On Friday night Leeds secured their return to the Super League semifinals.
For the second consecutive season the Rhinos have made the final four from fifth but will want to give it a better go than last year’s when they lost 36-8 to St Helens.
That defeat hasn’t deterred Leeds fans from making the return to Wigan on Friday night with the club confirming impressive ticket sales already despite it being little over a day after confirmation of their semifinal opponents by Salford’s win over Huddersfield.
Leeds fans will be hoping that history is repeating itself and that may be the reason behind the big numbers in terms of the following.
A decade ago after a 27-20 win over Catalans in the playoffs after finishing fifth, Leeds were selected by Wigan in the controversial club call big shocked the Warriors 13-12 to return to Old Trafford where they defied the odds winning the Grand Final from fifth as they also did in 2011.
So could history be repeating itself? Well despite the history behind the fixture it is very much the optimism of the now driving ticket sales with Rohan Smith building a culture and a top playing style at Leeds that has fans believing in the impossible in 2022.
But will Smith’s men have what it takes to beat the brilliant Warriors spear headed by Bevan French and Man of Steel nominee Jai Field?
Leeds fans believe they could, and that’s why they’ve already sold 1200 tickets.
𝗛𝗨𝗚𝗘 𝗙𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗢𝗪𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗢 𝗪𝗜𝗚𝗔𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗬
The Rhinos have sold over 1,200 tickets for Friday's @superleague Semi Final in first 24 hours of sale
Buy now at https://t.co/5Ly9s1IdTg
On the phone from 10am Monday 03714231315
In person from 10am pic.twitter.com/khPcmOqPAS— Leeds Rhinos (@leedsrhinos) September 11, 2022
It’s sure to be a terrific weekend of rugby with Salford also set to take a big following to St Helens after taking over 3000 to Huddersfield this week.
The way it’s going over 6000 away fans could be attending the semifinals this weekend.