Jon Wilkin explains why the second half was so different as Leeds Rhinos defeated Wigan Warriors

In the first half as Leeds Rhinos fell 14-0 down before having a man sent off, Jon Wilkin didn’t pull any punches as he assessed the Rhinos.

“Leeds look in pieces. It’s just ugly from Leeds, it’s scrappy,” he said.

“There is a looseness in Leeds’ mentality. There is a lack of attention to detail that Leeds have brought with them.

“There discipline has been scratchy, they’ve made errors and when they get into good areas they make shocking errors and gifting the ball back to Wigan.”

He said “alarm bells” would be ringing for the Rhinos with a comprehensive defeat starring at them:

“Alarm bells should be ringing. We built this up and Leeds haven’t delivered here have they.”

However, in the second half it was a case of chalk and cheese.

Wilkin explained what changed in the second half:

“They have been more aggressive. In the first half they were too lateral in the first half and now they are playing direct and that is no longer a passive defence.

“They are playing at a different intensity.

“The intensity that Leeds are playing at in this second half is so impressive and the away fans at that end are thriving. The difference is that they get up when there is application in defence the fans get up.”

Barrie McDermott added: “It is not just with the ball that they have changed their attitudes.”

As Wilkin said: “Wigan are rattled.”