The Wigan Warriors reclaimed their position at the top of the Super League with an important win against local rivals, the Leigh Leopards. However, the manner in which they secured this victory may have provided even more reassurance to the reigning champions than the outcome itself.
After suffering back-to-back defeats and a lackluster win against Huddersfield last Thursday, questions arose regarding whether Matt Peet’s team was beginning to waver. This was particularly concerning given their remarkable season, which included triumphs in both the World Club Challenge and the Challenge Cup, solidifying their status as the leading team in club rugby league.
With star players Jai Field and Bevan French absent, the possibility of Leigh securing their first win at Wigan since 1982 seemed plausible, especially with Wigan’s recent performance levels. However, Wigan dominated the first half, amassing a substantial 22-0 lead by the interval.
Leigh showed improvement after the break, but they faced an uphill battle after the damage was done. They now need to overcome a five-point deficit to break into the top six as they head into the final seven rounds of the season.
The potential for Leigh to bridge that gap depends on which version of their team appears. After halftime, they demonstrated creativity in their attack and solid defense against the world champions, but their initial performance was lacking. Nevertheless, Wigan quickly eased any concerns about their own form early in the match.
The scoring began in the sixth minute when Junior Nsemba powered through weak Leigh defense to break the stalemate, and matters only deteriorated for the Leopards as the first half progressed. With their key full-back, Matt Moylan, clearly unfit, Wigan exploited the situation.
A strategic play involving Nsemba resulted in Jake Wardle’s try, increasing the score to 10-0. Even though the intensity of the match briefly balanced, it felt as if the game was settled during the final six minutes of the first half, when Wigan scored two additional tries. Adam Keighran broke free to score before Patrick Mago pushed through to add another.
Moylan was substituted at halftime, obviously struggling to keep pace, but the Leopards significantly improved in the second half. They notched up the first try of the half when Lachlan Lam broke away to score under pressure, creating the possibility for a comeback, especially if a few more opportunities had materialized.
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However, Leigh had already left themselves too much to overcome. Wigan’s performance dipped in the second half, yet the try scored by young forward Harvie Hill helped to re-establish a comfortable lead.
Despite not performing at their best for the last month, Wigan now finds themselves two points clear at the top with seven games left in the season. The quest for a treble in 2024 remains firmly alive.
