Thur 13 Feb: SL: Wigan Warriors v Leigh Leopards KO 20:00 (Sky)

[RugbyLeagueGeek]

On 15/02/2025 at 12:07, Father Ted said:

Wigan's usual tackle technique is to tackle the ball carrier whilst he runs into the tacklers

Phil Larder is making a note of this for his next coaching manual

[phiggins]

15 hours ago, Cheadle Leyther said:

A fantastic team effort, inflicting our first win at Wigan since 1983, leaving Wigan scoreless for 82 minutes (when was the last time this happened?). So I was looking forward to the Albert Goldthorpe medal points distribution in the League Express. Imagine my surprise and disgust when 2 of 3nominees named were Wigan players, including Field who managed to botch up a 3 on 1 overlap and was outshone by David Armstrong.

Another example of the big club being favoured.

No particular issue with two Wigan players being named in the 1,2,3. It was a draw after 80 minutes after all, but I found the two selected a bit puzzling. I thought Ellis and Marshall were Wigan's best two players. 

For Leigh, Halton and Ipape probably had the best individual games. Though Ipape's nearly cost us the game in golden point when he got involved with one of the markers, and O'Brien had to rush into dummy half. But given the game was based on defence, I think the key area for Leigh was O'Brien, O'Neill and Hanley defending the channel against Smith, Nsemba and Wardle.  With Brand backing up when needed. It was proper show of defending for your team mates, with O'Brien standing in front of Nsemba to take a hit a few times, but that did enough to allow Hanley and O'Neill to get a hold of him.

I'd probably give O'Brien the mom award. There was bravery in defence, presence of mind when a team mate got distracted, then nailed the drop goal.