The first Super League play-off semi-final takes place tonight as Wigan Warriors host old adversaries Leeds Rhinos at the DW Stadium. It is a heavyweight clash between arguably the biggest two clubs in the British game and Matty Peet’s side will go into the game as favourites.
Yet the Rhinos have enjoyed a remarkable resurgence under Rohan Smith and will fancy their chances of defying the odds again to reach Old Trafford. Here, Rugby League Live assesses a number of angles surrounding the game.
Wigan will take some stopping on home soil. With the Challenge Cup already under lock and key at the DW Stadium, Peet and his players have their sights on bringing home the Super League trophy. Not since 2018 – in Shaun Wane’s final game in charge against Warrington Wolves – have the cherry and whites won a Grand Final.
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After three years under Adrian Lam, Peet is writing a new chapter in Wigan’s illustrious history, having already lifted the first big trophy of the season. The Warriors have won every game on home soil this season and have also enjoyed the benefit of a week off.
But as the past few weeks have showed, it would be unwise to write off Leeds. Despite their injury problems, the Rhinos are bubbling with confidence right now and the collective desire among Smith’s players is clear to see. History shows the Rhinos can reach Old Trafford and win from fifth place and they will be out to write another fairytale.
Playing Oledzki could be a big call – for club and country Mikolaj Oledzki sustained a shoulder injury during last Friday’s win at Catalans Dragons in the play-off eliminator.
"He's got an AC joint injury so he's probably touch and go," Rohan Smith said on Tuesday. "We'll wait and see how things settle in the next couple of days. We're just letting it settle and recover, I don't have a gut feeling on it. He's a tough kid and he'll want to play but we'll have to go through the process and assess closer to the time."
Leeds need Oledzki fit for tonight’s game - the Poland-born England international has enjoyed a fantastic season and been an ever-present so far. Legendary ex-Leeds prop Adrian Morley this week told Rugby League Live that Oledzki is “the cornerstone of the Rhinos’ pack”.
His impact during games is clear to see but, the concern would be that if Oledzki plays and the injury has not fully healed, he does further damage by playing against Wigan with the World Cup looming. Oledzki will be desperate to represent England this autumn and he deserves to.
Departing players will ensure an emotional affair As is the case at every Super League club, there will be a turnover of players at Wigan and Leeds at the end of the season. Bevan French’s future with the Warriors remains up in the air, Jake Bibby is expected to leave the club and cherry and whites legend Tommy Leuluai is retiring.
Assistant coach Lee Briers is also departing and James McDonnell is joining the Rhinos. As for Leeds, Liam Sutcliffe, Brad Dwyer, Tom Briscoe, Bodene Thompson and Muizz Mustapha are all set to move on. The future of ex-Wigan star Zak Hardaker is also uncertain, plus assistant coach Sean Long this week confirmed he is departing Headingley.
Regardless of the outcome this evening, raw emotion will be everywhere. Atmosphere should be something special There will be a sense of occasion at the DW Stadium tonight with Leeds fans heading across the Pennines in force. Over 4,000 Loiners will make the trip as the Rhinos look to reach their first Grand Final in five years. Wigan are also set to be well supported and a crowd in the region of 12,000 is expected.
These are the games that rugby league fans live for – the intensity, the drama, the chance to sing yourself hoarse for 80 minutes. Any match-up between these Roses rivals is guaranteed to stir the blood and tonight will be no different, especially given what is at stake.
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