Wigan Warriors head into the playoffs with a huge victory over Leeds Rhinos, as a Bevan French masterclass gave Matt Peet’s side the two points.
Two tries from the 2023 Man of Steel, whilst also being involved in a couple of others too, gave Wigan the victory. Abbas Miski and Jake Wardle also crossed, with Chris Hankinson adding the first Leeds try if his career.
Whilst there was no meaning of the game in terms of the league table, both sides wanted a strong showing heading into the finals series, and for the majority, Wigan achieved that.
Here are the biggest talking points from tonight’s game:
Playoff matches confirmed
The result at the Brick Community Stadium means we now who who will face who in the first round of the playoffs.
Leigh Leopards third place finish is rewarded with a home tie over Daryl Powell’s Wakefield Trinity, who made the six at the first time of asking following their promotion back to Super League. That game will take place on Friday 26 September.
The following day, tonight’s losers Leeds Rhinos will take on St Helens at AMT Headingley. Whilst it may be a home match for Brad Arthur’s men, Leeds have failed to beat Saints on home turf since 2017, and will need to overturn that stat should they want to progress to the semi-finals.
Bevan French masterclass
Bevan French’s performance once again was worth the entry fee alone, as he dismantled the Rhinos with ease. Targeting Leeds’ left edge defence, his assist for Miski’s opener was just the beginning, as he went on to score two of his own to increase Wigan’s lead to 18-0.
It wasn’t just French’s attack that was to be admired, as his cover defence was also on show. Chasing down James Bentley who broke free with an intercept, the stand off brought him down and not only made the tackle but stole the ball one-on-one to regather the ball for his team.
Much has been said of Jake Connor’s Man of Steel-worthy season in 2025, but French can’t be far behind and you can only wonder where the Warriors would have finished in the table had he not picked up an injury half-way through the season.
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Rhinos rue to miss injured trio
Leeds took to the field without their two best players this season, as Jake Connor continued to recover from the rib injury picked up at Huddersfield Giants and Lachie Miller was left out as a precaution due to a minor knock. Ryan Hall also missed just his second game of the year, as Max Simpson filled in his place on the edge.
That left Hankinson, who scored his first try in Rhinos colours, filled in at full back, in what was only his 12th career game in the position. Jack Sinfield also remained in the halves to partner Brodie Croft, but once again failed to have even half as much impact as Connor does.
Croft, try as he might, failed to create any attacking threat, with the Warriors defence targeting the Australian all night.
Rhinos fans will be hoping the trio will be back fit for next week’s tie against the Saints, in what will be the biggest game of their season to date.
