Wigan Warriors had half their pack suspended after the brawl that disfigured their Magic Weekend thumping of St Helens. It made not a jot of difference in last night’s summary dismissal of ailing Stobart Super League champions, who are ten points off Wigan’s pace at the top of the table.
That Leeds successfully arrested a similar slide and triumphed in the Grand Final from fifth place last year is proving more of a burden than an inspiration at this stage. Wigan completed a league double over the Rhinos with ruthless efficiency in setting a benchmark last night.
When Shaun Lunt attempted to relieve the besieged Leeds line in the 77th minute, he succeeded only in chipping the ball into the arms of Brett Finch for Wigan’s ninth try, which Josh Charnley converted to bring up the half-century.
Wigan had their foot on Leeds’s throat from the start and just kept pressing. Carl Ablett knocked on from the kick-off and the home side’s night went from bad to worse. Jeff Lima barged over for the first of five tries before the break. There was more than a suspicion that he failed to ground the ball properly but little doubt about the emphatic nature of Sam Tomkins cruising past Danny McGuire, drawing Brent Webb and offloading to Liam Farrell on his shoulder.
When Tomkins kicked out at Jamie Jones-Buchanan during a combustible half, Ryan Hall forced his way past Charnley. It was a try against the cherry-and-white tide that overwhelmed Leeds during the second quarter. They were fortunate that Jack Hughes had what what looked a legitimate try chalked off. Wigan consolidated five successive sets of tackles when Finch sent Sean O’Loughlin skipping clear.
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Wigan continued to push up in numbers and Leeds were again bamboozled by Tomkins dummying and haring clear for a try by George Carmont that Thomas Leuluai followed up in scrabbling over on the last play. There was no let-up in the second half, as Leuluai picked out Darrell Goulding with a beautiful pass as Charnley registered his 21st league try of the campaign. Anthony Gelling was worked over on the other wing. Hall added his second try but which only prompted another Tomkins breakout for Leuluai’s second touchdown.
Salford City Reds pulled off a shock at home in beating third-placed Catalan Dragons 34-30. Salford ran in six tries, with Jodie Broughton crossing twice, his second try ultimately proving decisive.
Scorers: Leeds Rhinos: Tries: Hall 2. Wigan Warriors: Tries: Lima, Farrell, O’Loughlin, Carmont, Leuluai 2, Charnley, Gelling, Finch. Goals: Charnley 7.
Leeds Rhinos: B Webb; L Smith, C Ablett, Z Hardaker, R Hall; K Sinfield, D McGuire; K Leuluai, S Lunt, J Peacock, J Jones-Buchanan, B Delaney, C Clarkson. Interchange: R Burrow, R Bailey, W Hauraki, R Moore.
Wigan Warriors: S Tomkins; J Charnley, D Goulding, G Carmont, A Gelling; B Finch, T Leuluai; G Dudson, M McIlorum, J Lima, L Farrell, J Hughes, S O’Loughlin. Interchange: E Lauaki, L Tomkins, D Crosby, R Lloyd.
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Referee: J Child.