Leeds 42-12 Wigan: Rhinos dominate Wigan in return to Headingley Stadium
Leeds Rhinos celebrated their 62-day return to Headingley Stadium with a dominant 42-12 victory over Wigan in Super League.
The side’s last home game came on May 20 against Wakefield.
Rohan Smith’s side ran in seven tries to bounce back from their defeat away to Toulouse and close in on the play-offs. They are now just one point behind sixth-placed Hull.
Match report
Cameron Smith partnered Richie Myler in the halves. Zak Hardaker was named at full-back to face his former club for the first time since leaving. Yusuf Aydin made his first appearance for the Rhinos from the bench.
Mike Cooper made his Wigan debut from the bench after joining the club this week.
Leeds opened the scoring just five minutes into their return to Headingley Stadium. Liam Marshall couldn’t collect a high kick with competition from David Fusitu’a, and it was Liam Sutcliffe who caught the loose ball to score in the corner. Rhyse Martin converting from wide.
The Rhinos doubled their lead just five minutes later through James Bentley. The Ireland international crossing for his fourth try of the season.
Jai Field and Bevan French combined once again for Wigan’s first try of the evening and their 100th of the season on 16 minutes. The full-back assisting off-contract French for his 21st try of the campaign.
Field went from try provider to try preventer on 24 minutes. The speedster tracked down a free Ash Handley to stop a certain try.
Martin regained Leeds’ 12 point lead on 28 minutes, crashing over from short range and converting his own try.
Smith scored the Rhinos’ fourth try on 31 minutes, finding a gap in the Wigan defence on their own line.
HT: 24-6
Handley once again raced away on 46 minutes, only to be tracked down just short by Liam Marshall this time. However, the returning Harry Newman crashed over from dummy-half to extend the lead.
Bibby hit back for the Warriors on 54 minutes, grounding a kick from French under the sticks.
Meanwhile, Cade Cust left the field, with French moving to full-back and Field in the halves.
However, that glimmer of hope was short lived for the travelling supporters. Brad Dwyer did it all himself on 62 minutes for a 36-12 score.
22-year-old Muizz Mustapha scored his first try of the season and his first for the Rhinos with just two minutes left on the clock for a full-time score of 42-12.
FT: Leeds 42-12 Wigan
Leeds: Hardaker, Fusitu’a, Newman, Sutcliffe, Handley, Smith, Myler, Oledzki, O’Connor, Thompson, Bentley, Martin, Donaldson. Bench: Dwyer, Gannon, Aydin, Mustapha.
Tries: Sutcliffe, Bentley, Martin, Smith, Newman, Dwyer, Mustapha.
Goals: Martin 7/7
Wigan: Field, French, Isa, Bibby, Marshall, Cust, Smith, Havard, Powell, Byrne, Farrell, Pearce-Paul, Smithies. Bench: Ellis, Partington, Shorrocks, Cooper.
Tries: French, Bibby
Goals: Smith 2/2
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