Leigh Leopards edged out Wigan Warriors in the most dramatic way possible to claim a 1-0 golden point win on the opening day of the new Super League season. Remarkably the two sides couldn’t be separated over the course of 80 minutes but the Leopards had the mettle to strike the only the point of the game in sudden death to stun the champions at the Brick Community Stadium.
Here’s our verdict.
The match
Famed boxing announcer Michael Buffer welcomed the two sides onto the pitch and both rose to the occasion as ‘let’s get ready to rumble’ echoed around a sold out Brick Community Stadium.
What followed was more of an enthralling arm wrestle than an all action brawl, though, with defences truly on top in the first 40 minutes of the new season. Wigan went close early doors as Jake Wardle tried to squeeze over in the corner. He couldn’t keep hold of the ball, though, as Keanan Brand and Umyla Hanley forced the mistake.
Tyler Dupree almost got over, too, only to see his charging run halted by some superb scramble defence a couple of metres from the line. Leigh gave as good as they got in the first half and new signings Tesi Niu and Ethan O’Neill looked the part. However, they returned to the sheds in the break without troubling Wigan’s line in the slightest.
Liam Farrell made history by becoming the first man to use the captain’s challenge to unsuccessfully appeal a ball steal and the skipper was sin-binned minutes later for kicking the ball away.
Jai Field saw a try ruled out and Wigan huffed and puffed late in normal time, but they just could not break a resolute and determined defensive line to ensure the game finished 0-0 after 80 minutes.
And, after a David Armstrong tackle bust through the middle of the park, Leigh’s Gareth O’Brien stepped up to win the contest with the field goal.
Good day for
Leigh Leopards. What a night for the Leopards’ defensive line. Adrian Lam’s side have every right to be over the moon with their efforts on the opening night of the season. Wigan threw plenty at them but they had all the answers.
Bad day for
Josh Charnley. The winger was a doubt going into the game and he had to be withdrawn at half-time.
Bigger picture
It wasn’t a game for the ages but it was enough to tell us plenty about Leigh’s play-off prospects in 2025 as they produced the defensive effort of their lives. The Leopards’ new signings impressed, particularly O’Neill and Niu, and their structure and resilience was second to none.
Wigan Warriors will be pleased to have surpassed seven hours without conceding a try, but they’ll be disappointed at their inability to unlock the Leopards’ line.
Teams
Wigan Warriors: Jai Field; Zach Eckersley, Adam Keighran, Jake Wardle, Liam Marshall; Bevan French, Harry Smith; Luke Thompson, Kruise Leeming, Liam Byrne; Junior Nsemba, Liam Farrell; Kaide Ellis
Bench: Tom Forber, Patrick Mago, Tyler Dupree, Harvie Hill.
Leigh Leopards: David Armstrong; Keanan Brand, Tesi Niu, Umyla Hanley, Josh Charnley; Gareth O’Brien, Lachlan Lam; Owen Trout, Brad Dwyer, Robbie Mulhern; Frankie Halton, Ethan O’Neill; Isaac Liu
Bench: Jack Hughes, Edwin Ipape, Alec Tuitavake, Matt Davis.
