This weekend was always going to be a massive weekend of rugby league as Leeds Rhinos and Wigan Warriors clashed, Warrington Wolves playing in a huge game against Salford Red Devils and Leigh Leopards again having a chance to test themselves against the Champions St Helens.
It was a fantastic effort from Leigh who were in some ways unlucky to come up short.
However, even though coach Adrian Lam saw it that way, not everyone did with one fan slamming the side.
Sorry the people replying to this are chatting shite there was no 50/50 this was a game that we didn’t finish off, saints were garbage going forward and we still scored 4 times, incredible https://t.co/jMGxAwqC87
— Ben Greenall (@BenGreenall) September 8, 2023
One fan however said they were “one bad decision” away from the win.
Proud as fuck, two key men rested and one bad decision away from a massive win https://t.co/VGuc1J8QQe
— Lewis Gildart (@lewis_gildart) September 8, 2023
This was somewhat echoed by another fan.
Not bad considering it was 15 Vs 13 for the entire game and they all had their best game of the season.
Still massive, still in the playoffs, still going to knock you out of the playoffs. 🤷‍♂️ #UptheLeopards #betheroar #LeopardsareMassive #LTID https://t.co/sjlWg7Uoiz
— James Pike (@JamesPike1702) September 8, 2023
Remarkably one fan claimed they were “cheated out of the game.”
Cheated out of the game by the officials, Chris Kendall and co, it’s a fucking disgrace @TheRFL, sort your fucking shit out! https://t.co/rOZcod0czx
— Jamie (@jamie__c95) September 8, 2023
It was a physical affair from minute one given the angst between the two clubs going into the game tonight and that created some of the best and most ferocious tackles you will see all season.
Saints heaped the pressure on the Leopards early but after earning a penalty the Leopards went down field and created a superb try with a lovely set pattern move.
They might not have had John Asiata to organise their attack, their spine still linked brilliantly with ben Reynolds popping up on the left edge to feed a sweeping move that was completed by Oliver Gildart, his first of the season. That gave Leigh a 6-0 lead but that was soon wiped out.
The Champions struck from deep with Tommy Makinson freed up down the wing and then the ball was kept alive until it was returned to the winger to score and make it 6-all.
The Saints perhaps should have notched another try before the halftime hooter with the pressure they built but that was repelled brilliantly by Leigh.
Then it was Saints making errors at the start of the second half and Leigh had some chances with Zak Hardaker coming close but being denied by some superb cover defence.
However, Leigh would lament those missed chances when a high kick was dropped by Gareth O’Brien and James Roby pounced scooping up the ball and feeding Makinson for a second.
The Saints would back that up when a nice set play allowed Jonny Lomax just enough space to ease through and make it 16-6.
That looked like it would settle matters but Leigh fired a warning shot with a break down the left before a break from Edwin Ipape and an offload let to a try from Rob Mulhern to make it 16-12.
In the dying stages we saw the teams trade no tries with the Saints denied a penalty try before a Tom Briscoe try was denied for a knock on.
But eventually Joe Batchelor was on hand to win the game.
It was a game that showed that James Roby is still the man for St Helens. He made the difference and showed that it could have been a different story in the semi-final had he played.
It was also a game that was really fiery and showed that these two are becoming fierce rivals.
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