Leeds Rhinos 0 Wigan Warriors 50

A tough afternoon at Headingley saw Leeds Rhinos lose out to Wigan Warriors 50-0.

Winger Ash Handley returned to the squad after missing the trip to Hull the week before, and Morgan Gannon also moved into the starting squad, having had minutes off the bench against Huddersfield and Hull FC since his injury. Corey Johnson was the only change on the bench, as he was joined by James Donaldson, Leon Ruan and Sam Lisone, who got three tries against the black and whites.

As the sun shone down on Headingley, the heat intensified when both sides entered the stadium to the noise of the South Stand. Wigan’s game plan of turning the Rhinos around with deep kicks got some early success, but it looked to be the home side that found the breakthrough with Harry Newman. A poor ball across the line from the Warriors was fumbled by Kai Pearce-Paul and Newman, with nobody in front of him, had a free run for the try line. The decision was handed up to the video referee, Liam Moore, though and he judged that Jack Sinfield had touched the ball out of Pearce-Paul’s grasp and the try was disallowed.

Off the back of a high tackle from the Rhinos, Wigan scored their opening try through Jake Wardle. As they reached the last tackle of their set, Smith’s cross field kick wasn’t dealt with by Martin and Wardle was there to claim it and score.

Jai Field got among the scorers too as the Rhinos struggled to deal with another cross-field kick and the full back pounced on the loose ball in the in goal area.

Leeds kept on dealing with the relentless pressure on their try line but two more tries from Wigan before the break moved the score to 22 points. Inside the last ten minutes, despite Leeds holding Bevan French out, a quick shift across the field saw Wardle and Liam Marshall link up for the winger to get over in the corner. Wardle got his second of the afternoon as the clock expired as a designed scrum play saw the centre power over. Harry Smith converted three of his four conversions as the Cherry and Whites led 22-0 after the first 40 minutes.

The second half got off to a nightmare start as Hooley’s kick was charged down by Morgan Smithies, who recovered and got the pass away for Pearce-Paul to score under the posts.

For a ten-minute spell, the Rhinos mustered up some valiant efforts but couldn’t make them count on the score board. A half break by Handley got Leeds into good field position and Corey Johnson’s introduction saw the hooker feed James Donaldson for the try line, but referee Jack Smith pulled the play up for a forward pass.

More chances came up short as good hands from Newman and Handley put Walters in touching distance of the try line, but he knocked on under pressure from Junior Nsemba. Wigan responded though as Wardle grabbed his hat trick off the back of flowing move.

Three tries in the final ten minutes closed out the game as the Warriors took the two league points. A late hit on French by Walters saw the Warriors half set up Abbas Miski on a strong line back against the grain for the winger to score and Liam Farrell continued to points haul with five minutes to go.

Patrick Mago and Nsemba shared passes for the prop to ground the ball under the posts and round off a disappointing afternoon for the Rhinos.

Rhinos

21. Luke Hooley, 2. David Fusitu’a, 3. Harry Newman, 12. Rhyse Martin, 5. Ash Handley, 20. Morgan Gannon, 29. Jack Sinfield, 8. Mikolaj Oledzki, 14. Jarrod O’Connor, 18. Tom Holroyd, 19. James McDonnell, 22. Sam Walters, 13. Cameron Smith

Subs: 25. James Donaldson, 15. Sam Lisone, 26. Corey Johnson, 31. Leon Ruan (18th Man - 34. Alfie Edgell)

Warriors

1. Jai Field, 23. Abbas Miski, 3. Toby King, 4. Jake Wardle, 5. Liam Marshall, 2. Bevan French, 7. Harry Smith, 15. Kaide Ellis, 22. Brad O’Neill, 10. Liam Byrne, 17. Kai Pearce-Paul, 12. Liam Farrell, 13. Morgan Smithies

Subs: 9. Sam Powell, 20. Patrick Mago, 27. Junior Nsemba, 34. Tyler Dupree (18th Man - 19. Joe Shorrocks)

Tries: Wardle (17, 38, 63), Field (24), Marshall (33), Pearce-Paul (42), Miski (70), Farrell (74), Mago (78)

Goals: Smith 7/9