Wigan Warriors hosted Leigh Leopards in a Super League semi-final for the second year in a row and whilst the score was not as conclusive as in 2024, the result was ultimately the same.
Matt Peet’s side won 18-6 to progress to a third successive Grand Final and it’s fair to say that Wigan will be heavy favourites, whoever they play, based on Friday night’s performance.
Leigh, who played their part, were strangled for chances with Wigan’s defensive line only breached once and that came amid a combination of a poor defensive read, a piece of Edwin Ipape brilliance, and an unbelievable Owen Trout line.
Trout’s score made it 6-6 with Bevan French having scored earlier in the night and it looked like the scores would be all square at the half, before a sloppy penalty and another moment of Field and French excellence made it 14-6, a position from which Wigan never looked like sacrificing.
It looked like the second half would be scoreless but a Sam Walters try at the death made it 18-6 with Wigan refusing to take the kick as they celebrated their win and a third straight Grand Final appearance.
We’ve picked out the moments and the players that won the game for Wigan Warriors, with Leigh Leopards falling short in the semi-finals once again.
Where the game was won as Wigan Warriors progress to Super League Grand Final
Captain Farrell shines
He missed this game last year due to a bout of illness with Farrell’s replacement, Sam Walters, stepping up and scoring two tries as he put in a Man of the Match performance in the 38-0 win.
This time, both Farrell and Walters started in the second row with Junior Nsemba on the bench and it was Farrell who was at the heart of everything, even Leigh’s try.
With the score 0-0, it was Farrell, aided by Liam Byrne, who put the shot in on Bailey Hodgson with the Wigan skipper’s shoulder knocking the ball out, leading to Bevan French’s first try.
A poor defensive read looked costly when Leigh scored but Farrell was involved in French’s second try as he carried the ball with intent into the defensive line before popping it to Jai Field, who then set up French to blow the game open at 14-6 seconds before half time.
Whilst the second forty was far quieter for Farrell, he found himself everywhere as he put in a brilliant defensive performance in what was his 31st Super League play-off appearance.
Costly Ipape penalty
The moment the game truly changed was when Edwin Ipape gave away a penalty with around two minutes to play in the first half. As Harry Smith sent up another high bomb towards Bailey Hodgson, the Leigh hooker drifted across and then slowed his run to ensure chaser Bevan French could not make it to Hodgson.
It was a blatant example of running a player off the ball, despite Ipape’s protest, and it allowed Adam Keighran a chance to make it 8-6 and put the scoreboard pressure on just before the half.
Wigan then of course get the ball back from the restart and it was from that set of six that Wigan scored their second try, something that arguably should have been defended but can be traced back to Ipape’s needless penalty just minutes earlier.
Jai Field saves Wigan
Wigan’s defence was standing firm in the second half but Leigh were certainly piling the pressure on and their best move came when the ball was shifted wide right and forward Owen Trout found himself on the wing with 30 metres between him and the try line.
Leigh might have hoped for almost every other player to be in that situation and it proved true as Jai Field hunted the forward down and made a try-saving tackle.
It was a reminder that Jai Field is not just a speedster and a threat in attack, but a genuinely brilliant rugby player who can play just as well defensively as he can offensively.
Harry Smith’s boot
Having gained that 14-6 lead at half time, it was a case of hanging onto it for Wigan and they relied heavily on Harry Smith and his kicking game to do that.
In big games, there is nobody better in Super League than Wigan’s number seven at controlling a game and suffocating an opposition. Granted, he misread one pass and then kicked into touch as he scrambled but he was near perfect outside of that.
It’s another strong reminder for why he will be England’s number seven and it’s also worth noting that whilst he saw them home, he also ensured they weren’t under more pressure or even trailing at the half as his kicking game kept Wigan in the game. He’d also held up Owen Trout in the first half and helped Jai Field in that try-saver on Trout, proving his worth defensively.
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Leigh’s dreams of a Grand Final will have to wait as Wigan secure their spot and prepare to defend their crown 👑👏 pic.twitter.com/Sk6BZPFkdu
— Sky Sports Rugby League (@SkySportsRL) October 3, 2025
