Leeds defied the dismissal of the forward Zane Tetevano to produce a remarkable comeback victory at second-placed Wigan Warriors and potentially reignite their stuttering start to the Super League season.
The Rhinos have, so far, failed to build on last season’s run to the Grand Final, winning five of their first 11 games in 2023. But Rohan Smith’s side took a significant step forward here. They trailed 14-0 after half an hour and looked well on the way to a comprehensive defeat, fears that were compounded when Tetevano was sent off for a dangerous tackle on Harry Smith.
But the Rhinos, led by a masterful display from the stand-off Blake Austin, scored six tries to Wigan’s one after the break to run out comfortable winners and inflict only a fourth defeat of the season on the Warriors, who would have been stunned by how a strong opening here was ultimately undone despite having a man advantage for over half the contest.
Wigan were almost immediately on the front foot here. They were physically superior and much the better side with ball in hand, underlined by Leeds turning the ball over cheaply on a number of occasions. There was a sense that such sloppiness would be punished eventually, and the opening try many were anticipating arrived courtesy of the Wigan winger Abbas Miski.
With Smith’s kicking forcing three consecutive sets on the Leeds line, the Warriors eventually found the play to unlock the Rhinos’ defence when Smith and Joe Shorrocks combined to send Miski over in the corner for his fourth try of the season, with Smith converting from the touchline to make it 6-0.
Leeds were comfortably second-best throughout the first half. It felt like a case of when, rather than if, Wigan would extend their lead and the answer arrived 15 minutes from the break. After a Leeds error handed Wigan another attacking opportunity, Bevan French somehow forced his way across the line despite the attention of four Rhinos defenders.
The manner of Leeds’s defence in that moment, passive enough for a full-back to outmuscle four players, summed up their first-half endeavours. Smith then extended Wigan’s lead from the tee after another Leeds error resulted in a penalty and, while the Warriors had not been outstanding in the opening 40 minutes, they were doing enough. However, with five minutes of the half remaining, the Rhinos were given a lifeline as Smith’s pass was picked off in mid-air by Harry Newman, who cut Leeds’s deficit to eight points.
But Leeds were then jolted by a moment of madness from Tetevano. The forward was late and high with a challenge on Smith and the referee, Liam Moore, had no option but to show Tetevano a red card. It was Tetevano’s third dismissal in under three seasons and this time he had left his teammates with a mountain to climb after the break.
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Ashton dives in to seal comeback for leaders Warrington
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Matty Ashton’s late try (pictured) ensured Warrington would keep their place at the Super League summit after a stirring 21-14 comeback win over Hull KR at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
First-half tries from Ethan Ryan and Kane Linnett looked set to lead Willie Peters’ men to a seventh win on the bounce in a scintillating half-hour in which they ruthlessly exploited the hosts’ creaking rearguard. But Wire dragged their way back through Josh Maguire’s try to trail by six at the interval, and Ben Currie levelled before Ashton capped a sweeping move by grounding the game-winning try in the corner with less than 10 minutes remaining.
Leigh‘s fine return to the top tier continued with an impressive 30-4 victory at Huddersfield – the Leopards are fifth, a place behind Catalans, who ran in eight tries in a 46-22 win at Castleford. St Helens host Salford on Saturday. PA Media and Guardian sport
However, what followed in the second half was remarkable. Within three minutes of the restart, Leeds reduced the deficit to two when Tom Holroyd forced his way over before Wigan made a mess of a Richie Myler kick. Rhyse Martin collected on the bounce, and Myler supported on the shoulder to put the visitors ahead against all the odds.
Wigan, all of a sudden, were a mess. It took them until the hour mark to get their act together when Smith’s looping pass exploited the numerical advantage to allow Iain Thornley to level the scores at 18-18 but three minutes later Newman intercepted another stray Smith pass to race the length for his second and put the visitors back in front.
They weren’t done, either. Martin scored their next try to secure victory before two tries in the final eight minutes, as Cameron Smith forced his way over before Liam Tindall picked off another poor Wigan pass in the dying seconds.
