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globalrugbyleague - Thu, 11 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMTLeeds have booked their place into the Grand Final after seeing off Wigan 36-6 last Friday night.
The Rhinos were always in control of the game before their home fans.
Up front the forwards were physical, winning most collisions, which in the end laid the platform for a first half whitewash.
Leeds were up 16-0 tat half time but it could have been by more.
However Wigan got the all important first score of the second half as a carefully weighted grubber from Thomas Leuluai on the last was collected by Barrett who found Pat Richards on his inside.
Richards converted his own try to put Wigan within two scores of what would have been another amazing candy cane comeback.
The Warriors rocked the Rhinos for a five minute period after their first try but Leeds coach Tony Smith soon smelt the danger and threw Peacock back into the action.
Leeds started to take control again and the Wigan pack was quickly out enthused.
The killer blow came with 20 minutes remaining as Rob Burrow scampered his way through the Wigan defence to crash over with ease.
Rhinos fullback Brent Webb then destroyed any faint hope Wigan had by scoring fourm minutes later.
In the 75th minute Burrow grabbed a double to seal a convincing win for Leeds who are now only days away from possibly winning Tony Smith a second premiership before his reign is over.
Smith told the BBC: “I felt my boys were ready for this and they did a great job - I really can't fault them.”
Warriors coach Brian Noble could hardly disagree:
“Leeds were the better team on the night because of all the little things they did well.
“It's disappointing, but good luck to them - they've been playing well recently.”
Just like the NRL Grand Final, the Super League Grand Final this year involves the top two sides over the regular season and with a single point separating the two heavyweights, it’s a tough one to call.
Leeds 36: Tries – Webb (2), Lauitiiti, Burrow (2) Goals – Sinfield (7)DGs – Sinfield (2)
Wigan 6: Tries – Richards; Goals - Richards
Leeds: Webb, Donald, Toopi, Senior, Smith, McGuire, Burrow, Leuluai, Diskin, Peacock, Jones-Buchanan, Ellis, Sinfield, Lauitiiti, Bailey, Kirke, Ablett, Tansey. Coach: Tony Smith.
Wigan: Bailey, Richards, Barrett, Leuluai, Fielden, Higham, Palea'aesina, Hock, Fletcher, O'Loughlin, Vaealiki, Millard, Prescott, Hansen, Goulding, Hill, Colbon, O'Carroll. Coach: Brian Noble.
Referee: Steve Ganson (St. Helens)
Attendance: 16,000 - Read More, Here
The Rhinos were always in control of the game before their home fans.
Up front the forwards were physical, winning most collisions, which in the end laid the platform for a first half whitewash.
Leeds were up 16-0 tat half time but it could have been by more.
However Wigan got the all important first score of the second half as a carefully weighted grubber from Thomas Leuluai on the last was collected by Barrett who found Pat Richards on his inside.
Richards converted his own try to put Wigan within two scores of what would have been another amazing candy cane comeback.
The Warriors rocked the Rhinos for a five minute period after their first try but Leeds coach Tony Smith soon smelt the danger and threw Peacock back into the action.
Leeds started to take control again and the Wigan pack was quickly out enthused.
The killer blow came with 20 minutes remaining as Rob Burrow scampered his way through the Wigan defence to crash over with ease.
Rhinos fullback Brent Webb then destroyed any faint hope Wigan had by scoring fourm minutes later.
In the 75th minute Burrow grabbed a double to seal a convincing win for Leeds who are now only days away from possibly winning Tony Smith a second premiership before his reign is over.
Smith told the BBC: “I felt my boys were ready for this and they did a great job - I really can't fault them.”
Warriors coach Brian Noble could hardly disagree:
“Leeds were the better team on the night because of all the little things they did well.
“It's disappointing, but good luck to them - they've been playing well recently.”
Just like the NRL Grand Final, the Super League Grand Final this year involves the top two sides over the regular season and with a single point separating the two heavyweights, it’s a tough one to call.
Leeds 36: Tries – Webb (2), Lauitiiti, Burrow (2) Goals – Sinfield (7)DGs – Sinfield (2)
Wigan 6: Tries – Richards; Goals - Richards
Leeds: Webb, Donald, Toopi, Senior, Smith, McGuire, Burrow, Leuluai, Diskin, Peacock, Jones-Buchanan, Ellis, Sinfield, Lauitiiti, Bailey, Kirke, Ablett, Tansey. Coach: Tony Smith.
Wigan: Bailey, Richards, Barrett, Leuluai, Fielden, Higham, Palea'aesina, Hock, Fletcher, O'Loughlin, Vaealiki, Millard, Prescott, Hansen, Goulding, Hill, Colbon, O'Carroll. Coach: Brian Noble.
Referee: Steve Ganson (St. Helens)
Attendance: 16,000 - Read More, Here