Leeds Rhinos Beat Wigan Warriors to Reach Super League Grand Final

Will Heaver

The Leeds Rhinos ended Wigan Warriors’ unbeaten home record with a 20-8 victory on Friday night. The Rhinos were able to contain Wigan’s star Australian duo of Bevan French and Jai Field which was vital to the win. Wigan started on top and were first to score through Liam Marshall acrobatically finishing in the corner, after top work from half back Harry Smith. The Leeds line was under pressure for most of the half but were able to resist and responded through a Zak Hardaker penalty making the score 4-2, which was the score at half time.

The Rhinos regrouped and scored five minutes into the second half through man of the match Jarrod O’ Connor. The youngster, who was only playing due to an injury crisis, snuck low from dummy half to burrow over for his first ever try for Leeds. The Rhinos scored again quickly through Jake Bentley who jumped on an Aidan Sezer grubber kick to build the lead further.

Wigan were then put in further trouble when star lock John Bateman was sent off for a late and high tackle on Sezer. The Leeds half will now be in doubt for the Final as he will have to go through concussion protocols. Leeds drove home their advantage shortly after when Cam Smith put Bentley through a big hole in the Wigan defence to bring up his second try of the game. Despite being a man down, Wigan did not give up and went close through the electrifying Field but his jinking run was stopped just before the Rhinos defence. Sam Powell would eventually score a consolation try for the home side making it 20-8, but it was too little too late. Leeds coach Rohan Smith, who had only been given the job midway through the season, was understandably emotional after the game having taken this Rhinos side from mid table mediocrity to the Grand Final.

This will be the Rhinos first Super League Grand Final since 2017 and they will face rivals St Helens who overcame Salford Red Devils 1912 in a tight clash. Saints will be missing key man Morgan Knowles after he was given a two-game ban for ‘dangerous contact’ for an incident that saw him sin-binned in the semifinal. The final promises to be an absolute blockbuster affair, and the whole city will be watching with baited breath as both of the sides go to battle at Old Trafford.