Warriors defeat the Rhinos

• Match Report as Wigan Warriors beat Leeds Rhinos to maintain top spot heading into the final round of the season.
• The Warriors scored seven tries in a dominant display at The Brick Community Stadium.
• FT | Wigan Warriors 38-0 Leeds Rhinos.

Wigan Warriors scored seven tries to defeat Leeds Rhinos 38-0 AT THE BRICK COMMUNITY STADIUM.

The Warriors started fast as Jake Wardle and Bevan French crossed for tries in the opening 10 minutes before Liam Marshall scored his 25th Betfred Super League try of the season on the hooter.

Additional tries from Kaide Ellis, Abbas Miski and Adam Keighran in the second half sealed the win for the Warriors who remain two points clear at the top of the table heading into the final round of the regular season.

Report

A ferocious start to the contest saw Wigan open the scoring in the fifth minute with a fantastic try. A kick on the last from Harry Smith saw Marshall collect and get a pass over his head to Wardle to dive in at the left corner. After consulting the video referee, the score was awarded. From the touchline, Keighran was off target but Wigan had an early 4-0 lead.

In the blink of an eye, Wigan doubled their lead as Kaide Ellis broke through the line, with three players in support it was Bevan French who got the inside pass to breeze over under the sticks. Keighran improved the score to 10-0 in the opening 10 minutes.

Following French’s try, Leeds then kicked out on full from the restart to give possession straight back to Wigan. Liam Marshall then fancied a piece of the action as he collected a pass out wide from Field, to put a kick through, chase and ground it himself – however, the score was wiped off with Marshall’s foot going just in touch in the build-up.

Leeds soon found their feet and asked some questions of the Warriors defence but Matt Peet’s men were equal to it as they saw out the danger to maintain their 10-0 advantage. The Warriors had the last say of the half though as Jake Wardle got a flick pass out of the back to Liam Marshall to touch down in the left corner, Adam Keighran couldn’t convert the score but Wigan went into the sheds with a 14-0 lead.

The Warriors restarted strongly as Leeds were penalised for a tackle without the ball on French after a clever grubber in behind. Wigan opted to play as Ellis powered through the Rhinos defence to score his first try since 2022 as Keighran added the extras.

Wardle was denied a second try before the hour when play was brought back for an obstruction, however, the Warriors widened their advantage with 62 minutes on the clock when French’s kick to the corner was collected by Miski to score as Keighran kicked the points.

The Warriors added a sixth try when play was worked to the right edge where Smith’s neat kick was gathered by Keighran who slid in under the posts before converting the kick to give Wigan a 32-0 lead with nine minutes remaining.

Wigan sealed the win in the final minute when another Smith kick was picked up by French who raced ahead of the Leeds defence to score his second. Keighran added the extras from in front of the posts to give the Warriors a 38-0 win.

Gallery:

Wigan Warriors: Jai Field, Abbas Miski, Adam Keighran, Jake Wardle, Liam Marshall, Bevan French, Harry Smith, Ethan Havard, Kruise Leeming, Luke Thompson, Junior Nsemba, Liam Farrell, Kaide Ellis.

Interchange: Liam Byrne, Patrick Mago, Tyler Dupree, Tom Forber.

18th Player: Sam Walters.

Tries: Wardle (5′), French (8′, 79′), Ellis (45′), Marshall (39′), Miski (62′), Keighran (71′).

Goals: Keighran (5/7).

Leeds Rhinos: Alfie Edgell, David Fusitu’a, Paul Momirovski, Harry Newman, Riley Lumb, Brodie Croft, Matt Frawley, Mikolaj Oldezki, Andy Ackers, Justin Sangare, James McDonnell, Rhyse Martin, Cameron Smith.

Interchange: Sam Lisone, James Bentley, Jarrod O’Connor, James Donaldson.

18th Player: Tom Nicholson-Watton.

Referee: Liam Moore

Attendance: 15,146.