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Well, Leeds know how to win it from fifth place after all. But as the fans started to walk out of the DW Stadium in the final moments here, you felt the attention was not so much on the Rhinos’ hopes of a ninth Super League title remaining alive, but on the fact. that in truth, Wigan Warriors and their supporters had finally been put out of their misery in 2021.
Leeds hadn’t won at Wigan for eight years before this season. Since then, they’ve stopped the Warriors from scoring twice in a matter of weeks, here in a way that ultimately summed up one of the most forgettable seasons in the history of this great and proud rugby union club. Despite much effort, the Warriors were devoid of creativity on offense at crucial times this year, and how that point was made here.
In truth, any team that has failed to score five times in a season – including four at home – is not entitled to a grand final. Leeds did enough to finally end any lingering doubt that Wigan could revitalize for the playoffs, with Ash Handley trying in the second half enough to secure a trip to either the Catalans or St Helens over the course of the second week. They will have to improve next week, but here they didn’t really need to get out of second gear.
“Rugby league is a game of thumbs up,” Wigan coach Adrian Lam said as his tenure ended with a whimper. But on too many occasions this year, Wigan has been miles, not inches, from the best teams in the competition. “We were brave, but that’s how it ends sometimes. This club will always be great, and the group deserves a little more than they feel tonight.
For Wigan, attention will now turn to who will succeed Lam in 2022, and they have an almighty rebuild in their hands at DW Stadium. But it was finally Leeds night, as they kept their hopes of winning the Grand Final from fifth place alive again. The only team to win at Old Trafford after finishing so low in the Super League standings, Handley’s second-half try proved to be the difference.
“They have always defended well and points are hard to come by here,” said Leeds coach Richard Agar. “You thought it would still be the case here. We haven’t talked about the past and winning from fifth place, but we’ll get ready for another huge game afterwards. Will Leeds need to improve to progress next week? Almost certainly. But here you couldn’t really discuss the end result.
After a first half with few clear chances, you always felt that the team that scored first after half would take the initiative. This happened as the hour approached when a kick from Kruise Leeming found its way into the arms of Handley, who ran freely out of the deadlock. Rhyse Martin converted, and any idea of a Wigan response was quickly dispelled as they huffed and puffed.
By the time Martin added a penalty to bring the score to 8-0 in the dying moments, many home fans had already headed for the exits. Leeds live to fight another day, but for Wigan there is a monumental winter ahead.
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