Leigh Leopards have progressed to the Super League play-offs but they’ll be ‘sweating’ over the possibility of a ban to one star player.
That’s according to former England captain and current Catalans Dragons man Sam Tomkins who gave his assessment on Sky Sports after Leigh’s impressive 18-12 victory over St Helens.
It was a win that meant Leigh have made the play-offs from the most improbable of positions with the Leopards winning ten of their final twelve matches to secure their top six status.
Injuries and poor form earlier in the season had seemingly made play-off aspirations a dream but Adrian Lam’s side have been the story of the second half of the year and last night’s victory over fellow play-off side St Helens proved that.
Leigh Leopards won the game by being physically dominant and that came from everyone in the team, not simply the big men, with centre Ricky Leutele and hooker Edwin Ipape putting on some of the biggest shots of the night.
For one of those shots from departing centre Leutele, he drew the attention of video referee Ben Thaler and was sent to the sin bin. During his ten minutes off the field, St Helens scored twice to level up at 12-12 before Leigh’s late victory.
It’s now been claimed by Sam Tomkins that Leigh might be worried about the availability of Leutele for next week’s play-off trip to face Salford Red Devils with the Leopards’ veteran a candidate for a ban.
Will Leigh Leopards be ‘sweating’ a ban for Ricky Leutele?
Credit: Imago Images
Assessing how Leigh were able to beat up St Helens on their way to victory, Tomkins explained on Sky Sports: “It looked like Saints were almost demoralised by the end of the game that they were getting hits a lot. There was that much intent in the Leigh defence.”
With a clip of Leutele’s tackle playing in the background, Tomkins’ tone changed as he argued: Ricky Leutele gets this one slightly wrong.”
It was even suggested by presenter Brian Carney that the former Huddersfield man could have seen red as he asked: “Was it lucky not to be a red card? I’d have to ask the question.”
Tomkins wouldn’t go as far as to call it a red card offence but he suggested that Adrian Lam’s side might be anxiously awaiting Monday’s Match Review Panel.
“On first look, I thought there was nothing wrong with it like everybody else but when you see that angle, he clearly does hit him on the chin there.
“I imagine Leigh will be sweating a little bit on that one there.”
Whilst Leigh Leopards did go on to win the game, it was a card that highlighted just how quickly games at the elite level can change. A prime example was how Hull KR lost to Wigan Warriors in Roudn 25 when they shipped two tries during each sin bin and Jon Wilkin has argued that cards could be the most pivotal factor in the upcoming play-off series.
“There’s one thing that’s certain and that is how important cards are in the modern game now. That can change the flow of the game and wow did it change the flow of this game.
“St Helens looked hapless, unable to break Leigh down and that yellow card was crucial for St Helens to get back into it.”
