Leeds made up for last week’s disappointing loss to Huddersfield with a pulsating 18-14 victory over Wigan on Friday night.

The hosts by no means had it easy against a spirited young Wigan outfit who fell just short and will not use the absence of several key players as an excuse.

Last season’s Man of Steel, Sam Tomkins pulled out of the fixture to join an injury list already including the likes of Lee Mossop and Harrison Hansen.

Nevertheless, the Rhinos started on fire and went ahead with ten minutes played after Danny McGuire scooted blind to send in Ryan Hall.

In-form second rower, Liam Farrell hit back for Wigan after running a great line to take a Blake Green pass.

Video referee Ian Smith, waved away concerns of a knock on at the play the ball allowing Matty Smith to level it up with a conversion.

Ryan Hall came close to responding with what would have been his second but Danny McGuire’s tipped on pass sailed into touch after Joel Moon kept the ball alive with a spectacular offload.

The 25 year-old came close again moments later after an attacking grubber crossed his path but opposition Pat Richards did enough to force an error.

Instead the Warriors hit a 40-20 through Blake Green before nudging ahead through a Matty Smith penalty goal.

Hall came frighteningly close again just two minutes before half-time but Josh Charnley prevented his side going behind with an excellent try saving tackle to hold up his England teammate.

But Charnley, under intense pressure, spilled a kick inside the first five of the second stanza, allowing the defending champions to move ahead with a soft score in the form of Joel Moon.

Liam Farrell was just metres away from levelling it back up but instead his opposite number, Jamie Jones-Buchanan powered over to increase the deficit.

But then former England skipper, Jamie Peacock failed to play the ball correctly from the restart, an uncharacteristic error which paved for Wigan to get themselves back in the game.

The Warriors duly obliged with Liam Farrell extending his purple patch with a searching cut out pass to set up Iain Thornley.

The pendulum looked to have swung their way on their last roll of the dice but
Matty Smith’s kick to the corner was fruitless as Josh Charnley was unable to gather the ball.

Leeds: Watkins, Vickery, Ablett, Moon, Hall, Sinfield, McGuire, Leuluai, Burrow, Peacock, Jones-Buchanan, Delaney, Bailey.
Replacements: Ward, Kirke, Achurch, Moore.

T: Hall, Moon, Jones-Buchanan
G: Sinfield 3/3


Wigan: Richards, Charnley, Goulding, Hughes, Thornley, Green, Smith, Flower, McIlorum, Crosby, Tuson, Farrell, O'Loughlin.
Replacements: Dudson, Taylor, L Tomkins, Burke.

T: Farrell, Thornley
G: Smith 3/3

Referee: Richard Silverwood
Video Referee: Ian Smith