The Wigan Warriors knew that a win would strengthen their claim to the 2024 minor premiership and win in their final game of the season would then guarantee that they would finish in top spot but they were up against a Leeds Rhinos side who beat them comprehensively just a few weeks ago and who themselves needed the win to keep their outside hopes of a play-off place alive.
Wigan were strong favourites with the bookies for the win, despite the Leeds 30-4 victory just five games ago, the smart money on the Rhinos challenge for the six going by the wayside at The Brick.
But these two old adversaries often throw up an intriguing fixture, but it would be a bad Friday the thirteenth for someone.
There were plenty of early warning signs for the Rhinos as the Warriors were breaking their line, seemingly at ease. There were just under five minutes on the clock when the home side took the lead following a kick to the left corner was knocked back infield by Liam Marshall and collected and grounded by a flying Jake Wardle. Adam Kerighran was wide with his conversion attempt, but it was a dominant start from the home side.
Two minutes later they were in for their second, Bevan French in support of a Kaade Ellis break through the line to take the pass and score under the sticks. Keighran was on target this time for 10-0 and the Rhinos hadn’t had a single play in the Wigan half.
As the half wore on, Leeds started to get a foothold in the game turning it into the competition that the crowd had hoped for before a ball was kicked.
When Leeds were pinged for a forward pass on their own twenty on thirty-two minutes it gifted an opportunity for the Warriors, but great defence from the visitors kept them at bay.
Three minutes from the interval Liam Marshall took a Jake Wardle offload for a walk-in try in the corner. Keighran was unable to goal from the left touchline.
In the opening exchanges it looked like the Warriors were going to run in a cricket score, but some good defence from Leeds kept them down to three scores in the opening forty and a half-time lead of 14-0.
Four minutes after the restart the Warriors were in again, Ellis taking a short pass and sliding through a big hole in the Leeds defence for a simple try. Keighran hit the mark for the second time in the game for 20-0, the game over as a competition.
On the hour Wigan ran in their fifth try of the night with Abbas Miski collecting a French grubber to the corner and walking past the Rhinos defence to ground. Keighran hit the target again for 26-0, Leeds now well beaten.
A delightful Harry Smith chip over the top was collected by a sprinting Keighran for a simple try on seventy minutes and when he converted his own try, he moved the score along to 32-0.
The icing on the cake came with a minute remaining when French collected a Smith kick towards the post to run in from ten metres out and dive over. Keighran added the conversion as the final hooter sounded for a 38-0 win.
This victory sees Wigan with one hand on the Minor Premiership and back-to-back seasons finishing top of the table. They now know that a win over the Salford Red Devils next week will secure the title. Leeds, on the other hand, were dealt a blow to their top six aspirations but with Leigh losing at Hull KR tonight the Rhinos still have a mathematical chance of making the six when they travel to play KR next weekend, but on tonight’s showing, that looks like a very remote possibility.
Wigan Warriors: Field, Miski (T), Keighran (T, 5/7 G), Wardle (T), Marshall (T), French (2T), Smith, Havard, Leeming, Thompson, Nsemba, Parrell, Ellis (T). Subs: Mago, Forber, Byrne, Dupree. 18th Man: Walters.
Leeds Rhinos: Edgell, Fusitu’a, Momirovski, Newman, Lumb, Croft, Frawley, Oledzki, Ackers, Sangare, McDonnell, Martin, Smith. Subs: Lisone, Bentley, O’Connor, Donaldson. 18th Man: Nicholson-Watton.
Half-Time: 14-0.
Full-Time: 38-0.
Score Progression: 4-0, 8-0, 10-0, 14-0 : HT: 18-0, 20-0, 24-0, 26-0, 30-0, 32-0, 36-0, 38-0 :FT.
Lead Exchanges: Wigan.
Referee: Liam Moore.
