A gutsy Leeds performance at the DW Stadium saw the Rhinos pull themselves into fifth spot on the Super League ladder as they kept Wigan scoreless. Leeds had to deal with plenty of adversity in the first half and came up with the big plays in the big moments to take the game away from the Warriors.
Major Talking Points:
1. Resurgent Rhinos
Leeds have dealt with a lot this season. Whether it’s issues caused by the pandemic, their growing list of injuries or even illnesses like the one which kept Callum McLelland out of today’s game. Thus, it could be said that today’s game encapsulated Leeds’ season. They suffered two sin bins and faced a mountain of Wigan pressure in the first half and yet went into halftime 6-0 ahead. In the second half, Leeds then showed composure and control to wrap up the win. Their defence was especially impressive as they became the first team to keep Wigan to nil at home in 30 years. In fact, it was the first time Wigan have failed to score a point at the DW Stadium.
2. Wigan can’t score
The last time Wigan crossed the whitewash was at Hull KR in the first half. That means Wigan have gone 200 minutes without scoring a try a statistic not befitting of a side who want to be at Old Trafford in October. It’s hard to detect what exactly is wrong at Wigan with star players like Jackson Hastings, Jai Field and Harry Smith in the side. Things just aren’t clicking and you must ask where to next for the Warriors?
3. Outstanding Kruise Leeming
When it comes to the Rhinos, a lot of people like to talk about the likes of Ash Handley, Luke Gale and Matt Prior and rightly so. But when it comes to their player of the season, Kruise Leeming has to be a contender. Whether he starts at nine or in the halves, he is a ball of energy who stretches defences and gets Leeds on the front foot. He created Leeds’ opening try with a delicate kick and that was just the peak of a brilliant display.
Player Ratings:
Wigan
6 Jai Field – 5
22 Jake Bibby – 6
3 Zak Hardaker – 6
4 Oliver Gildart – 5
5 Liam Marshall – 5
20 Harry Smith – 5
31 Jackson Hastings – 5
8 Brad Singleton – 6
25 Joe Shorrocks – 6
14 Ollie Partington – 7
12 Liam Farrell – 7
13 John Bateman – 5
15 Morgan Smithies – 6
Substitutes
19 Liam Byrne – 6
21 Ethan Havard – 6
27 Kai Pearce-Paul – 6
33 Amir Bourouh – 6
Leeds
16 Richie Myler – 7
24 Luke Briscoe – 7
3 Harry Newman – 7
2 Tom Briscoe – 8
5 Ash Handley – 7
6 Rob Lui – 8
9 Kruise Leeming – 9
20 Bodene Thompson – 6
14 Brad Dwyer – 7
10 Matt Prior – 8
31 Morgan Gannon – 8
12 Rhyse Martin – 8
13 Zane Tetevano – 7
Substitutes
17 Cameron Smith – 7
18 Tom Holroyd – 7
19 King Vuniyayawa – 6
25 James Donaldson – 6
