Leeds Rhinos delivered a commanding performance against Wigan Warriors, leaving interim head coach Brad Arthur impressed as his team cruised to a comfortable victory. The match saw tries from Harry Newman, Lachie Miller, James McDonnell, and Rhyse Martin, who also demonstrated impeccable accuracy with his kicking, contributing significantly to the surprisingly one-sided result. This win not only closed the gap on sixth place to just four points but also sent a strong message about the Rhinos’ potential as they enter the closing stages of the season.
Wigan Warriors, who had recently been dethroned from the top of the table by Hull KR due to points difference, struggled to find their rhythm at Headingley. Despite a valiant effort, the match proved to be a challenge too great, particularly given it was their third game in just ten days. The Warriors managed to score a late consolation try through Liam Marshall, but by then, the damage was done. Adding to their woes, Wigan finished the game with only 12 men after Harry Smith was sent off for deliberately striking James Bentley with his forearm following a tackle.
Brad Arthur, while satisfied with the performance, emphasized the importance of consistency moving forward. “We’ve been chasing that 80-minute effort, and I thought we did that today,” Arthur commented post-match. He expressed some disappointment at conceding a try, believing the team had worked hard enough to deserve a clean sheet. “We lacked a little bit of detail at times under pressure, but we’re getting better at it. You can see some signs. It’s very hard for me to be critical because they’ve worked their backsides off today,” Arthur added. He highlighted that in recent games, the Rhinos had struggled around the 25-minute mark, often losing momentum. However, in this match, despite a few errors, the team managed to defend effectively, particularly in the first half when they thwarted Wigan’s advances on multiple occasions.
When asked about his future with the club, Arthur admitted that the win was encouraging but cautioned that the team needs to replicate this performance consistently if he is to consider staying on next season. “Yeah, it does [excite me about staying], but they need to show me that again next week and then the week after that,” Arthur stated, underlining the need for sustained excellence.
The match began with Wigan enjoying substantial possession near the Leeds try line, but they were unable to break through a well-drilled Leeds defense. The deadlock was finally broken in the 17th minute when Leeds executed a long-range try. Lachie Miller made a break, sending Rhyse Martin down the left flank before supporting him to receive a return pass. Miller then fed the ball to Harry Newman, who crossed the line to score. Newman’s try was initially questioned by the returning Wigan full-back Jai Field, but video referee Ben Thaler confirmed the grounding, and Martin added the conversion with ease.
Leeds further extended their lead just before halftime. A high tackle by former Rhinos player Sam Walters on James Bentley resulted in a penalty. Acting quickly, Arthur signaled from the bench to take the two points on offer, and Martin dutifully slotted the penalty, pushing the Rhinos further ahead.
In the second half, Martin continued to capitalize on Wigan’s errors. After Wigan were penalized for offside following a break by Miller, Martin once again stepped up, although there was a moment of hesitation as Miller chose to step inside rather than pass to Newman, who was open on his left. Despite this, the Rhinos maintained control, and in the 55th minute, Miller redeemed himself by finishing off a well-coordinated passing move in the corner. Twisting in the tackle, he managed to stretch out and ground the ball with his left hand, securing another try for Leeds.
This sequence of events demonstrated Leeds’ growing confidence and cohesion on the field. The combination of sharp attacking play and solid defense proved too much for Wigan, who were left to reflect on a tough outing. As the season progresses, Leeds Rhinos will look to build on this performance, with Arthur’s call for consistency serving as a guiding principle for the team’s ambitions.
