Testimonial man Ash Handley scores in Leeds Rhinos’ win over Wigan Warriors

LEEDS RHINOS 22 WIGAN WARRIORS 4
PHIL CAPLAN, AMT Headingley, Sunday

IN THE only major hit-out for both sides before the start of the action for real, at an inhospitably cold and wet AMT Headingley, Leeds emerged victorious by four tries to one.

Their head coach Brad Arthur said pre-match: “We don’t get judged on how we train but how we play.”

And injuries notwithstanding, especially to Maika Sivo’s knee, he had much to be encouraged by.

“The game doesn’t mean anything, they get some work physically, but the conditions made it a bash and barge – I liked our reaction and positive response to penalties,” added Arthur.

On Sivo’s knee, he added: “He’ll have a scan tomorrow and hope for the best.”

Based on the opening 40 minutes – when most of the top liners were on for both sides – the Rhinos looked a better balanced, more defensively aggressive side under Arthur’s command.

Wigan selected 15 out of 17 who played in last October’s Grand Final, which saw them complete the Grand Slam, with only Abbas Miski and Ethan Havard missing, and Tyler Dupree starting at prop.

Testimonial star Ash Handley’s journey began as the Rhinos’ ‘Golden Generation’ side was starting to break up and he started the next stage of it in the centre – although for this game reverting to his more usual number five shirt.

He couldn’t have had a more auspicious start to his big afternoon, Matt Frawley kicking a 40/20 with the aid of a strong, swirling wind, the hosts getting a set restart and, on the last, Jake Connor’s deft grubber seeing Handley get there first, with Connor goaling.

Connor then used the wind to best effect, getting away a vicious high kick which Jai Field spilt. Big drives from James Bentley and Keenan Palasia then set the platform for Cameron Smith to drive over between the posts.

Connor, who didn’t put a foot wrong in the opening stages, shepherded a Harry Smith grubber dead. But what would have pleased Arthur as much was his side’s resilience, surviving four consecutive penalties, a back-to-one on the last, and two cheap dropped balls in their own half to keep their line intact.

The home resistance ended when Bevan French kicked to the in-goal. Sivo’s attempted charge down saw him hobble before he was assisted from the pitch, while Adam Keighran and then Liam Farrell batted the ball back into the in-goal for a surprised Zach Eckersley to touch down.

The wind favoured the Warriors in the second half, but Brodie Croft’s lovely short ball sent James McDonnell into a gap. However, he delayed his pass too long for Connor to gather.

Patrick Mago lost possession bringing the ball out, with Sam Lisone, Croft, Connor, Harry Newman and Ryan Hall all linking and Newman kicking to the middle and gaining a Wigan knock-on.

From the scrum, Croft’s superb, lobbed pass saw Hall cross in the corner.

With the rain making handling increasingly difficult and the substitution numbers rising, there was less flow; Jack Sinfield’s kick was misfielded on the Wigan line, Newman profiting and Connor landed the touchline goal.

Wigan assistant coach Sean O’Loughlin commented: “You want to win games but that’s not what pre-season is about; it was a pretty physical game in bad weather.

“It ticked a lot of boxes for us.”

GAMESTAR: There was a great cameo from Riley Lumb in the absence of Maika Sivo, but for the 65 minutes he was on it was again hard to fault Jake Connor and his x-factor.

GAMEBREAKER: Harry Newman’s try on the 64th minute gave Leeds a winning margin and saw most of the remaining stars withdrawn.

MATCHFACTS
RHINOS
18 Jake Connor
2 Maika Sivo
3 Harry Newman
5 Ash Handley
25 Ryan Hall
6 Brodie Croft
7 Matt Frawley
8 Mikolaj Oledzki
9 Andy Ackers
10 Keenan Palasia
11 James Bentley
16 Morgan Gannon
13 Cameron Smith
Subs (all used)
1 Joe Diskin
4 Harley Thomas
12 James McDonnell
14 George Brown
15 Sam Lisone
17 Cooper Jenkins
19 Tom Holroyd
20 Jack Sinfield
22 Tom Nicholson-Watton
23 Riley Lumb
24 Jack Smith
26 Toby Warren
21 Marcus Qareqare
27 Jacob Stead

Tries: Handley (3), Smith (17), Hall (46), Newman (64),
Goals: Connor 3/4

WARRIORS
1 Jai Field
22 Zach Eckersley
3 Adam Keighran
4 Jake Wardle
5 Liam Marshall
6 Bevan French
7 Harry Smith
19 Tyler Dupree
17 Kruise Leeming
10 Luke Thompson
11 Junior Nsemba
12 Liam Farrell
13 Kaide Ellis
Subs (all used)
15 Patrick Mago
16 Liam Byrne
20 Harvie Hill
21 Sam Walters
23 Tom Forber
24 Jack Farrimond
26 Jacob Douglas
27 Harvey Makin
29 Taylor Kerr
32 Noah Hodkinson
34 George Hirst
35 Josh Cartwright
36 Finlay Yeomans