to give the hosts a 16-14 lead in the 71st minute.
Leigh kept battling and almost found a winner but when the ball was moved wide to Hardaker in space he was unable to hold on to the pass.
His struggling side stay in ninth, after a sixth defeat in seven Super League games this season.
Warrington head coach Sam Burgess:
“We will never wave the white flag and roll over and our pre-season was designed with that in mind and not let us do that. I’m pleased with the win in a tough game and we looked pretty tired and flat at the start, so I’m happy for the team that they got the win.
“We had our moments in the game but probably weren’t quite ourselves and we needed some great efforts to get the job done.
“It’s hard to turn up and be physically ready each week, there are always going to be those little dips and I was really proud of their character. Leigh challenged us all day but I know we can stay in games and have the players who can come up with something.”
Leigh boss Adrian Lam:
“It was very disappointing, I’m heartbroken really as I thought we did enough to get the victory. It’s the hope that kills you and obviously everybody is really flat after that, the dressing room is flat.
“I have questioned the group on why we couldn’t score when we needed to the most because we have been able to do that in my time here to be able to kill games.
“As disappointed as I am, the lads put so much effort in and haven’t got what they deserved. We have to stick with the process, no doubting each other or pointing fingers, we are in a strong position on and off the field. There are positive signs and the dressing room is really strong and well connected.”
Warrington: Dufty, Thewlis, Wrench, King, Ashton, Williams, Hayes, Harrison, Walker, Philbin, Nicholson, Fitzgibbon, Crowther.
Interchanges: Ratchford, Vaughan, Bullock, Powell.
Leigh: Moylan, Hanley, Hardaker, Leutele, Charnley, McNamara, Lam, Amone, Davis, Mulhern, O’Donnell, Halton, Trout.
Interchanges: Hughes, Norman, Holmes, Dwyer.
Referee: Liam Moore
