The Super League champions, Wigan, took full advantage of another miserable Leeds performance to claim their first victory of the new season, ensuring the Rhinos remain winless under their new coach, Dave Furner.
Leeds led twice in an entertaining opening quarter courtesy of tries for Ash Handley and Brett Ferres but were then thoroughly outplayed by a Warriors side who eradicated the two-point deduction imposed on them by the RFL for a salary cap breach before next weekend’s World Club Challenge against the Australian champions, Sydney Roosters.
“I’m delighted,” their coach, Adrian Lam, said. “It was important for us to respond from last week’s loss at St Helens and lead into the World Club with a good performance.” Leeds have recruited heavily both on and off the field this off-season but they are yet to find any sort of rhythm under Furner. After being well beaten at Warrington last weekend, they were error-strewn and defensively inept for large periods here as they continue to wait for their first victory of the new season.
Furner remained upbeat, however. “I was encouraged – they never gave up and that’s the main thing.” Handley’s and Ferres’s tries gave Leeds six-point advantages but by half-time Wigan, and their outstanding half-back, George Williams, had taken control.
After Dan Sarginson’s earlier try Wigan scored three more before the break to lead 22-12, with Williams playing a part in all three through his superb kicking. “I think he was a bit confused last week about how I want him to play,” Lam said. “But he played both sides of the field tonight and was excellent.”
Ben Flower, Joe Greenwood and Joe Bullock profited from Williams’ brilliance to cross and put the hosts in control. They had plenty of chances after the break to kill off Leeds but did so only in the final quarter as a Zak Hardaker penalty and Williams try put the game beyond the Rhinos. A late Leeds flurry yielded a try for their captain, Kallum Watkins, but it was never likely to mean more than consolation for the hapless visitors.
Wigan Hardaker; Davies, Gildart, Sarginson, Marshall; Williams, Leuluai; Clubb, Powell, Flower, Greenwood, Farrell, O’Loughlin Interchange Navarrete, Isa, Hamlin, Bullock
Tries Sarginson, Flower, Greenwood, Bullock, Williams, Farrell Goals Hardaker 5
Leeds Walker; Briscoe, Watkins, Hurrell, Handley; Lolohea, Myler; Peteru, Dwyer, Merrin, Ferres, Sutcliffe, Ward Interchange Parcell, Donaldson, Cuthbertson, Oledzki
Tries Handley, Ferres, Watkins Goals Lolohea 2.
Referee B Thaler Attendance 11,230
