Super League scheduling often draws its critics but whenever Leeds and Wigan are paired together at Magic Weekend it more often than not turns out to be an inspired decision.
These two giants of Super League have played each other at the last two Magic Weekend events, with only four points separating the sides on both occasions. Leeds versus Wigan games appear to have something few others have and, although the opening two games of this Magic Weekend were enjoyable enough, this was a match that at times took the breath away.
It was a fitting end to what was a record-breaking opening day of the annual event – 40,871 fans packed into St James’ Park to watch three stunning games, with the action culminating in a win for the Warriors against Leeds for the third straight year.
It moves Wigan up to second on the ladder and to within two points of Leeds who are going through a patch of form that is now more than simply a blip.
They were 12-4 up after the opening quarter but failed to score a single point in the last hour to slip ultimately to another defeat.
Their coach, Brian McDermott, said: “We lost that game because we missed too many tackles. It sounds simple but Wigan broke our line too often and poked too many holes in us.
“Games at the top level are won and lost on field position and we found it hard to gain any constant field position because of some poor kicking.” The Rhinos were almost all-conquering in the first 10 weeks of the season but one win from their last five league matches has left them clinging on to top spot.
As for Wigan, it was the perfect response to last week’s 58-16 drubbing by Catalans Dragons in the south of France. “It was a great response from the lads, we’ve bounced back, trained well and people saw the real Wigan today,” said the Wigan coach, Shaun Wane.
“It was a big day for us today and in attack I thought we thoroughly deserved the win.”
Leeds more than played their part in a bruising encounter throughout but tries from Adam Cuthbertson and Joel Moon were the only scores the Rhinos could muster all evening.
George Williams provided a moment of individual magic to haul Wigan back into it soon afterwards, before Joe Burgess put the Warriors into a lead they would not surrender when he raced home from 60 metres for a scintillating score.
The Warriors held a two-point lead at the break and the hostile and tense nature of the game continued well into the second half.
It took until the final 20 minutes for Wigan to shake Leeds off when the impressive Matty Bowen scooped up a loose carry from Ash Handley to race home from 60 metres, before the fullback seized on another loose ball like the ultimate opportunist to confirm the result.
To add further insult to injury there was still time for Matty Smith to tag on a drop goal for Wigan to round off a thoroughly entertaining first day of action in Newcastle.
