A dominant win for Wigan tonight against Leeds showed that the Warriors have addressed the drawbacks off 2021.
The Cherry and Whites played with flair and freedom despite the conditions and that proved too much for the Rhinos as they blew them apart with some fantastic tries.
For Leeds it’s back to the drawing board. They’ve suffered two defeats in two games and were well below par tonight despite a solid first 20 minutes.
Highlights:
Blake Austin debut try
Things couldn’t have started better for Leeds. The Rhinos looked well and truly on top, as they did against Warrington last week, rolling Wigan down the pitch. They even made the pressure count when Blake Austin crossed for a lovely debut try. Unfortunately for Leeds things unravelled from there.
Trysaver on Tindall
Liam Tindall had an impressive showing despite the defeat in his first appearance since summer of last year. He set the field a light when he broke blitzing passed Liam Marshall and seemingly heading for a try before Jai Field cut him down. This was the turning point in the game.
Jai Field hat-trick gets off to bizarre start
Jai Field has perhaps been the player of the opening two rounds and the real surprise package. Today his sublime hat-trick, complete with two superb tries from offloads one from his own half, was the difference between the two sides. It started strangely when, after a difficult start for the Warriors, a dropped ball was flicked up by the boot of Jake Bibby with Field collecting the ball and scoring.
That's why you should play to the whistle 🤣🤷
A try in some very odd circumstances, with Field grabbing the ball before it hits the ground and playing on before scoring behind the posts. Converts too.
Wigan Warriors 6-6 Leeds Rhinos pic.twitter.com/JdY8VfnNp4
— Sky Sports Rugby League (@SkySportsRL) February 18, 2022
Major Talking Points:
1. Rhinos rampant first 20 fizzles out
Leeds looked like they were on course to turn a solid performance into a win, unlike last week, when they bossed the first quarter. Zane Tetevano and Matt Prior got on top of their opposite numbers and Kruise Leeming showed plenty of classy touches. Blake Austin even crossed for a superb opening try with some lovely footwork. After that things collapsed for Leeds. Once Field had poached a somewhat bizarre try it was one way traffic. It was as if, on this windy night, that the wind was taken out of their sails.
2. Warriors revolution in attack
The big problem Wigan had in 2021 was their attack. That was perhaps the reason behind them finishing fourth after such success in 2020. But based off what we’ve seen so far in 2022, that won’t be a problem this year. The Warriors killed Leeds with offloads today with quick players like Jai Field feeding off them and devastating the Rhinos. They also showed a willingness to do unconventional things with the ball which Leeds struggled to deal with.
3. Field the man
I doubt many people saw Jai Field as a Man of Steel contender, but the exhilarating fullback has been the best player in the first two rounds. With speed and skill, he seems unstoppable in attack especially the way Wigan want to play with offloads. Somehow the Warriors don’t even miss Bevan French.
Player Ratings:
Wigan Warriors
23 Jai Field – 10
3 Zak Hardaker – 7
21 Kai Pearce-Paul – 9
2 Jake Bibby – 7
5 Liam Marshall – 7
6 Cade Cust – 8
7 Thomas Leuluai – 8
8 Brad Singleton – 6
9 Sam Powell – 8
15 Kaide Ellis – 7
12 Liam Farrell – 7
13 John Bateman – 7
11 Willie Isa – 7
Substitutes
10 Patrick Mago – 8
14 Morgan Smithies – 7
17 Oliver Partington – 7
20 Liam Byrne – 8
Leeds Rhinos
1 Jack Walker – 5
29 Liam Tindall – 7
20 Tom Briscoe – 6
4 Liam Sutcliffe – 5
5 Ash Handley – 6
6 Blake Austin – 6
7 Aidan Sezer – 5
10 Matt Prior – 7
9 Kruise Leeming – 7
13 Zane Tetevano – 7
21 Morgan Gannon – 6
15 Alex Mellor – 6
17 Cameron Smith – 7
Substitutes
8 Mikolaj Oledzki – 7
19 Bodene Thompson – 5
25 James Donaldson – 5
26 Corey Johnson – 5
