2021 Super League – Wigan Warriors vs Leeds Rhinos Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is Wigan Warriors vs Leeds Rhinos taking place? Thursday 23rd September, 2021 – 19:45 (UK)
Where is Wigan Warriors vs Leeds Rhinos taking place? DW Stadium
Where can I get tickets for Wigan Warriors vs Leeds Rhinos? Click here for the official Super League ticket section
What channel is Wigan Warriors vs Leeds Rhinos on? Sky Sports Arena
Where can I stream Wigan Warriors vs Leeds Rhinos? Sky Sports subscribers can stream the match online via the Sky Go app
THE TEAM NEWS
WIGAN WARRIORS
- Wigan Warriors ended their regular season campaign with one of their better performances of the year as they shocked top of the table Catalans Dragons to make it back-to-back successes.
- If Wigan are to challenge the teams that finished above them in the table, it is their defensive efforts that will be key with the Warriors conceding just 18 points in their last four matches.
21-man squad: Hardaker, Gildart, Marshall, Singleton, Powell, Isa, Farrell, Bateman, Partington, Smithies, Clubb, Byrne, Smith, Havard, Bibby, Clark, Shorrocks, Pearce-Paul, Halsall, McDonnell, Hastings
LEEDS RHINOS
- Leeds Rhinos were already assured of a spot in the play-offs before last week’s win over Hull KR but they endured that they come into this first game with Wigan Warriors with plenty of confidence having put Rovers to the sword.
- The Rhinos were too good as they ran out 36-12 winners in the one-sided affair in which they did most of the damage in the first half after building a 24-6 lead and they will look to beat Wigan for the second time in succession after nilling them back in their August clash.
21-man squad: T. Briscoe, Newman, Hurrell, Handley, Lui, Oledzki, Leeming, Prior, Mellor, Martin, Tetevano, Dwyer, Myler, Smith, Holroyd, Vuniyayawa, Thompson, L. Briscoe, Donaldson, Broadbent, Gannon
THE PREDICTION
Wigan Warriors and Leeds Rhinos both have plenty of work to do if
they are to mix it with the best teams in the division after they both
underwhelmed for large parts of the season. Those efforts will count for
very little in this play-off contest though, with knockout rugby
hopefully bringing the best out of both teams. Wigan will hope they have
turned the corner of late with three wins in their last four, largely
thanks to strong defensive performances. Leeds ended the campaign with
five wins from seven to book their spot in the top six with their
attacking performances improving after some earlier struggles. However,
this should be a real grind with points at a premium and it would be no
surprise to see another low-scoring game between the two which yields no
more than 40 points.
