Wigan Warriors moved within one win of a domestic double after defeating Leeds Rhinos 40-8 in a battle of Super League’s top two. The Warriors climbed above the Rhinos heading into the final round, with a victory at home to Catalans Dragons next week enough to secure them the League Leaders’ Shield. As for Leeds Rhinos, they must now beat Hull FC and hope the Warriors lose to the Dragons, otherwise they will have to settle for second place, despite holding top spot for several months. Bevan French was the star as he produced two sublime assists and scored a try, with Adam Keighran scoring a hat-trick on an evening when Leeds were badly hampered by the early withdrawal of Lachie Miller, who was forced off with a hamstring injury inside seven minutes.
Keighran scored twice in the five minutes after that, and while Leeds responded through Ash Handley, further tries through Austin Daniel, Liam Marshall, Jai Field and Keighran ensured it was Matt Peet’s side who got the win. The first major moment of the game was arguably the most significant. Miller, a strong contender to land this year’s Man of Steel, pulled up while returning a kick and signalled to the bench immediately to be brought off. Within five minutes of that, Wigan had scored twice.
Daniel, brought into the side after a calf injury to Jake Wardle in the week, showed great pace to burn Leeds down the touchline, and he passed in field for Keighran to score the first of a quickfire brace. The centre missed the conversion but added the next one minutes later after crossing from a sublime Bevan French cut-out pass. That gave Wigan a 10-0 lead. In need of a response, Leeds got one.
After earning a penalty, Jake Connor put a blustering kick to the corner which Handley superbly caught before having the strength to crash over the line. Connor converted to leave Wigan four points ahead after a breathless quarter. Leeds settled well after their score, but when you come up against French in this mood, there’s little you can do. His next piece of brilliance was a joy to behold, cutting out three players with a bulled pass to find Daniel on the wing, who did the rest.
Keighran converted again. Connor tagged on a penalty goal in the final action before the break, but after half-time Wigan took control of the game. Harry Smith’s brilliant cut-out ball saw Leeds short and Zack Eckersley put Marshall over for a key score. Leeds came close through Handley, who was only denied by a brilliant French try-saver, but the Warriors always appeared to have the Rhinos’ number in defence, ending the game as comfortable winners.
Wigan wrapped it up with 14 minutes to play, French finishing a move from deep as Smith produced a superb reverse kick after spotting his halfback partner unmarked on the short side. The Warriors made sure to go out in style. French produced a beautiful assist to send Field hurtling towards the line to score, before Keighran bagged his hat-trick in front of an electric Wigan faithful. Betfred Player of the Match Wigan Warriors’ Oliver Partington speaking to Sky Sports: “We’ve got a job to do next week against Catalans, so we’re not looking past that, but it feels like we’ve got one hand on it (League Leaders’ Shield).
“I think that’s what Wigan fans pride themselves on from the top to the bottom is that effort on the field and not giving in. “It was a massive game, it had that big-game feel, felt like a final and these are the games you want to play in, packed-out stadium, big event and credit to Leeds for putting it on.” On potential of Grand Final being between Wigan and Leeds: “We know we can do it, we’ve beat them twice now but I think they will be stinging and that will fuel them now this time of the season. It’s probably the right time to lose and they can work on it. We’re ready to face them but expect them to be better next time.
” Sky Sports will show every game of the Super League live this season, including two matches each round exclusively live. The remaining five matches will be broadcast on Sky Sports+.
