Fri 18th Feb: SL: Wigan Warriors v Leeds Rhinos KO 20:00 (Sky)

[John Drake]

Discuss Wigan Warriors v Leeds Rhinos here.

[Chris22]

With the extreme weather due tomorrow, I wonder if this match is in danger of being postponed?

[Tommygilf]

Postponement wouldn't be the worse thing for Leeds given the missing players.

[DavidM]

Wigan by 10

[wiganermike]

Unless there is damage caused to the stadium or nearby buildings early in the day then we won't see a postponement. The wind will be starting to calm by kick off and the weather warning for the area ends at 9 pm. I expect the game will go ahead as planned.

Not too sure which way the game will go as the weather will affect the effectiveness of high and long attacking kicks which got us into a winning position at New Craven Park last week and we haven't seen enough of our play under Matty Peet's coaching to have an idea of how we will cope with different playing styles. This is likely to be more of a grind up the middle given the weather and we haven't stood up too well in those in recent years.

[hunsletgreenandgold]

Leeds should have more than enough to beat Wigan, even with the 3 or 4 players missing. Plenty of able deputies. 

[Chronicler of Chiswick]

Wigan by 6.

[M j M]

Too many Leeds players missing to have a chance in this one. Wigan by 20.

[EagleEyePie]

The weather may play a part in this one. We've played Leeds in poor conditions a few times in recent years and generally it doesn't go well for Wigan and our pack gets overwhelmed. We've a bit more size this year but Mago is the only player who seems to have really strong, dominant carries. Ellis has some size but didn't seem too effective with his carries in the NRL. It should be a good way to judge any improvement in our front row though.

A lot may rest on the kicking game. Cust seemed decent against Hull KR but Leuluai struggled to make ground with his kicks.

Leeds have players missing but I thought they did remarkably well against Wire despite being down a man and were the better team. This game is a great big question mark for me. No idea how it will go. I hope we get a decent crowd for our first home game of the season but I think with the expected weather conditions and the game being televised that's unlikely.

The Wigan lineup should be fairly straightforward. Matt Peet has already said Hardaker will replace Thornley on the wing. I doubt there will be any other changes in personnel so one from Partington, Shorrocks, Smith or O'Neill to come onto the bench depending on what the coach thinks would benefit us most.

[Sir Kevin Sinfield]

Leeds by 1 point 

[FearTheVee]

No idea who will win but looking forward to it.  Shame the weather is likely to limit the prospect of some good rugby - I think bad weather probably works in favour of Leeds.

[Exiled Wiganer]

I think that last Saturday’s efforts will have taken a lot out of Leeds and Wigan will finish strongly enough to win. Our new players will be much better for last week’s run out. 
 

I predict that people on here will be cross. 

[Cw25]

Wigan 34-16 Leeds

[DG70]

Wigan by 16 and Leeds propping up the table with Toulouse.

[M j M]

I hope Long has passed on some of his Wigan-beating nous to Austin as well as his shirt.

 

[Futtocks]

Having watched both sides in Round 1... I have no idea at all who'll win this.

[Harry Stottle]

6 hours ago, Chris22 said:

With the extreme weather due tomorrow, I wonder if this match is in danger of being postponed?

Being said that it will be the worst storm the NW will have seen for 7 years.

[Harry Stottle]

5 hours ago, hunsletgreenandgold said:

Leeds should have more than enough to beat Wigan, even with the 3 or 4 players missing. Plenty of able deputies. 

I think Wigan may just surprise quite a few people this season.

[hunsletgreenandgold]

56 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

I think Wigan may just surprise quite a few people this season.

Agreed - relegation is a risk but I reckon they'll stay up. 

[Gerrumonside ref]

3 hours ago, Harry Stottle said:

I think Wigan may just surprise quite a few people this season.

Nobody talked about them much in the season build up.

[Desert Skipper]

Interested to see how Austin goes. He’s always had a storming debut season at each club he’s played at, and with Leeds pack potentially getting on top he could find himself with a few opportunities. 

I feel if Wigan can move the ball wide they’ll find a way past Leeds though. Who is Briscoe defending against this week? Or is he not selected at centre again after his nightmare with Connor Wrench?

[Chrispmartha]

7 minutes ago, Desert Skipper said:

Interested to see how Austin goes. He’s always had a storming debut season at each club he’s played at, and with Leeds pack potentially getting on top he could find himself with a few opportunities. 

I feel if Wigan can move the ball wide they’ll find a way past Leeds though. Who is Briscoe defending against this week? Or is he not selected at centre again after his nightmare with Connor Wrench?

Re Briscoe, all depends on whether Newman is fit to play, if he is it will be Newman and Sutcliffe in the centres with Briscoe and Handley on the wings.

If Newman isn’t fit its likely Briscoe in tje centre and Broadbent on the wing, id have them the other way round but Agar seems to prefer it that way.

real shame Fusituia is out as he's going to cause havvoc in SL IMO

[Desert Skipper]

32 minutes ago, Chrispmartha said:

real shame Fusituia is out as he's going to cause havvoc in SL IMO

Certainly with Sezer’s kicking he will.

[Chrispmartha]

2 minutes ago, Desert Skipper said:

Certainly with Sezer’s kicking he will.

From what ive seen of Sezer so far he’s a classy player

[Damien]

23 hours ago, Sir Kevin Sinfield said:

Leeds by 1 point 

Precautionary quote just in case you edit again after the event