Wigan Warriors fell to their third straight defeat on Wednesday night as they lost 14-0 against Leeds Rhinos.
Here’s a look at the talking points.
Attack non-existent
Just a few weeks ago, this Wigan Warriors side was racking up 50 points in a home clash with Leigh Centurions and looking capable of getting their show back on the road.
Of course, the quality of opposition has to be taken into account there, but four games on from that day at the DW Stadium, the Warriors were being booed off at full-time having failed to score a try for the second game running.
They hardly looked like getting over the Leeds Rhinos line on Wednesday night, in truth, as time and again Adrian Lam’s side failed to take advantage of their field position.
Wigan applied plenty of pressure on their visitors, forcing repeat seats and goal line drop outs regularly, but they lacked the nous and the confidence to penetrate Leeds’ defensive line and pose a different question.
The only time the home side came remotely close to scoring was when Jake Bibby barged his way across the whitewash in the second half, but he couldn’t get the ball down through the body of Ash Handley.
Leeds weren’t outstanding but they didn’t have to be, either, as Wigan ensured they had an easy night in defence.
This isn’t a new problem for Wigan, in fact they’ve struggled in attacking areas all year, averaging just 16.04 points per game, which is the lowest in the Super League. Leigh (16.94) and Salford (16.64) have been more potent on average this year.
Key men go missing
Injuries cannot be the excuse for Wigan. The Warriors were missing the leadership of Sam Powell, the spark of Bevan French and the experience of Tommy Leuluai, of course, but Leeds were missing key men, too, and it’ll be the same story for every team they face between now and the end of the season.
The difference was the Rhinos' main players on the field stood up and made sure they were accounted for, Wigan’s went missing.
The likes of Jackson Hastings, Jai Field, who admittedly is still trying to find his feet in the Super League after a lengthy injury, Oliver Gildart, John Bateman and Zak Hardaker all had to do more on Wednesday night.
The five mentioned above would walk into any side in the Super League, but collectively they were a shadow of usual selves and when Wigan needed them to grasp the team by the scruff off the neck and gain control of the contest, they were found wanting.
Where’s the next win coming from?
Wigan’s third straight defeat means they’ve eventually been sucked into the battle that has been going on beneath them in the league table.
The Warriors are still in a good position to qualify for the play-offs, sitting fourth with a win percentage of 57.14, but the likes of Leeds, Hull KR, Hull FC and Castleford are nipping at their heels now as Lam’s side stumble towards the finish the line.
Wins for the two Hull clubs tonight would really turn the heat up on the Cherry and Whites and on current form, their remaining fixtures look extremely challenging.
Wigan go to in-form Castleford Tigers on Monday in a state of desperation. They then meet Warrington Wolves at Magic Weekend, Hull at the MKM Stadium and league leaders Catalans in their only game remaining at the DW Stadium.
Unless something changes over the coming days, Wigan will struggle to win any of their remaining fixtures.
