Match Report

Wigan Warriors 16 Leeds Rhinos 52

Friday 22nd August 2008, JJB Stadium, Wigan

Gibson didn’t make the seventeen this week, after he scored a try in the clash with Castleford at the Headingley Carnegie last Friday. Kirke also missed out on Bluey’s squad, but it was good news for youngster Kallum Watkins, who only just returned from Australia, touring with the England U18 side. Wigan were missing Richards, Hock and Bailey, but don’t forget that Leeds still have Toopi (knee), JJB (hamstring), Donald (rib), Hall (foot) and Bailey (ankle) out.

The opening exchanges of the game were dominated by the Rhinos, but it was the Wigan Warriors who got the first points on the board. It looked like Leeds were going to score, as they were putting immense pressure on the Wigan line. But a McGuire cross field kick appeared to be knocked on by Barrett, before Tomkins collected the ball to run to the half way line. He didn’t think he could make the extra metres needed, so he made a neat pass to ex-Rhino Mark Calderwood, who then went over under the posts. Klein referred the decision upstairs to Ganson who, after watching the footage for four minutes, award the try to the home side. Phelps added the extras to make the score 6-0.

Just after the twenty minute mark, McGuire’s kick was knocked on by a Wigan defender, and from the resulting six tackles, McGuire put a fast flat pass to his right, allowing Brent Webb to twist over the line. Sinfield added the conversion next to the sticks.

Just two minutes later, McGuire put a grubber kick through to the in goal area which should have been covered by Calderwood, but it was Luke Burgess that managed to dive onto the ball superbly, right before the dead ball line. Sinfield converted to make the score 12-6 to the Rhinos.

On twenty six minutes, Wigan fans thought their side had made it twelve a piece, but McGuire’s tug on Carmont’s shoulder was sufficient to make him drop the right on the line.

Three minutes after that and another Rhinos player made a try saving tackle; This time it was an Ablett ankle tap, but just moments later, a kick into the corner was knocked backwards by Calderwood to Phelps who just strolled over the line. He failed to convert his own try, to keep the score at 12-10.

Just over a minute later and Lee Smith picked up a long pass which hit the deck. He ran the remaining fifty metres to dive over under the sticks, and “That’s why we’re Champions” started echoing around the JJB. Sinfield converted once more to give Leeds an 18-10 lead.

There was only a minute left in the half and after recieving a penalty under the posts, Sinfield spurred the chance to go to the two, and was confident that his side could get the six. And the confidence showed: Three plays after the tap, Leuluai scored from close ranged, a carbon copy of his second try at the Halliwell Jones just a few weeks ago. As the hooter sounded, Sinfield’s kick glided through the posts in front of the Leeds fans.

The Rhinos got off to the best start possible as his kick off was allowed to bounce, eventually finding touch. It meant that we got head and feed in the scrum right on the Wigan twenty. Straight from the scrum, the ball found Webb, who crossed after weaving past the Warrior’s defence. Sinfield found his boot, to make the score 30-10 with almost fourty minutes to go.

Ten minutes later and we were in again: Senior made a break before he put a short pass out to Tansey on the wing. Tansey did the same as Senior did to him, passing to Lauitiiti who ran twenty metres to cross the whitewash under the sticks. Sinfield converted another easy one, 36-10. 

On fifty three, a Rhinos grubber kick went into touch off the boot of Mathers. From the scrum, the ball finally found Senior, and he sidestepped inside to fool the Wigan defence to score. Sinfield converted again. 42-10.

It took eight minutes till the next try, and it was the home side that scored. O’Carroll went over for the red and whites, taking advantage of Klein’s dodgey decision. It was the first time in the night that the Rhinos lacked cohesion, but it was nothing to worry about as the Leeds fans sarcastically stood up and clapped for Wigan. It was still 42-16 to the Rhinos, and this was to be the last time the Warriors would put points on the board.

Lee Smith got his second of the night with eleven minutes left on the clock, as he ran from thirty metres, with his effort ending up over the line in front of the few Wigan fans that were remaining in their version of the South Stand. Sinfield missed his first of the night: 46-16.

It was a great ending to the greatest Rhinos away date at the Wigan Warriors in the Super League era. Robbie Burrow put in a great kick into Watkins’ wing. The replacement managed to stab the ball into the in goal area before lunging on it, beating Colbon. Sinfield added the extras to nudge the Rhinos over the fifty point mark.

It was a great performance by Leeds. Gareth Ellis was man of the match, but head coach Brian McClennan was correct in saying in his post match interview that every Leeds player could have got the award on Friday. 

There were some superb performances by Matt Diskin, Brent Webb, Jamie Peacock and Gareth Ellis especially (as well as others), giving Leeds those precious two points, and running in form ahead of our play off campaign, that will hopefully end up at the Grand Final.

So we got the two points, it’s all down to Saints on Sunday. The points difference has been improved greatly in Leeds’ favor, but Saints are still ahead on that front. They play the Huddersfield Giants at the Galpharm on Sunday. Lets just hope they have one eye on the Carnegie Challenge Cup Final next week at Wembley. It’s already been announced that they will be resting a few big names ahead of that one.

Next up for the Rhinos is Wakefield at Belle Vue in a fortnight. We’ll see you there!

There has also been more rumors circulating about a big signing which is expected to be announced next week at the Headingley Carnegie. Frank Pritchard is apparently the most likely to join Leeds for the start of the 2009 season, but it is by no means certain, as his agent is still denying any links with the Super League. If there is an update, we will confirm it next week.

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