After a good first 15 minutes in which The Rhinos could have had a couple of tries when well placed. The Warriors started to get back into the game and got the first try on 20 minutes after a high ball to our left corner was flicked back inside despite the presence of several Leeds players and Tomkins went over - 4-0, no conversion.

We were unlucky to be behind and at this point I was starting to see what a lot of opposing fans have been telling us for 2 years - Keith Senior has had his best days. In the first 20 minutes his contribution to the game had been one dropped pass when all he had to do was collect and fall over the line; an inside pass to nobody when it was not necessary; giving Wigan possession in a good position and a poor effort to get off the ground to collect the bomb from which Wigan had just scored, I put it down to early season rustiness but will be expecting better next week.
Other than Senior we had done little wrong and after 30 minutes I though Ali had got us back into the game but the score was ruled out for a double movement. Unbelievably within 3 minutes of that we were 16-0 down with Wigan scoring 2 tries in 2 minutes through Godwin & Ashton both converted.


HT: 16-0


We came out in the second half looking like we still believed we were in with a shout and after seeing plenty of ball we finally went over on 50 with Shane Millard diving over from close in. 2 minutes later and Danny McGuire went over.

With both tries converted it was 16-12 to Wigan and it was now anybody's game.
Wigan made a couple of clean breaks from distance but we were able to scramble and clear the danger - other than that Wigan caused us few problems. There was no further scoring until 72 when Kevin Sinfield returned to the field and forced his way over again from close range, he converted and we were in front for the first time 16-18 and we deserved it. With a couple minutes to go Jamie Peacock offloaded brilliantly to McGuire who drew the last defender and released to Rob Burrow who went over under the posts, Sinfield converted and the comeback was complete 16-24 and we still looked strong at the end.


FT 16-24


My Opinion: Lee Smith never looked troubled by the threat of Calderwood but is struggling with an ankle injury for next week and I thought Chev Walker had a decent game but the big test will come next week at KR.

This is the first big one of the season but probably a week before we want it fitness wise, it is certainly a game we could do with winning bearing in mind who we have got next up.
With Mark O’Neill still unlikely to feature for a few weeks, I expect the Rhinos to go with the same 17 that beat the Giants last week.

Wigan are likely to be unchanged as well from the 17 that lost in France last week meaning Mark Calderwood in direct opposition with Lee Smith.


My Opinion: Both teams look fairly evenly matched to me with Wigan likely to improve on last year and us going slightly backwards.

A close game but I think the Rhinos will edge it by 6.


Here are the odds for the game..


Team to Score First
Wigan 6/5

Leeds 8/13


Double Result
Wigan - Wigan 12/5

Wigan - Tie 40/1
Wigan - Leeds 6/1

Tie - Wigan 22/1
Tie - Tie 80/1

Tie - Leeds 20/1
Leeds - Wigan 7/1

Leeds - Tie 50/1
Leeds - Leeds 10/11


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